During the past few years I've had a real hard time choosing between HO and N. I was first in N then about 1.5 years ago switched to HO with the blessing of my wife and kids. I still debated between HO and N but was happy with HO. I have recently had a heart to heart with my wife and she said in so many words she wanted me to go back to N scale. Now it is easy decision I’m going with N scale. I plan on freelance modeling a Midwest layout. I'm currently trying to figure out what room I do have (I always seem to be negotiating this with the wife). I will model the 50's- mid 60's. My primary road will be the CB&Q and it looks like I will be modeling just one town. I am selling all my HO here in the trainstore before I put it on ebay. Lucas in Alaska Sitka, Alaska - Nope no snow yet
I have been tempted lately with the idea of going back to n scale. I've been back and fourth between HO, N, and O scale numerous times, but right now I've made the most progress on my current layout. A lot of time and money went into the layout, and I don't know if I really love N Scale. It's just the "space" factor. I never realized just how big an N scale layout could get on a 4X8, and having a small layout has really been a bummer lately.
Where I live, I'm way short of room. The missus said I could have a layout, as long as it was N scale, sooooo........one hollow-core door for the layout surface. BTW, if you can get about 30" by 78" for layout space, a door-sized layout may work for you.
The thing is my wife is the one who some time ago said HO would be nice "I think you should change to HO" I can still hear her say until the cars and Unitrack started rolling in and I started track planning then the tune changed.... Now im banck to N..... I do love HO and am having a hard time selling it off especially my Kadee cars, they're like Micro-Trians on roids. But, I have always and still love N. As for room I'm still working on it. I would like 2 walls with 15' on each but I will be very lucky if I get away with it. I'll just have to see. Lucas
An L-shaped layout would be ideal, and with that much footage, you can get a nice layout, with only 30" deep benchwork!
Just curious- Did your wife decide the HO took up too much room? Did you keep any of your old N scale? Or was it all sold? Boxcab E50
Hemi, If I get what I want I will have 24" bench work with a 30-36" blob on each end. Boxcab, The answer to your first question is yes. I have a list of what I would like to model and I found myself taking up way too much of the basement. So a decision was made to go back to N. That is all I have to say about that without incriminating myself more The second question, I sold most of my N scale stuff. I have 12 Atlas code55 #5 turnouts and quite a bit of flex track. I have 5 or 6 of my really nicely weathered MT cars left (I'm still looking for the guy who weathered them, I purchased them at Hawkins rail supply in 2003) I also have enough plaster pieces of Blue Comet Manufacturing from downtown deco to make a 4' backdrop flat. I had collected UP and never did find a place I wanted to model, I wanted to prototype but even looking at the CB&Q and all over I still haven't found a place I wanted to model so I'm going to freelance. I grew up in IL and MN so it will have nice Midwest feeling to it. Lucas
