Why I love N scale!

[Dave Vollmer]

I switched from HO to N in 2002, and am very glad I did.  You see, I'm active-duty Air Force and I move a lot, and I was getting tired of building and tearing down HO layouts that I tried to make portable (but really weren't).  I was tired of never having the room for the curves I wanted to run longer equipment because I could never guarantee how much room I'd have at my next assignment.  Lastly, I was getting tired of how much physical space even my cars and locomotives took (since I didn't trust the movers with them, I always moved with them on my person, except for overseas moves).

N scale really helped me overcome every one of those problems.  This is my second N scale layout on a door.  The first moved with me from Florida to North Carolina without any damage at all.  I built a plywood box over the top and let the government contract movers take care of it.  Not a tree was out of place!  This new layout hasn't been through a house move yet, but has been to a train show.

Here's ALL of my N scale stuff (layout, trains, electronics, etc.) in the back of my minivan.  How's that for portability?  The legs collapse and telescope so they tuck neatly under the table.

I also am starting to love the scenery-to-trains ratio.  Someday I want to model the actual 4-track Pennsy mainline, and that would take far less real estate in N and allow for more prototypical curves in a limited space.  I really do like HO, and if I didn't have to move all the time I'd probably still be in HO.  But now that I've tried N, I don't see myself going back.  Of course, some day my eyesight might force me back to a larger scale, but I hope those days are far off.

Happy railroading!

[SilverSpike]

Hey Dave,

Nice post on your story with the switch to going N scale! I certainly understand your reasoning behind the switch, and it makes sense being on the move so much as you have been the past few years. I enjoyed meeting you and seeing your layout at the show on the 4th, really impressive detailing too!

However, I will be sticking with HO, with my eyes starting to blur a bit I cannot see me getting anything smaller. I get out the magnifying glass more often these days when building and construction of small items.

 

[mikesmowers]

  Dave, that is just too cool! I am running in HO scale for the reason of my eyesight, but I am wanting to build an N scale to see if I can do it. I really like the idea of a lot of train in a small space.     Good work.      Mike

[Metro Red Line]

s been to a train show.

Here's ALL of my N scale stuff (layout, trains, electronics, etc.) in the back of my minivan.  How's that for portability?  The legs collapse and telescope so they tuck neatly under the table.

That's awesome, but shouldn't you rest the layout on a (soft) foam cushion? Driving over potholes might cause things to come loose or scenery to crack.

[pcarrell]

I have the room for HO, but I really like the scenery ratio of N.  I started in HO back in the '70's but switched to N in the '90's.

You're layout on a door is one of the best ones I've seen, though I haven't had the pleasure of a personal inspection.  N scale is in good hands with fine modelers such as yourself.

[Dave Vollmer]

s been to a train show.

Here's ALL of my N scale stuff (layout, trains, electronics, etc.) in the back of my minivan.  How's that for portability?  The legs collapse and telescope so they tuck neatly under the table.

That's awesome, but shouldn't you rest the layout on a (soft) foam cushion? Driving over potholes might cause things to come loose or scenery to crack.

Ah!  Good question...  Everything is glued on really, really well.  Never even had people fall off.  The legs are hinged, and they act a bit like shock absorbers if I hit any bumps, but I do try to avoid them!  This was for a show less than 10 miles from my home.  Were I going farther, I'd probably have laid blankets down under the layout.

[C&O Fan]

I've always liked the Scenery perspective of N gauge

Mountains really look much better in N

If it weren't for my eye site i would be a N guager rather than HO

Nice Layout Dave

Who says you can't take it with you ?

[Texas Zepher]

I switched to N-scale in 1969.  I've always loved the more graceful look of N-scale passenger cars and longer sleaker look of the long locomotives like the EMD Es and PAs.  However, my love ended when I started sticking the camera in really close and got photos of 3" hand rails etc.  After doing some calculations to determine what it would take to get a photogenic E5 in N-scale, I started back in HO in 1981.  My N-scale hope was rekindled in 1985 with the introduction of the brass locomotives and for a while I had every one produced.  I ran the wheels off the Hallmark ABBA FT sets.  But the pictures just didn't hack it, so reality set in again, and I totally abandon N in 2003.  The fleet was retired to Christmas tree ornament duty and the layout razed.

[pcarrell]

The fleet was retired to Christmas tree ornament duty and the layout razed.

I like Christmas ornaments!  I could take some of those off your hands if you want!

[NS2591]

Those are almost the same reasons why I switched to N scale. Although I do not move around alot(that will be changing in a couple years) I switched to N scale becuase I like the long trains, and the fact that I can do more in less space. I still have my HO stuff, I plan to when I have my own house(I'm a high school student living with his parents) to model CNW in HO, and continue to model NS in N scale. The one thing I don't like about changing scales is that I lack rolling stock and locomotives currently. But I'm working on it! I'm up to 70 cars and I've been doing this since about July of this year. When I came back to HO after spending a couple years in G scale Its taken me almost 4 years to get almost 100 cars.

[cooltech]

Really nice. I think "N's" are alot of fun. I built a layout several yrs ago that will soon be comng out of storage. As one house project has taken up time and room 'till completion, the N will fit nicely next to my computer work area. It has two lines one of which has been alternatly used for a trolley, but usually frieght with a passenger line on the outer track.

Great work you've done on the one you've pictured.

cooltech

[Tracklayer]

I switched from HO to N in 2002, and am very glad I did.  You see, I'm active-duty Air Force and I move a lot, and I was getting tired of building and tearing down HO layouts that I tried to make portable (but really weren't).  I was tired of never having the room for the curves I wanted to run longer equipment because I could never guarantee how much room I'd have at my next assignment.  Lastly, I was getting tired of how much physical space even my cars and locomotives took (since I didn't trust the movers with them, I always moved with them on my person, except for overseas moves).

N scale really helped me overcome every one of those problems.  This is my second N scale layout on a door.  The first moved with me from Florida to North Carolina without any damage at all.  I built a plywood box over the top and let the government contract movers take care of it.  Not a tree was out of place!  This new layout hasn't been through a house move yet, but has been to a train show.

Here's ALL of my N scale stuff (layout, trains, electronics, etc.) in the back of my minivan.  How's that for portability?  The legs collapse and telescope so they tuck neatly under the table.

I also am starting to love the scenery-to-trains ratio.  Someday I want to model the actual 4-track Pennsy mainline, and that would take far less real estate in N and allow for more prototypical curves in a limited space.  I really do like HO, and if I didn't have to move all the time I'd probably still be in HO.  But now that I've tried N, I don't see myself going back.  Of course, some day my eyesight might force me back to a larger scale, but I hope those days are far off.

Happy railroading!

N scale was the only way for me to go too because of lack of space. My layout is about the same size as yours and is an on going work in progress.

"Happy railroading"

Tracklayer

[nucat78]

Yup, can't beat N if you're limited on space and / or want "big" scenery.

I'm in N now but since I hit the big 5-0 last summer, I'm not sure how long N will remain "visible" and I'll have to go back to HO.  We'll see (no pun intended).

 

[Bill54]

Seems a lot of us are going N scale for the same reasons. 

I started in HO not so long ago then decided to switch to N because I want long trains and the scenery works better in a smaller space. 

Those of you that are thinking that N is too small because you sight isn't what it use to be need to look into drug store reading glasses.  My eyes have been getting worse for the last 5-6 years.  I use cheap reading glasses, (+1.75), when working on the trains.  I haven't had a problem seeing anything as long as I'm wearing my reading glasses.

After Thanksgiving I will finally get to start building my permanent N scale layout.  It's taken me 14 months to get the area ready, (built a second rec-room).  That will be complete when the carpet is laid on the 20th.  Since Thanksgiving is in the same week I'll have to wait until after to start the layout.

Bill

[Dave Vollmer]

Let me also add that good lighting both at the layout and at the workbench helps enormously.  Things I can't see under normal room lighting are suddenly clear as day when I fire up a pair of 48" fluorescent tubes over the layout!  I also have a very bright fluorescent desk lamp at the workbench.

[Anonymous]

I like using the daylight flourcent tubes pearsonaly when I have the option. Currently I am limited to A TV Tray area to work in the appartment but I make due. I looked at getting HO but decided to go N for the Space Issue's. Plus so much more can be done scale wise with N. I just wish Nn3 was more accessiable to play with. I dont mind scratch building but at this time I would like a more RTR set in Nn3. Any way I love N-scale and think I always will.

Curt

[R. T. POTEET]

I suppose that space was a critical factor in my putting HO in my rearview mirror in 1981 and switching to N-Scale.  When I retired from the Air Force in 1978 I started a layout in a spare bedroom but the space restricted me to a 4 X 8 and I was immediately dissatisfied with the outcome - although having been a member of three clubs in the previous thirteen years - this was my first home layout since 1964.  I tried a second layout and was no more satisfied with it than with the first one.  My main pain was that a 4 X 8 pretty much restricts you to an oval and short trains and I soon tired of sharp curves and locomotives chasing cabeese.

Changing to N-Scale did not really solve the problem of an oval but I shortly discovered something amazing - N-Scale gave some scenery opportunities not available in HO-Scale.  My first N-Scale endeavor was a modified (15 and 18 inch radius curves) HO Railroad That Grows.  Few realize that a 12 inch dimension in N-Scale requires a 22 inch dimension in HO-Scale.  My 4 X8 (32 square feet) layout in N-Scale would have required 108 plus square feet in HO-Scale to achieve the same acreago.  I more than doubled my industrial capacity and was able to incorporate a small village on the layout - something which was not really present on the HO-Scale version.  Eventually I expanded to build a yard against a wall.  This layout lasted me until I separated from my wife in 1990 and I became an apartment dweller.

I recently remarried and lost my train room/layout room.  The acquisition of a snuggle more than made up for the loss.  My layout room is now my train room and I find it necessary to demolish my current layout - I am working up plans to incorporate portability into this new design.  I am giving very serious consideration to going back to another modified HO Railroad That Grows and I will probably utilize two 48 inch by 72 inch (and perhaps even three 54 inch by 72 inch) platforms suspended in A-Frames for this new layout.  For me a 48 square foot (or 81 square foot) layout - that's 162 square feet (or 273 square feet) in HO-Scale - is going to be a virtual empire.

I heartily advocate that if you are going to build a layout in N-Scale you use HO-Scale curves i.e. 18 inch radius.  Performance and appearance are greatly enhanced.

[Tracklayer]

I switched from HO to N in 2002, and am very glad I did.  You see, I'm active-duty Air Force and I move a lot, and I was getting tired of building and tearing down HO layouts that I tried to make portable (but really weren't).  I was tired of never having the room for the curves I wanted to run longer equipment because I could never guarantee how much room I'd have at my next assignment.  Lastly, I was getting tired of how much physical space even my cars and locomotives took (since I didn't trust the movers with them, I always moved with them on my person, except for overseas moves).

N scale really helped me overcome every one of those problems.  This is my second N scale layout on a door.  The first moved with me from Florida to North Carolina without any damage at all.  I built a plywood box over the top and let the government contract movers take care of it.  Not a tree was out of place!  This new layout hasn't been through a house move yet, but has been to a train show.

Here's ALL of my N scale stuff (layout, trains, electronics, etc.) in the back of my minivan.  How's that for portability?  The legs collapse and telescope so they tuck neatly under the table.

I also am starting to love the scenery-to-trains ratio.  Someday I want to model the actual 4-track Pennsy mainline, and that would take far less real estate in N and allow for more prototypical curves in a limited space.  I really do like HO, and if I didn't have to move all the time I'd probably still be in HO.  But now that I've tried N, I don't see myself going back.  Of course, some day my eyesight might force me back to a larger scale, but I hope those days are far off.

Happy railroading!

N scale was the only way for me to go too because of lack of space. My layout is about the same size as yours and is an on going work in progress.

"Happy railroading"

Tracklayer

I failed to mention the fact that N scale has come a long way since I was a kid back in the mid 1970s... It use to be that there was very little available in the way of structures, accessories and so forth in N scale. 

 I bought my first N scale set second hand from a neighbor in the fall of 1975 for $10.00, and thought it was the coolest thing since fireworks. It included a UP F-7, a box car, gondola, flat car, open hopper and caboose, an oval track and power pack. From then on I was sold on N scale. 

Tracklayer

 

[Dave Vollmer]

Well, yesterday I would say my love of N scale was more "like."  I had to disassemble my ER Sharks for maintenance.  The little screw that holds the pickup wipers in place is literally the size of a grain of sand!  I did it though, and now they run like new.  Nevertheless, I found myself literally holding my breath (like a sniper) so I could keep everything steady while I put it back together.  I did have good lighting at my workbench, which helped.  I also keep the desk surface painted white.

[pcarrell]

I went to the grocery store and got one of those large aluminum disposable cooking pans to work over.  It reflects the light and catches all the parts I drop!

[Tom Bryant_MR]

Well, yesterday I would say my love of N scale was more "like."  I had to disassemble my ER Sharks for maintenance.  The little screw that holds the pickup wipers in place is literally the size of a grain of sand!  I did it though, and now they run like new.  Nevertheless, I found myself literally holding my breath (like a sniper) so I could keep everything steady while I put it back together.  I did have good lighting at my workbench, which helped.  I also keep the desk surface painted white.

 

Hi Dave.  I started the hobby in N scale (dining room table) to see if the hobby was really for me.  Would I keep my interest etc? Once I realized that the little N scale loco's had stuff in them one would need to modify or do maintenance on I switched to HO.  Eye's and hand steadiness for me are not there for N.

Glad N has worked out for you.

Regards,

[Texas Zepher]

The fleet was retired to Christmas tree ornament duty and the layout razed.

I like Christmas ornaments!  I could take some of those off your hands if you want!

Here are photos of the first year.  Because of the issues seen here, many of the trucks have been glued the bolsters. Weights have been removed from the locomotives.  I think it would take quite a bit of work to get them back into layout service.  The hopper cars always hang crooked because of the high center of gravity relative to the eyelette.

As usual click the image to enlarge.

[pcarrell]

Gotta say TZ, that's a fine lookin' tree you got there!

[SilverSpike]

Just another reason to go N eh! 

I think my HO rolling stock would be too big for the indoor Christmas tree.

How about outdoor Christmas decorating?

[kiwirail]

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE BIG 50 IN RELATION TO N GAUGE. AT A FEW YEARS SHORT OF THE BIG 80 (!), I STILL FIND N GAUGE JUST FINE. LIKE THE OTHERS, WITH ONLY LIMITED SPACE ( 70 SQ FT) AVAILABLE. YOU CAN DO SO MUCH MORE IN N THAN WITH HO!
KIWIRAIL

[LVJJJ]

Dave, love layouts that fit in a van in one piece, your's looks great, got any close-ups?  I started an HO layout during high school (1963) on two 4x8 sheets of plywood, never could finish the darn thing or get one train around the whole thing without derailing.  The first time I saw an N gage (guage can be spelled gage or guage) train in the late '60's at the local hobby shop, I was hooked.  I immediately gave away all my Ho stuff (didn't want to take the time to sell it) and started buying N.  Started a layout on a door sized piece of particle board in my new wife's and my apartment.  Many years later as my growing family started RV'ing, having N gage was a godsend as I have been able to assemble layouts on 24x 32 foam boards, with my latest being in a shotgun case (folds up real small, don't need a van, although I still have my 1965 Chevy Van).  To me, HO always looked toy-like and always seemed to derail (could have been bad track work tho).  N looked so much more realistic and you can get so much more of everything onto a layout in an area less than half the size of  HO.  I'm 60 but not worried about working on this small scale because so many types of magnifying glasses are now available and lights seem to be getting brighter.  Larry in Blaine WA (pacific northwest) (anybody want some excess rain?)  

[Dave Vollmer]

Sure, just click on the hyperlink in my signature block.  Plenty of closeups!

[andrechapelon]

Sure, just click on the hyperlink in my signature block.  Plenty of closeups!

Whoa Nellie! The man drives a Honda Odyssey!  That's a sign of good taste.

He's in the Air Force. Even better!

I won't comment about modeling Pennsy. 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

Andre - 2002 Odyssey, 111,056 miles. USAF 1965-1969

 

[BurlingtonJohn]

Dave,

Congrats on making the switch.  When I was on active duty in the world's finest Navy, I made the switch from HO to N for many of the same reasons that you list.

After I painted/decaled a Kato N scale SD45, I said enough.  I went back to HO and have never looked back since.  After 23+ years of looking at a computer, my eyes just couldn't handle the small stuff.

Regards,

Burlington John, US Navy Retired

PS - Sorry, can't say anything good about the country club zoomies!

[Dave Vollmer]

PS - Sorry, can't say anything good about the country club zoomies!

I wouldn't know...  I spent most of my career in Army-support combat weather (read as "in down in the sand/mud").  The "real" Air Force is as foreign to me as it is to you!