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Hey guys. I am highly considering switching to a smaller scale due to space.

I am considering switching from HO scale down to N scale.

My reasoning behind it:
*My entire layout idea would work much better with a smaller scale, as I can fit much more layout into the same amount of space.
*I'd be able to have an adventure, learning a whole new set of skills and techniques, but still being able to retain a few of them.

Disadvantages:
*Equipment is more expensive
*Most of what I have cannot be used with the smalle scale
*My parents would be much more hard-pressed to obtain equipment for me to use.
*I'm sure there are many, many more. I just don't know them all.

What are you guys' thoughts. I'm eager to hear what you all have to say.
I went through a similar thing when getting back into the hobby after nearly a decade. I have very minimal HO gear, in fact, most of it is in pretty bad shape...

To me there are many advantages to HO, which is one reason why I would switch if I ever have enough room.

But for me I went with N.

I found that:

1: Track is a lot more finky. This is why I've been using Kato uni-track and love it
2: prices really aren't more expensive. At my local hobby store, a Bachmann DCC Specturm 4-8-2 is $199. The same model in HO was $250. Buildings are also the same price or cheaper. Another example would be HO Rapdio ($60) vs N scale Rapido ($45).
3: Having all the extra space to plan is amazing! Smile
4: Buildings are a lot harder to build, mostly for those small detail parts.
5: Selection is really lacking.
6: Fifer Hobby Supply is the best place to get N-scale gear on or off line for me..... after them. Model Train Stuff is another good site with a good selection of n scale gear.
7: Most things are done in limited releases....very limited. which can be a pain.
If you don't have a permanent layout yet, and don't have much HO stuff, now is a excellent time to switch. N scale is not that much more expensive. Start small and pick up used stuff. But, you left out another huge advantage - portability. You can very easily build a small n-scale layout to fit in a small apartment and take it with you as you move. a 30" x 72" n-scale layout is MUCH easier to move than a 4x8 foot HO layout.
I have been on N when I came back to model railroading some years ago. The reason was the same as yours.
After some time I had to quit due to
- poor eye sight
- clumsy fingers
I could simply not build what I wanted to build. The details were to small for me.

May be you do two test cases
- get a simple building kit and test what can be done.
- get a low budget boxcar and try to improve it as much as possible (grab irons etc.)

If your eyes are ok and your fingers flexible just go ahead. You will have a lot of fun.
I say, go for it. I did about 5 years ago and have never looked back.
I was HO and now N. I only have two complaints. The track is a little harder to work with and you have to keep it cleaner since your contact area is less than with HO. Also, the selection of products is much less. I am ready to start adding structures to my layout and I am having a very hard time finding a simple house that I like that I want to add to my layout. You'll just find it harder to find what you are looking for when ordering or shopping for products. Even with the growing popularity of N, I thought the product selection would be better than what I've found. The obvious bonus to N is being able to fit more into a small space, which I've found to be true builing a small but nice layout in the corner of my laundry room.
Wiredup Wrote:I went through a similar thing when getting back into the hobby after nearly a decade. I have very minimal HO gear, in fact, most of it is in pretty bad shape...

To me there are many advantages to HO, which is one reason why I would switch if I ever have enough room.

But for me I went with N.

I found that:

1: Track is a lot more finky. This is why I've been using Kato uni-track and love it
2: prices really aren't more expensive. At my local hobby store, a Bachmann DCC Specturm 4-8-2 is $199. The same model in HO was $250. Buildings are also the same price or cheaper. Another example would be HO Rapdio ($60) vs N scale Rapido ($45).
3: Having all the extra space to plan is amazing! Smile
4: Buildings are a lot harder to build, mostly for those small detail parts.
5: Selection is really lacking.
6: Fifer Hobby Supply is the best place to get N-scale gear on or off line for me..... after them. Model Train Stuff is another good site with a good selection of n scale gear.
7: Most things are done in limited releases....very limited. which can be a pain.

Agree with Wiredup. Including I have been very suprised at the much less cost of locos in N.
faraway Wrote:I have been on N when I came back to model railroading some years ago. The reason was the same as yours.
After some time I had to quit due to
- poor eye sight
- clumsy fingers
I could simply not build what I wanted to build. The details were to small for me.

If your eyes are ok and your fingers flexible just go ahead. You will have a lot of fun.
That's the same reasons I switched to G Sad Sad Lots more fun in large scale, but all I have is a loop and some sidings....
Dump the HO,buy the N scale and never look back. :mrgreen:

Actually it depends on what you want to accomplish and how much space you need to do it.

Walthers (LifeLike) KATO,and ATLAS make suitable switchers for what you want to do.

You can get a lot of railroad on a hollowcore door,even more on a 4'x8' if you have the room for it.

If you don't have a set track plan ,or you can't find one in N that you like look at HO plans and build the N scale to those dementions.
I was actually considering building Linn Westcott's HO RR That Grows in N scale, but with a bunch of my own touches. I can use the same size benchwork, and then take advantage of the ability to use broader curves and more sidings.
Thankfully I still have excellent eyesight at 62 and my RX for my glasses has seen little change in the past 5 years.Must be all those carrots my mum force fed me when I was a kid.. As many will recall I have limited use of my right hand and am force to work left handed(completely backwards after being right handed) and still manage.

A strange N Scale phenomenon it seems to get bigger the more you work with it..

I just spent the last week running HO trains during the county fair..I never realized how big and bulky HO truly is and no wonder one needs a lot of space for a decent layout..

At any rate as long as my eyesight holds I will stick with N.
Like Larry said "At any rate as long as my eyesight holds I will stick with N."

Even though the HO and On30 are in the other room. :mrgreen: Hmm, come to think of it so is the Z.
Perhaps a little bit different criteria to evaluate scales by:

- Do you prefer to see the big picture - a larger area at one glance - or do you prefer very detailed mini-scenes?
- Do you usually buy car kits or RTR cars?
- Are the locomotive models you want only available in one scale or the other? Or if you are willing to kit build/bash/scratch, do you see a viable path to the locomotives you want?
-

I evaluated 4 scales in looking at a 1900-era combination standard and 3ft gauge layout - O, S, HO, and N. S lost out due to Sn3 being pretty much limited to Colorado prototype, and almost nothing for the era in standard gauge. N is too small to fit decent 4-4-0 and small geared lokie mechanisms. HO ended up winning over O because of the space needed for structures and other scenic elements - otherwise O would have been the better choice for me.

my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
....modeling foggy coastal Oregon, where it's always 1900....
Quote:Perhaps a little bit different criteria to evaluate scales by:
Okay. Here are some replies to what you mentioned.

Quote:- Do you prefer to see the big picture - a larger area at one glance - or do you prefer very detailed mini-scenes?

I would like to be able to look at a large area at one glance, but if I look closer, be able to see detailed mini-scenes.

Quote:- Do you usually buy car kits or RTR cars?

I have never bought cars myself. I've always received them as gifts.

Quote:- Are the locomotive models you want only available in one scale or the other? Or if you are willing to kit build/bash/scratch, do you see a viable path to the locomotives you want?

The locomotive I plan to use for the industrial parks in the three towns, Lewistown, McVeytown, and an un-named town in Juniata County, is a Kato NW-2 for each, and a single BL-2(which I already have) to move cars between Mifflin and Juniata counties.
I'm in the same boat, I am renting again due to work, so space is limited
I have always had HO and to me scratchbuilding is the most fun bit I enjoy, the trains are just to give a bit of action
I have just bought a Bachmann N scale loco (Bachmann N Scale MDT Plymouth Diesel Locomotive #60052) a little 040 diesel shunter that will have scratchbuilt sugar cane bins behind
(planning on modeling our local cane network)
Luckily I deal with surface mount `micro' electronics for a living, so ultra fine work isnt that much out of the question- but I do admit being a bit dubious about exactly how much I will be able to scratchbuild in N in comparison to what I could achieve in HO
problem is a 2 bedroom flat hasn't quite the same potential space as my own 2 car garage had...
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