I've got to admit that if I had the space, I would switch to HO. As much as I absolutely love N scale, if space were not a limitation I would be tempted. There's really only one reason - a huge variety of HO steam engines with DCC and sound. I've even considered it now - every time I see one of BLI's new releases I can't help but admire what can be had in HO. And if you've never seen MTH's PRR K-4 in action, you are really missing something. (Synchronized smoke even!) Maybe someday those things will be available in N, but if I had the opportunity today (all I need is space, not the cash) I wouldn't think twice.
Due to slowly degrading acuity some day I will switch to "G". Most likely it will be a short line switching layout without even continuous running or a large yard. Note: I would - NOT - put it in a basement. It will be in a place with lots of sun.
Ever since hurricane Katrina flooded me out of N scale (except for visiting assorted MR forums), I've been thinking what it would take to get me back into model railroading. I decided if I win the lottery, I'll go with 2-rail O Scale and model 1950. I really like steam locos, but trying to watch all the rods and wheels turn in N scale is hopeless. O scale would work well, I think.
As much as I like the details available in HO scale, I like the details you don't see in N scale. I guess what I am trying to say is that you get a "bigger picture" look and feel with N that I really love. Don't get me wrong, HO is awesome and I have considered "the change" many times, but I always come back to N at heart. Plus, I just can't imagine running one of those Atlas Auto-Max autorack cars that is about the size of a giant hoagie!
I was in N scale back in the early 70's then switched to O scale but as of a few years ago i am back to N to stay. I am now 62 and one of my hands don't work exactly right but i can do just about anything in N scale except maybe the smallest details. There is nothing like watching 3 dash 8 silver and red warbonnets pulling a long intermodal freight or when i back date, my big boy pulling a string of 40-50 reefers. There is just something about N scale that i really like. I'm still having fun and i plan to for the next 30 years or more. Dave
Even if I had a windfall and move into a bigger house I would still stick to N scale. I would build a really huge layout and run multiple long 70 to 80 car trains. Just thinking of it boggles the mind! Cheers
Would I consider switching? Only if I have a classification yard. Me thinks that's not the answer you were looking for. No...I don't think so. I do model in three scales G, HO and N. N-scale is my choice for a home layout. HO-scale works for me on a club layout and G-scale or garden railway, I can operate at a friends house. At this point even if money was of no concern I'd stay with N scale. I wouldn't change as I've spent to many years collecting specific items and I wouldn't want to start over. Here in the land of the Big Bear... Lake I know of four of us who operate in multiple scales. One garden railway modeler also has N-scale inside his shop. I don't see anything wrong with enjoying the benefits of multiple scales. N-scale is my primary joy and gives me the greatest number of hours of pure-O-D fun! You got to have fun. Grin!
As a kid, I had HO scale. But the houses around here are sooooo small that I switched to N scale. Till that moment, I had never really liked N scale. But I found out that there were really good products, and that in a small space N scale looks more convincing than HO. And I saw great examples of N scale layouts in the magazines and on the internet. I joined a Ntrak club. Years ago I also bought some HO cars, but due to lack of space I have never done anything with them.. Last year I bought a Roundhouse steamer, some kits and some old boxcars, because I really want to build a 30's layout in HO scale. I also have a small Z scale layout. But N scale is still the most important scale in my house. Would I switch if someone gave me a lot of money? I sometimes dream about a large trainroom, with a long mainline for my DL-109 and heavyweights, for long freight trains pulled by my RS-1 and FA's, and about several depots, a branch line and a yard. And yes, they are all N scale.
I am like Tudor, who started with O in the fifties and sixties, then went into HO in the sixties through eighties and early in the eighties stored my HO, and built a large N scale layout in my garage. It has been that way since, but I have other layouts in Z, a point to point shelf HO, and at Christmas, G. Although I never totally abandoned HO, I still model in it, and still like it, but I love N. I would never abandon N for another scale. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willamanl
I can see that I'm not alone in feeling the unknown, mystical draw to N Scale. I would also stay with N only with a "ginormous" layout. Maybe it's as my wife says, "Gee, aren't they cute?". Well, "cute" isn't exactly in MY vocabulary when it comes to trains but, there is an undeniable draw to N's.
I'm very heavily invested in N scale and even if I had unlimited space to go into a larger scale... I wouldn't do it. I'd prefer to stay with what I've been involved with for 25 years... N scale. It's been getting better year in and year out. IFFFF... there was any chance I'd change to another scale... it would likely be Z scale... but I doubt I'd commit as much financial resources to Z scale as I've done with N scale.
This thread got me to thinking about my time in N scale. Late August will mark 25 years since I got my first N scale. I was hooked from day 1. The changes in that time have been great for N scale. Would I change, no. I'm here to stay. With that said, if I had the spare funds, I would enjoy adding an outdoor G scale garden layout. Just think that would be a fun thing for the spring and fall.
I boxed up 20+ years of N Scale about 5 years ago for Z. I still have an attic full of HO that I can't seem to part with, as well as a lifetime supply of N Scale. I still get tempted and buy some N Scale from time to time, like the Life-Like NP 0-8-0. It runs great across the street on my neighbor's N Scale layout, but I have not yet converted it to DCC to run on my own N Scale layout. I'm having all that fun that N Scale used to be in the 1980's, with Z scale today.
Like many of you, I just couldn't bring myself to change from N. I added a new section yesterday, 32" x 72", adding an industrial switching area and 16' of mainline. As I sat pondering the future work to be done, I mentally comapred that to HO. HOLLY COW! If the layout was in HO it wold be 32' x 14'. Now I gotta' figure out how to get 32' x 14' in N! LOL!!!
I really like the balance between trains and scenery that you get in "N", and for a home layout wouldn't do it any other way. Switching to HO would be giving up more than I'd gain, and Z is just too small for me. The only other scales I would consider are "O" (detail, heft) and "G" (outdoors).
The year 2009 may be decision time for me. Not for changing scales, necessarily, but downsizing or even going to no scale. The younger among you don't even need to read this and I'm not meaning to be morbid, just thinking realistically about my own mortality and the tremendous job of tearing down and disposing of a room sized layout with every other nook and cranny of the room filled with stuff. Someone will have to do it eventually and I don't see anything coming next year in N Scale that really interests me so it may be a good time. I'll have to be really serious about it, if so. To get the stuff of value in the proper box, prepare an inventory, advertise, contend with shipping and handling payments is mind boggling. Renting a dumpster and simply trashing it might be a lot easier. The sentimental value attached will have to be considered either way. Parting with trains may be too sweet a sorrow. On the other hand I do have a small amount of HO Scale that I could retain for the sake of having a train of some sort. And hope that I could do so keeping the KISS principle in mind. Ben
Ben, you might want to think about doing what my Grandfather does (in his late 90's). He switched from HO to Z Scale a few years ago, and builds small 2' x 4' layouts. When he is done, he gives them to one of the great great grandkids, and starts another one. In your case, maybe build small switching puzzle diorama layouts or something, and sell them with loco and cars when done to reduce your stock? It's one way to still be able to model without having to worry about an estate sale of train stuff later?
I started with H0 with my father and later switched to N due to space limitations. Now I have a train room, and the old H0 equipment still available, but I opted for continuation of N because it is the only way to run long trains through wide curves. And I have so much N equipment I want to run. If I had unlimited space, I would stay with N and do long stretches of "nothing", just track and some scenery.
