Hello all this is my first post
I have a story
When I was a kid my dad gave my brother and I
a subsciption to model ralroader. That same year my granfather
gave my brother a HO set and a N set to me. My brother soon
found out the frustration of fitting a HO layout on a 4x8 and
joined me building my 4x8 N. It was a great layout Years later
we moved to Lake Kabetogama in Mn I had to abandon my
layout. Broke my heart. I started my 3rd layout with out my
brothers help, apparently he read the details in MR better
than I did the layout was a disaster, bad radius and grades.
The layout followed me around and ended up collecting
dust in my garage for 25 years. (Now theres a supprise)
After 35 years out of the hobby I started my 4th and final
N layout about 3 years ago. I saw how much everthing in the
hobby has changed so I spent a year on research. Another
year on laying it out on paper, I changed the whole thing 6
times. Than I spent a year on Benchwork, foam subbroadbed
and laying cork The whole 3 years I was reading the MR
forums in which I learned a lot of Knowledge and information so
Thanks. I feel like I know some of you guys. I think I could have
built this layout quicker being a carpenter by trade but I
wanted it right this time. I think its easier to build a custom
victorian magizine house than a model railroad. Now I'm in
the process of scratch and Kitbashing bridges. I have to
take unwanted breaks because my eyes hurt so bad from
cheater glasses strain I've developed a brand new respect
for HO but I'm stuck in N (I want my eyes back !) They
say your only only as old as you feel. Today I feel pretty old.
I used to think mini Loco's looked really neat when I was a
kid and still do. Thats back when I could see the detail of a
flea through my dogs fur. Any way on a more positive note
I'm really enjoying the hobby again As others have said Its
the greatest hobby in the world and It feels good to be back
Take Care
Al
Welcome, Al!
When I first became engaged with the hobby twelve years ago, I quickly read-in and learned that most guys when they age find their manual dexterity and their vision made the smaller scales all but impossible. They reported going from N to HO, then dabbling in S to see if they could forestall an eventual foray into O scale/gauge.
I think you would enjoy HO, even with some pretty sobering space restrictions. Then again, maybe now is the time to buy into the Big Stuff so that you can build a good, long, and satisfying history with it over the next decade or so. HO may already be straddling the limits for you.
Just sayin'....
Selector thanks for the feedback I'm kinda thinking along the same lines but like I was saying feeling stuck due to sinking time and money into it the other thing is space seems to be a common problem do you have any experience with those magnifying visors or heard of anything about them good or bad
Track fiddlerI have to take unwanted breaks because my eyes hurt so bad from cheater glasses strain I've developed a brand new respect for HO but I'm stuck in N (I want my eyes back !) They say your only only as old as you feel. Today I feel pretty old. I used to think mini Loco's looked really neat when I was a kid and still do.
Here's my mistake..Back in 2012 I sold my (N)ormal Scale and kept my (H)orribly (O)versize scale. I wish a million times since then I kept my N and sold my HO. To late now....Or is it? A GP9 or RS-1 and 48 cars and a 1' x 6' switchig layout would suffice.Very tempting.
I'm 69 and still have good peepers.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
that's funny Larry you just gave me some incentive to stick with it I always liked N scale due to the space issue I also want to point out my replies are not going through being that I'm a new member I'm under some kind of review probation I guess they want to make sure I'm not some kind of word terrorist before I can post at will lol. Al
I am an HO scale guy but was at a good operating session at a really nice and imaginative N scale layout two weeks ago. The trains ran very well and looked great. I had difficulty seeing the car numbers but fortunately for the most part knowing the reporting marks of the cars was sufficient. I found that re railing N scale was in some way easier than re railing HO due to the (relatively) huge flanges.
Given the type of layout I want and the large industries that are involved, if I had to do it all over again N scale would be the way to go in terms of operation and overall realistic appearance of the layout. But I just finished scratch building and kitbashing stuff in HO -- had a ball doing it -- and reluctantly conclude that those activities would be beyond my 65 year old (and glaucoma affected) eyes in N. I can still do the work in HO. For now.
Dave Nelson
Well, one thing about N scale I learned from a good friend and neighbor, when we are at our place in the Wisconsin great north woods, who has steam engines pulling ore and coal cars on his N scale layout, there's a lot of detailing we strive for in HO, can't be seen in N.
That's coming from a 67 yr. old, that does not regret my purchase of the Optivisor. Should have done it sooner!
Mike.
My You Tube
I started with HO changed to O and then to S. While it is certainly easier to work with S and O than HO, I can still do HO. I just like the size of S.
If you feel stuck, then try HO - or S or O. This is a hobby, go with what's fun. These days with plenty of RTR and pre built structures you can build a layout in one scale and build models in a different scale.
Paul
Hey Al!
Welcome to the forums!!!
I'm a hard core HO modeller. I enjoy the detailing aspect as much as anything else in the hobby. Note that I didn't say I was good at it, I just enjoy it! For that reason I'm not enamored with N scale stuff but I do admire the work that N scalers have done.
Changing scales will cost you a bunch, but if you reach the point where N scale no longer gives you pleasure, then change you must!
I hope you can find a satisfactory solution.
By the way, your post came out with somewhat strange spacing of the lines. That might have been caused if you were using the return key when you got to the end of the line instead of letting the program do the return to the next lower line automatically. It's no big deal but it is a bit harder to read.
All the best!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
mbinsewithere's a lot of detailing we strive for in HO, can't be seen in N.
Speaking of N Scale detail..BLMA had a very nice selection of N Scale detail parts. I wonder if Atlas will release those details?
Hello friend.
I've always wanted an HO set, but between how small my living arrangements usually were, and the fact that I could (and did) up and leave a country at a moments notice, made it near impossible. I decided N was the scale I needed, but up until I actually started I was afraid N scale would lack the detail of larger scales, and that I wouldn't be able to really customize anything.(So very wrong) I originally started back home in New York with a hand-me-down GG1, and a few boxcars, but before I could get it really going we moved to Russia for a while. From then we hopped countries until about 3 years ago when we settled down in Maryland. Still, my little set is no more than an N scale carpet layout with a couple of trains and some decorations. I had to stop adding to it for a long while after I temporarily lost the use of my left eye, which I still can't use for a while.
Despite how much I wanted HO, N scale has been stuck to me since I was young and it's served me well from country to country. And I'm happy I'm finally getting the chance to build on it, even if it's with one good eye left in my head. Funny thing: Despite me having to abandon set after set after set, I still held on to the old N scale GG1 that I started with. I don't run it anymore, but I keep it as a treasure. It really stands the test of time well.
That's my little tale.
Railroad historian and nutcase
Novice Model Railroader
I think it is one of those myths which refuse to die - that you need to go for bigger scales when your eyes start to show signs of age and your hands get a bit shakey.
The bigger the scale, the greater the need for delicate, tiny details, because the lack of them would make the model look rather "naked" or the layout barren. In G scale, you even have to model the weeds between cobblestones or the pidgeon dropping on the roof, whereas in N scale, you can happily forget them.
I started out with American Flyer (S-scale) as a kid and had a hand-me-down N-scale locomotive and tracks for a short time as a younger adult. 13 years ago I started my adventure into HO-scale and have not regretted it at all.
While N-scale is great for maximizing space, HO offers so much more in variety and detail. Since I model both steam & diesel, there's just no way for me to put together a steam roster of various NYC locomotives with any other scale other than HO.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstageWhile N-scale is great for maximizing space, HO offers so much more in variety and detail.
Tom,Be careful there my friend. There are N Scalers that highly detail their locomotive plus there's a fella on a N Scale forum that scratch builds steam engines. There are those that kitbashes diesels like the GP39-2,SD18 and other none available locomotives.
N Scale isn't about maximizing space as many non N Scalers been lead to believe. My best designed ISLs has been in N on 1' x 6' boards. Even on a 1' x 12' HO ISL I had to cram things where I didn't on a 1' X 6 ' N ISL.
Dave. Thanks for the positive feedback kinda helps with my insecurities of thinking this scale is to small for me anymore It would be hard to switch now I have a truss bridge that took about 90 hours to build among others projects Al
Thanks for all the replies catch up with you later. Al
There's a good reason we call it the "N"ormal scale.
Catt There's a good reason we call it the "N"ormal scale.
It's certainly not "normal" if you look at the statistics - oops, sorry I wasn't supposed to mention reality. It's also not "normal" for many of us who struggle with our close up vision going.
That said, N scale is cute but I don't relish the idea of having to wouldln't all those talgo type coupler mounts with body mount couplers, which should be N-ormal. Even if I did get a wild hair, all the stuff I would be interested has come and gone and is long sold out (Trainworx and Wheels of Time).
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Otherwise known as the "N"othing scale. But what's in a name
Oh Oh looks like some stepping on toes going on Need some advice please I kitbashed two girder bridges The hobby store had only two different color ones I needed What's a good rattle can paint not to lose detail also it would have to be styrene safe. Thanks in advance. Al
RioGrande and Ironrooster, is the N scale denigration on this forum really helpful to anyone? (Especially to the Original Poster, who has chosen N scale for his layout?)
Participants on forums such as Railwire and Trainboard recognize that N scale is a signficant portion of the hobby and this kind of sniping is uncommon.
Fine work is being done in N scale by modelers of all ages. Give it a rest.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
Seeing that others have some serious eye conditions in the forums made me realize how insignificant a little eye strain from N scale modeling is. I won't be whining about it again. Al
N scale is fun, but so is HO scale, O scale, any scale!
BRAKIE tstage While N-scale is great for maximizing space, HO offers so much more in variety and detail. Tom,Be careful there my friend. There are N Scalers that highly detail their locomotive plus there's a fella on a N Scale forum that scratch builds steam engines. There are those that kitbashes diesels like the GP39-2,SD18 and other none available locomotives. N Scale isn't about maximizing space as many non N Scalers been lead to believe. My best designed ISLs has been in N on 1' x 6' boards. Even on a 1' x 12' HO ISL I had to cram things where I didn't on a 1' X 6 ' N ISL.
tstage While N-scale is great for maximizing space, HO offers so much more in variety and detail.
Sorry, Larry - No offense intended by my earlier statement. I was speaking more in broader terms and generalities to what is available commerically vs. detailing/kitbashing something yourself.
I remember Dave Vollmer's Conrail module (when he was a forum regular here a few years back) and it was beautiful and quite impressive. So, I realize that detailing can be accomplished - no matter what scale you model in.
Also, maximizing space - to me - is not only being able to squeeze more into the same amount of acrage but also having the ability to spead out and reduce layout "compression", which allows for more detailing - whatever the scale might be. That's more important for me than trying to cram in as much as I can because - at some point - you end up crossing the line between plausible and fantasy.
Sorry I wasn't clearer on both points, Larry.
Ulrich. I liked the picts I seen the directions for posting pictures but still having trouble figuring it out any pointers you could give me Thanks. Al
You need to upload your pictures to a picture hosting site, like Photobucket, which I use. Once you have uploaded a picture, click on it and a new screen appears. On the right side you see a couple of boxes - click on the "Direct", go back to your post, click on the icon showing a mountain and paste the link to it. Click on "OK" and your picture has been added to the post.
Thanks Ulrich While I have your attention do you know what rattle can paint is styrene safe and does not eliminate detail too much Thanks Al
cuyama RioGrande and Ironrooster, is the N scale denigration on this forum really helpful to anyone? (Especially to the Original Poster, who has chosen N scale for his layout?) Participants on forums such as Railwire and Trainboard recognize that N scale is a signficant portion of the hobby and this kind of sniping is uncommon. Fine work is being done in N scale by modelers of all ages. Give it a rest.
Oh come on - there's humorous nicknames for all the scales. That's what the poster who called N the "N"ormal scale was doing - having some fun. If you really want to get your knickers in an uproar you should call him out too.
But, this is a hobby for fun. Have a little humor in your life. That's what we were all doing.
never mind