Every now and then I hear someone mention they have multipple model railroads in different scales. Or when someone has trouble deciding on a scale someone will suggest they do both. How many of you actually model in more than one scale at the same time?
Unless you're going for the absolute largest model railroad you can squeeze in and afford, it seems like the best of all worlds. Is it very common and what are the drawbacks? Seems like most of the tools and techniques carry over from one scale to another. Is it actually common and people just don't have reason to bring it up more in articles or is there a reason people don't do it more?
I know a few people who model different scales. Two people on the same layout. I have one friend who has a garden railroad in his yard and at one house on the G gauge has an HO scale garden railroad. He takes equipment from his in doors HO layout to run outside.
Another friend of mine has an O scale 2 rail and a Z guage running on it like a 7 inch guage outdoor layout. Complete with O scale figures riding it.
Pete.
I think it is somewhat common. Perhaps the biggest contingent is the garden railway as the second scale. I by far primarily model in HO and HON3 in Rio Grande and Colorado and Southern in the 30s and 40s. However on a pull out shelf below is a 2x4 80s Era N scale urban layout. That began when we were in a motorhome full time in ministry a couple of years. It gave me a way to continue when the HO was in storage. I don't do nearly as much on it as the HO. Plus I have a G scale caboose on my desk at church if that counts....
Jim
From the beginning of planning it was my thoughts to have a Z scale mining horseshoe on the upper deck of my N scale layout.
Some of those little Z scale models sure are neat
As much as I searched, I didn't find the appropriate locomotives or rolling stock to accommodate what I was looking for to fit that idea.
Maybe it was a good thing. I would have Paid the Piper but that Z scale stuff has some rather healthy price tags
TF
While I have only N scale, I have really liked seeing the modelers who have forced perspective with HO running in the foreground and N running in the back.
I wish I had room to do that.
York1 John
If I had to start all over again, that Narrow Gauge stuff sure is the Cats Meow
Summed up in one word, "CHARACTER!"
Many years ago I was in to DC in HO-scale at my house. Then I had a great thought, a layout at work (sometimes it gets slow). So thinking a little how to go about this.
I would need to transport Power packs/throttles, HO road power, HO rolling stock back and forth or have double the expenses of those items.
So now I am thinking keep the HO-scale at the house and do a 4' x 8' N-scale at the shop. That way I only need to transport the Power packs/throttles back and forth.
That is how I got into two scales, HO and N-scale. A high percentage of the N-scale rolling stock has Micro-Trains body mount couplers.
The HO layout at my house had went from DC (MRC) (lots of wires and switches) to Aristo Craft DC walkaround throttles (really cool) to a Lentz DCC system (way cooler).
The N-scale at the shop is still DC.
I had to 'test the waters', so I do have at least one G-Scale Maryland and Pennsylvania box car. A few S-Helper Service S-scale 50' TOFC.
My railroad has HO, HOn3 and HOn30 gauge track and rolling stock. All HO scale of course. But I also have some 2 rail O scale equipment that I setup under the tree during the holidays - some years: I actually alternate between that and an HOn30 loop. I have a portable O layout that is in storage that I will set up when a room becomes available in the house (when the kids leave the nest, if that ever happens). Very tempted by G scale but that's where I drew the line.
Simon
snjroy But I also have some 2 rail O scale equipment that I setup under the tree during the holidays
But I also have some 2 rail O scale equipment that I setup under the tree during the holidays
The funny thing is my N scale Layout takes up the space in the living room now where the tree used to go so I donated that really cool fiber optic Christmas tree to charity.
Give it to a family member, Oh Good Grief No! The thing was Heavy. I'd have to haul it over there, set it up, change the internal light bulbs when they go out every year. Oh, El No
That tree was beautiful but a chore and a half when I had it and honestly I was glad to get rid of it. Now we have that little lame Charlie Brown Christmas tree that sits on the table
She wasn't able to have me get rid of those four Collector Train sets though
I switch them up and display them on the fireplace hearth at Christmas time now...
They just kind of sit there and look neat but that's certainly much better than getting rid of them
Last time I had two scales going was when I was a kid. HO scale at Dad's house, N scale at Mom's. I wouldn't do two different scale layouts in the same place personally.
Mike
Well, I have an On30 Christmas train with lots of ceramic houses, not sure I call that "modeling"?
Otherwise no, one scale, one theme, one era, is enough for me.
Sheldon
When I had the garage built with a finished second floor my intention was to build the HO layout into the walls. However where do I run the Lionel trains bought for me at birth? I opted for a two level stand alone layout with Lionel on the bottom and HO on top. Walkways are 16" from the wall. Deciding factor was the 6' to 10' radius curves using all Gargraves not so flexible flex track and switches. Bench work is 2x4 and 22 sheets of plywood. I stick with a heavy industrial and urban setting. Track plan has pretty much remained the same with minor changes/additions over the last three decades. God willing and the creek don't rise, this will get me to the end. My kids have no interest in it so what they do with it when I go..... just don't throw it in a dumpster. Split it HO and Lionel and give it a person who is in the hobby.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Well, I have an On30 Christmas train with lots of ceramic houses, not sure I call that "modeling"? Otherwise no, one scale, one theme, one era, is enough for me. Sheldon
not surprising considering the size of your layour.
Interesting responses. What I really meant was two completely separate layouts. I would have thought it more common as you could work on one layout while waiting for the release of models needed on a different layout.
im actually considering an N scale modern and a larger scale early steam era as a possibility. Basically using the best points of each scale.
MJ4562 Interesting responses. What I really meant was two completely separate layouts. I would have thought it more common as you could work on one layout while waiting for the release of models needed on a different layout. im actually considering an N scale modern and a larger scale early steam era as a possibility. Basically using the best points of each scale.
I got two scales in N and HO. My main is N 1980s-99 with cars locomotives for small 40s layout.
The HO scale is all Bachmann Thomas products. Hopefully to make a modest size shelf or half room layout. Thought it was a good idea to make a piece of Sodor between season 1-4. With a station or interchange scene between narrow gauge and standard gauge engines.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
MJ4562How many of you actually model in more than one scale at the same time?
I have tried.
When I was in N scale, the club I belonged to had a train show layout in HO scale. I started building HO SGRR equipment to run on this layout, but never finished any of it.
Twice, I have started building a garden railroad in G scale, and both times realized I like gardening a lot more than garden railroading. Never went anywhere with these ideas other than laying some concrete for the subroadbed.
When I first switched to HO scale I kept some of the N scale equipment with the intentions of building a portable N scale SGRR for train shows. Never went anywhere with that idea either.
Oh... and then there is that 7-1/2" gauge USRA Mikado I won't talk about.
So... Modelling in two different scales is something I have failed at.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I built a small HO layout that I have enjoyed but had no space to expand it. I did have space in the furnace room for a door layout so I built a N scale layout that I completed however I found I didn't really enjoy running N scale so I sold off most of the rolling stock and aĺl the locos except for one last diesel. I like steam but in in N scale it just didn't appeal.
CN Charlie
Hello All,
When "She Who Must Be Obeyed" and I visited the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry the model train display is based on the modern-day operation of the BNSF.
There is a high line on the model that utilizes N-scale trains to achieve forced perspective.
Many modelers have mixed scales to achieve the visual results they wanted.
In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with combining scales; in rolling stock, structures, and scenery to satisfy your modeling experience.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
Sorry, I retracted my post.
MJ4562 ATLANTIC CENTRAL Well, I have an On30 Christmas train with lots of ceramic houses, not sure I call that "modeling"? Otherwise no, one scale, one theme, one era, is enough for me. Sheldon not surprising considering the size of your layour.
Well, I am a "all or nothing" kind of person. I don't really get any satisfaction from "dabbling".
So this is a very interesting comment that I have to respond to.
WAIT for models you need for the layout? I would get out of this hobby before I sat around waiting for someone to make what I need.
In fact, I believe this problem is real and a detriment to the hobby already.
I'm surely not going to go down some separate path of acquisition issues in some other scale.......
I am building a 10'x30' layout in S scale.
I also have a 5'10"x12' tabletop layout where I set up temporary loops of track to run HO, 2 rail O scale, or 3 rail O gauge. Occaisionally, I build models in HO or O.
Paul
ATLANTIC CENTRALWAIT for models you need for the layout? I would get out of this hobby before I sat around waiting for someone to make what I need. In fact, I believe this problem is real and a detriment to the hobby already.
As for availability of models, I'll just say I feel there are few manufacturers left doing it the "right" way, in my mind anyway. At least in terms of rolling stock. I get the economics behind it (to a point), but I just don't think the pre-order or don't get it approach is doing us any good.
Having to "wait" on items in two different scales would just double my disappointment in the availability of things!
IRONROOSTER I am building a 10'x30' layout in S scale. I also have a 5'10"x12' tabletop layout where I set up temporary loops of track to run HO, 2 rail O scale, or 3 rail O gauge. Occaisionally, I build models in HO or O. Paul
Wow! I have done an awful job communicating in this thread.
I didn't intend to say the entire layout has to be in limbo while waiting on something. There is always work to be done and alternative models can be stand-ins in the interim. I was thinking more along the lines of different layouts being able to keep my interest when I run into a mental or material roadblock on one. Also keep in mind I'm talking spare bedroom sized or smaller layouts.
MJ4562Wow! I have done an awful job communicating in this thread.
OK, I admit I didn't read the important additions to this thread...
That has nothing to do with your communication skills.
MJ4562What I really meant was two completely separate layouts.
If I had enough room for two separate pikes of different scales I would not be constrained to a 4'x8' in HO.
On the other hand, two layouts- -twice the expense and twice the headache.
With my relationship with "Murphy" and his law, neither would be running for months!
I own a lot of different scale stuff; but I model in HO scale; with lots and lots of stuff stockpiled for layout building day. I was a member of an N scale modular group a while back, and I still own equipment. My daughter dabbles in N scale, with Kato unitrack, so we set it up sometimes when she visits. I also own G scale equipment that we used to set up outside for the kids; it is going to be set up outside this year around a giant fir tree that we decorate as a Christmas tree. I have owned Z gauge trains, but sold them because they were too small. I still have my Lionel O scale trains; plus my uncle's set and my dad's set. I have an On30 Bachmann shay that was going to be part of a project layout that never got built. I have bits and pieces of HOn3; another project railroad that never got built. I can honestly say that I never owned anything in S scale. At the end of the day, I am firmly a HO scale modeler.
Not that I've done it, but Paul Dolkos told me he uses N scale buildings in the backhround of his HO layout to create depth. It dooes like quite realistic. Again, if you have the space. My layout is 2' deep and might not work.
Doe anyone do that?
kasskaboose Not that I've done it, but Paul Dolkos told me he uses N scale buildings in the backhround of his HO layout to create depth. It dooes like quite realistic. Again, if you have the space. My layout is 2' deep and might not work. Doe anyone do that?
I've done that. I have one deep corner in which I have two N scale houses and telephone poles near the top of a hill.
The technique is called forced perspective and has been around for many years even if not widely used.
Of course, backdrops which show distant structures are another form of forced perspective since they are a smaller scale than the 3D structures.