I am at that crossroads, the HO layout is nothing more than a basic track laid out on the benchwork. I also do not have a vast HO collection that some might have amassed. When ones hobby pushes one into an autistic meltdown cause I cant see things, its a problem. I am still feeling the effects of having that last night, ie I am still tired despite sleeping well all night. I stripped the bad attempt at Monon passenger colors off my F unit and the NW2 will get its basic black stripped before the week is out. My thought is simplified CGW red, with a loop around the room and a small grain elevator shipping via box cars still to keep cars at 40'. The older stuff is way more findable if one can make one of the big O scale meets. Both Chicago in March and Indy in September are very close by(I live in Kokomo, just north of Indy). The Indy meet is where I got these two diesel kits. With only a 9' by 9' room, its tiny for O scale, but I am told its doable since I mostly like to just sit and watch a train run, sometimes stopping to switch cars at a couple industires. I can handle the simple paint scheme and flatland modeling much easier. Decisions decisions! I have been on the fence for several years now Mike the Aspie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
I have been thinking the same things Mike, partly due to eyesight issues, but also finger dexterity issues (and those eyesight and finger dexterity issues also play a role in mental concentration and patience). Thanks to Atlas and others it is possible to consider moving to O without having to totally rely on stuff you see now and then at estate sales and swap meets.
But at the end of the day I doubt if I'll make the changeover. Too much time and too many resources (and I'd add, knowledge and experience) are tied up in the HO. And while I think I could easily make do with the rolling stock and locomotive choices in O, I also like structures and bridges and such and there things don't seem quite so easy or available. I wouldn't want to change scales in order to do MORE scratchbuilding and other drains on eyesight and finger dexterity, after all. And I'm not sure a new and possibly steep learning curve is something I am prepared to deal with.
I know how to open boxes and I know how to pay credit card bills. I am reaching the point where those two skills might have to suffice in my HO "modeling" such as it is.
Dave Nelson
Mike,
No plans to change from HO anytime in the foreseeable future...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Curious who all is considering moving to a larger scale from say HO or N scale due to failing eyesite as one ages? While I love HO scale, its fast becoming less enjoyable than it was 10 years ago for me. To enjoy close up as it passes by, I have to take my glasses off, same for close up repair work. Then to enjoy on the far side of the layout, its glasses back on. Bifocals only partialy help this and I know its not going to get better(getting old sucks). I picked up a couple old All Nation diecast metal locomotive kits, I really enjoyed building the NW2 and I am in the middle of building my F3 diesel. Its nice not to have to keep taking my glasses off to build, detail and enjoy them. I have zero desire to go back to 3 rail, even if they are scale. But 2 rail(not proto 48) O scale really stokes my modeling fires. Even if I can only manage barely a circle with small 4 axle diesels and 40' cars due to a very small layout room. I am seriously considering selling off my whole HO collection and reinvesting it in more 2 rail O scale. Mike the Aspie