HO or O scale??

[Razorclaw]

Can somebody tell me the difference between the two? Like price-wise, space-wise. why you believe that scale is the best? Thanks, Stephen

[Anonymous]

HO scale basically stands for Half O. Therefore O scale is roughly twice the size of HO. HO scale is cheaper, has the widest selection of products available, and is the most popular scale. You can do alot more trackwise with HO scale as well. O scale has better detail (sometimes) and many people reccomend it for small children because its big. More O units have sound and smoke than HO but BLI is the exception. I would go with HO but its all up to you. Go to a hobby shop and see what you like.

[camarokid]

HO scale for the reasons stated above. If your intended layout space is a spare bedroom HO will give you a lot more possibilities than O. But yes, go to a good hobby store and check out both scales and the availabilty of products for them. Then check out the prices for both and see what you can afford from one scale to the other. But you have to remember that you want to HAVE FUN while you torment yourself building that most impressive layout.
Archie

[Anonymous]

HO all the way!

[Anonymous]

I'm also in your position; trying to decide whether I should put my hobby money into HO or O scale.

Basically, everything that JPM335 said is correct. O scale is much more expensive. For example, let's look at a popular engine, the PRR K4 pacific. In HO, a fully scale version of this loco with all the bells and whistles (literally [;)]) is ~$300 from someplace like BLI. A scale O-gauge verion of this same engine (or most any larger steam engine) is close to $1000.

IMO, the O scale engine is more impressive still, but you need to decide if it's worth the 3X investment to get that. In my case, after seeing what current HO is capable of I'm not sure it is.

Standardized control and the smaller space requirements (or larger relative layout size) in HO are also attractive to me.

If you have lots of space any money though, you could make a very impressive setup with O.

[williamfriggle]

Well I have both HO and O. If I had to choose one, it would be O. But it is more expensive, and does take more room. But it takes less "stuff" to fill the space. I have seen some really nice 4X8 O gauge layouts. People say that isn't enough room, but it is all of what you want to do. O have a LOT of operating accesories that you can actually "play" with. O gauge aren't really intended to look "real". If you want absolute realism, go with HO. But if you like to do things with your trains, like play with them, unload coal cars and reload them with a push of a button, or the same thing with logs, then O is the way to go. Hey thanks for making me talk about it. I was going to spend some money on a new HO engine, but I think I will buy a Lionel acceserie that I can do something with. Go to operating layouts and see what you like.

Bill

[Big_Boy_4005]

Everything JPM said is pretty much dead on. HO is clearly the most popular size of model train. That popularity is why there is such a good selection of products. For most people HO is a nice size for space reasons.

There are really 2 types of O scale trains. There is 2 rail O which runs on DC. These trains have small flanged wheels, and are for the most part, exactly the same as HO, except twice the size.

3 rail O is a little different. These are the direct decendents of toy trains from the early part of the last century. Lionel is the best know manufacturer, but in the last 20 years, a number of others have entered the market. The result is a split with one end of the market moving closer to 2 rail style of trains, while the other stays with traditional toy style. The thing is Loinel, MTH and K-line do both.

By the way, I do 3 rail O. I gave up the toy look and am going with scale.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Razorclaw

why you believe that scale is the best?

1:1 ; can't beat the real thing [:D]

Seriously, go to your local hobby shop, attend some shows, look at the magazines. The answer is different for each person, and often changes over time.

[IRONROOSTER]

To do the same thing in O as in HO take approx 4 times the floor space. Some very nice layouts have been done in O in a spare bedroom, but if mailine trains are your thing then you'll need a basement for O. But O scale trains have a nice hefty, massive presence as they roll by that you don't get from HO. Most O scale layouts seem to focus more on the trains and trackside than HO.

On the other hand building a boxcar in O is more delightful than in HO. The bigger pieces are easier to see and handle.

The cost issue is tricky. While individual pieces cost more in O, your layout will only support 1/4 as many for a given area in O as HO. So O might actually be cheaper. Of course if you're real hobby is accumulating as much stuff as possible (which mine seems to be[:D]) then HO's cheaper prices are attractive. Or as the late John Armstrong said at one clinic "They all cost the same, as much as you can afford."

My recommendation is that you split the difference and go with S scale. That's what I did. I started in HO, went to O, and now I'm in S. I find that gives me the best of both.

Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

S scale is a good compromise, the problem is there isnt much available and you would find yourself building a lot of things from scratch. Not that this is a bad thing, but i wouldnt reccomend it for a begginner. Another thing to consider. Do you like a lot of switching and operations or would you be more content to just watch a train go around. HO has much more operational capability, but as stated above the O trains are more impressive to look at. All a matter of what you want to do, how much room you have to do it, and how much money you are willing to spend.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nfmisso

QUOTE: Originally posted by Razorclaw

why you believe that scale is the best?

1:1 ; can't beat the real thing [:D]

nice backyard!?!

[IRONROOSTER]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JPM335

S scale is a good compromise, the problem is there isnt much available and you would find yourself building a lot of things from scratch. Not that this is a bad thing, but i wouldnt reccomend it for a begginner. ....

There's more available than you might think. My layout has a double track mainline, several engines and cars, none of which is scratch built. Code 100 flex track and turnouts are available, many diesels, cars and buildings. The steam situation is a little thin but its improving. This site http://www.trainweb.org/crocon/sscale.html gives a pretty good idea of what's available. It just isn't carried in a lot of hobby stores.

While every scale has pluses and minuses, having to scratch build anything is S scale is not one of them. I would recommend this scale to anyone who finds HO a little too small. The kits are more fun to build with bigger pieces and the layout is easier to build than HO. With all the RTR in S it's easy to get started without having to even build a kit.

[8D][8D]

Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

I have HO, but have even considered N. The smaller scale you go with, the more you can put on one layout. HO is probably the best bet though, I don't see how you could get much better detail than what BLI, P2K, and Atlas have on there. I hear Genesis also is very highly detailed. The BLI, P2K, and Atlas all offer very high uality sound equipped locomotives. The QSI sound chip is one of the best sounding ones out there.

Hope this helps,
Greg

[Phil1361]

I agree with pretty much everything said above but would like to add that if you are considering O (3-Rail) one thing that hasn't been mentioned is that there are NO STANDARDS. First of all you have two different Command Control Systems (at least they will both work on the track at the same time), second there are mechanical standards that have NEVER been dealt with. In other words you could buy 2 boxcars from 2 different manufacturers and they will not couple together. I admit unlikely but it did happen to me. Also you could build a layout, put two switches together not have certain locomotives be able to go thru them because of the placement of the center pick-up rollers. Not to mention that the center rail is the ugliest thing I have ever seen. 3-Rail O has a lot of neat operating accessories which does add to the fun. Another thing to be mentioned is that in 3-Rail O there is a lot more of manufacturers (except AtlasO) taking liberties with what is supposed to be a scale model. You have to do your research before you buy.

3-Rail O is great for around the tree or for people who just want to run toy trains in loops. However, there have been some exceptions in the last few years. Hobbyiests who have put together award winning MODEL RAILROADS in 3-RAil O. Namely, Bob Bartizak and John Shankland and they actually OPERATE their 3-Rail trains in a prototypical manner. However, these guys are in the minority.

In 3-Rail there is a lot of nostalgia for Lionel and for the Golden Age of Railroading (40s and 50s). Not that there is anything wrong with that but on the other hand 3-Rail O is where the train manufacturers are by far the most greedy. Unlike HO and N scale the O Gauge manufacturers NEVER work together on anything and are constantly inventing things which they then patent so no one else could use their ideas. I would like to see how this policy increases their bottom line as I think it only hurts the manufacturers in the future and definately hurts the hobbyiests both now and in the future.

If you like the idea of loop running consider 3-Rail O but if you want to do some model railroading my advice is to pick anything but 3-Rail O. HO, S, N, and O Scale (2-Rail) all have standards both electronic and mechanical.As it was said above please go to a hobby store and decide what you like. Problem with that is most hobby stores don't carry S or O Scale (2-Rail). Try to find one that has it all. I wish I would have known about S before I got started. S would have been perfect for my basement.

I am from the 3-Rail O which is why I know a lot about it. I am now in O Scale (2-Rail) and will never go back mainly for the reasons I mentioned above. The good thing about 2-Rail is I can still use some of the nicer scale sized operating accessories if I like. Just add a little weathering or some details. I am not so fanatical as some other modelers.

Yes, O Scale (2-Rail) can be very expensive but there are deals that can be found. I bought the Sunset PRR K-4 brand-new (the nicest K-4 in O Scale that I know of) for $599. True it doesn't have all the bells and whistles like the BLI but it is brass and extremely well detailed and runs great. I also got a 3-Rail C&O T1 for the same price (used) which I will convert to 2-Rail which also runs great.

Figure out what is best for you. And what will give you the most fun.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by IRONROOSTER

QUOTE: Originally posted by JPM335

S scale is a good compromise, the problem is there isnt much available and you would find yourself building a lot of things from scratch. Not that this is a bad thing, but i wouldnt reccomend it for a begginner. ....

There's more available than you might think. My layout has a double track mainline, several engines and cars, none of which is scratch built. Code 100 flex track and turnouts are available, many diesels, cars and buildings. The steam situation is a little thin but its improving. This site http://www.trainweb.org/crocon/sscale.html gives a pretty good idea of what's available. It just isn't carried in a lot of hobby stores.

While every scale has pluses and minuses, having to scratch build anything is S scale is not one of them. I would recommend this scale to anyone who finds HO a little too small. The kits are more fun to build with bigger pieces and the layout is easier to build than HO. With all the RTR in S it's easy to get started without having to even build a kit.

[8D][8D]

Enjoy
Paul

wow, i didnt know there was so much available in S. All i had seen so far was 1 display at 1 train show with a couple of engines and maybe a dozen cars. Learn something every day[;)]

[Anonymous]

O Scale is much more durable than HO. Good for children. I have done both scales but HO is where is hits for me. Someday when my eyes go bad and my fingers get wooden then I will go to O... by then the prices should come down and the fighting among the makers should be over and done with.

I enjoy O scale because they are big and you need to stand back when one of these things get going. But HO is home. I even considered N scale because you simply can do more in the space but I am too "Ham fisted" from my driving years to handle delicate small parts such as N scale =)

[Phil1361]

As I have become more scale oriented I have been reading this forum more often. I just found the thread on operation. I had no idea there were so many guys in HO,N, and O who just like to run trains in loops and railfan. Of course there's nothing wrong with this as I like to do it myself but I do like the idea of sometimes running my model RR like a real one. I had assumed that the guys who ran on 2-Rail track regardless of scale were more into operation. My mistake-I'm still learning. Although, there seems to be a higher percentage of Operation oriented folks in scales that run on 2-Rails than 3-Rails.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bnsf6733

HO all the way!

[#ditto]

Go for what you like. If you have the money, the skies the limit. Take what you have, decide what you want, then get what you need.[:D]

Robert

[PennsyHoosier]

Phil's points are very good. There are so many folks involved in HO that to "buck" the standards immediately marginalizes one. That means simple folk like I can buy with confidence and do so pretty cheaply. I have N, HO, S, and O stuff, but I work seriously in HO.

[krump]

why not BOTH ?

HO and On30 for me - they run on the same track --- just watch the distance / spacing on corners, bridge decks, tunnel portals...

[on30francisco]

I have both HO and On30. They both run on the same track and the price of On30 equipment is about the same as HO. On30 offers the best of both worlds: the heft and detailing of O scale and the cost and convenience of HO.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Razorclaw

Can somebody tell me the difference between the two? Like price-wise, space-wise. why you believe that scale is the best? Thanks, Stephen

ya, HO (Half O) is just about that (HO 1:87 and O 1:48). I'm in HO and don't really know much about O so i'll tell you all the stuff about HO. I would go HO beacause locomotives, rolling stock (i.e. boxcar, flat car), structures, and stuff like that are cheaper and you have more variety. i like the size of HO better than O so it's really what size is better. O scale locos and rolling stock have more detail. what size do you like better.

[Anonymous]

I am with HO, and this weekend i will buy a bachmann On30 trainset for $137.95.
It consists of a 2-6-0 loco,three passenger cars, track, and power supply. I will then
enjoy both scales, at a very reasonable price.

[Paul Milenkovic]

How much interest is there in Sn3.5 (3.5 foot narrow gauge in 1:64 S scale)?

The 3.5 foot narrow gauge is used in New Zealand, parts of Australia, Japan (everywhere except for the Bullet Train, which is standard gauge), and I also believe South Africa.

The 3.5 foot gauge in many parts of the world runs high-speed mainline trains. The other way to go would be to treat Sn3.5 as a form of selective compression and model a U.S. prototype -- the slightly narrow gauge track takes some looking at to realize that it is narrow gauge -- that was my experience looking at commuter train tracks in Japan.

If any of you out there know much about Sn3.5, my questions are 1) what track in HO would be better, code 83 or code 100 in modelling this, 2) if I am going to scratchbuild I am going to start with ready-made wheels and most likely even power trucks and drivelines -- any suggestions on getting good wheel sizes for this scale?

[TurboOne]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Razorclaw

Can somebody tell me the difference between the two? Like price-wise, space-wise. why you believe that scale is the best? Thanks, Stephen

This is a great question. Most above have answered, but for me the key is what do you want. HOers tend to be more toward real, O tends to be more toy. There is O that is very detailed, hense the higher price. HO clubs are rule oriented, trains must belong to area of layout, if you model west coast, you wouldn't have an east coast train on the tracks. O 3 rail rules, if it runs, run it. Lots of action accessories. See Lionels train store, way cool with little itty bitty moving trains in the store, or the McDonalds on MTH. The lady takes your order, and talks with the customer.

I have HO for size reasons. But I want to build a garden and go outdoors. I'm not sure G is what I want to do that with, O is starting to go outdoors. I have learned HO is not an outdoors train. Track melts in the heat, its not UV protected, and bugs are huge compared to trains. G gauge and probably O gauge will squish bugs.

Look throught different websites at different models. Decide what you like. Or run both. Why not, then you really get the best of both worlds.

Tim

[Anonymous]

I recently converted from 45 years of HO, to On30. I would suggest you give this some consideration. The size of On30 equipment IS slightly larger than HO...conversely, there is a certain perverse delight in kit-bashing HO models into On30! (Yes, I have...and it was a LOT of fun!) However, a word of caution...remember that O scale structures do NOT reduce in size. You may have to rethink what structures you use, and give On30 a bit more space between parallel tracks. Everything depends on how much space you have...and this final thought: THERE IS NO BEST SCALE. Each has its own strong points, and weak ones. Have fun, making your decision!

[Anonymous]

I have been asking myself this same question recently and I am happy to have found this discussion. I inherited a 50s generation Lionel set and although it's quite a bit of fun, I'd like to try out the new stuff. Specifically the MTH DCS or Lionel TMCC systems sound very intriguing. I am still very new to trains, however, and I know next to nothing about HO trains. Are there equivalent control systems for HO trains?

Thanks in advance.

Jeff

[Anonymous]

I asked just a wee too fast: I eventually googled my way into discovering DCC. According to the NMRA website DCC is a standard and devices built using DCC can provide similar functionality as the MTH DCS or Lionel TMCC.

Because its a published standard and because of the multitude of devices out there supporting DCC (also discovered with a couple of quick searches) I am really leaning toward buying HO.

Thanks for bearing with this publicly disclosed discovery process. I am, however, still interested in hearing about your experience with DCC, although that topic may be elsewhere here on trains.com.

Jeff

[Anonymous]

I have both O and HO and enjoy both. I started with O when I was little and have worked my way into HO. HO offers a whole lot more stuff than O. You can also make a more detailed layout with more scenery, longer trains, etc. with HO. It is also cheaper. You will get as much satisfaction from both, so go with your gut feeling.

dwfin1985 (UP fan)