After 45 years I've finally decided to move on and get out of N scale model trains. I've enjoyed almost every minute, but my eyesight is diminished to the point where I can't see what I'm doing anymore, and I'm just unable to do the fine work necessary in this small scale due to lingering effects from a stroke i suffered a few years ago. I knew the writing was on the proverbial wall when I purchased a new Bachmann 2-6-0 last week and I couldn't really make out the CN logo on the tender, even in a room lit up like an ER operating room, and then I contemplated doing the tender swap on the new Bachmann 4-6-0 I'd purchased and I knew it wasn't going to happen.... Luckily, there are still trains in my life--and I'm looking forward to joining the local large scale train club so I have a place to run my Bachmann Peter Witt and LGB New Orleans streetcars. Anybody need some N scale steam? I think I'll list my equipment on the swap meet board here. Thanks for all the great help to all of my questions here! Jeff C
Jeff, I think many/most can sympathize with the situation you find yourself in. Wish you good luck on your change of scale and success in culling your herd.
Sorry to read you'll be leaving N scale. But it sounds good that you'll be able to at least keep in the hobby via G scale. Good luck, and keep us posted on how that changeover works for you!
I may be getting to that time myself and I have quite enough HO stuff to model with. I already have to carry two pairs of glasses (I hate bifocals) and use a magnifying Lamp for close work. I'm too old to go back to 1:1 trains and HO is large enough for me, for NOW.
I have had to face the facts of getting old and health issues twice now in the last few years and it definitely makes you set back and take stock as to how you can continue on in a hobby that you enjoy. Some folks are blessed with vision that stays good right up into the so called golden years. Others of us, myself included are dealing with reduced vision issues that limit what we can do. Having the stroke last year has affected me and my modeling to a degree that will end up staying with me and I have had to compromise some. I have given some thought to what larger scales I could switch to if circumstances dictate and as always the space issue rears its ugly head. HO seems like a good choice and takes less space and has a lot of variety. I also like the flavor of narrow gauge and there are a number of choices out there for it. What has caught my eye recently is the Bmann's line of 1:48 narrow gauge running on On30 or HO track. Prices are cheaper than a lot of N scale and I like steam. So when and if the time comes that is probably the route I will take.
Sorry to learn that, but at least you can do something that is still model railroading. I have had to go the magnifying lamp, but other than that, I can still work in N. Like you, and other posters here, I will have to go to a larger scale and have taken considerations for that. My route would be HO, either nineteenth century or electrics. There is all sorts of nineteenth century power available in HO and most of it and the rolling stock will operate on fifteen inch radius curves. You might need eighteen inch for the ten wheelers and consolidateds, but the eight wheelers and moguls will operate on fifteen inch curves. Most of the rolling stock will run on the sharp curves, as well. The electric would be confined to steeple cab switchers for freight and smaller cars for the passenger. Some of them may operate on curves as sharp as twelve inches and still look something approaching prototypical. I wonder if there are any decent street trackage turnouts available in HO. If not, I do expect that such will be available by the time that I must change, if that day comes. John's going to On3 is also a consideration. Narrow gauge did have sharper curves, but I do wonder what is the sharpest curve on which you can operate On3.
Actually he said On30. Which being more whimsical, many users do employ some rather tight radius curves. And definitely tighter than most folks in On3 are willing to try, or most On3 equipment is capable. Some micro layouts in On30 get down to being quite tiny circles.
Good to hear that you can remain in Model Railroading, and plan to. Here at UMTRR HQ, it's getting harder to read that dimensional data which is kind of important when reviewing Micro-Trains products!
I used to model extensively in N Scale (as well as producing the Alan Curtis Models range of N Scale pewter freight car kits). I have been in HO for a while now, and when my son found quite a lot of my models from the N scale days which he had stored, they now seem so tiny, and I wonder how I managed to work on them! I am several years older, 'tis true, although my eyesight is still ok. But I will stay with HO Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Sounds like a lot of us are on the same trajectory. Personally, I'll plan to stay in N as long as possible. Unitrack and RTR are great things for reduced dexterity and eyesight. I'm not aware of anything, in any scale, that is as easy as setting up a loop or two of unitrack, complete with turnouts and other goodies. What am I missing here? (that's a serious question)
I switched from N scale to Ho last year, sold my whole fleet and layout which funded my move to Ho. Much less rolling stock however DCC and sound, while building the layout I realised my sight isn't like it use to be so switching to HO was the right thing to do, also my operational requirements changed over the years from running long trains and continuos running to switching operations. All in all I am happy I made the switch ( no pun intended lol)
My problems began with cataract operations. One eye near vision, the other distance vision. NO DEPTH PERCEPTION. No need for glasses to drive or read. But, working on any model, forget it. I do have computer glasses as the screen sits at the distance where neither the near nor distance vision is clear. With an optivisor I can almost work on buildings and rolling stock. Getting older does beat the alternative, pushing up grass until the 2nd coming. I have gone to t-trak and unitrack to stay in the hobby.
Vision lose, whatever the reason, is extremely debilitating. I love working with my N scale as it gives me the layout I want in the limited space I have. Diabetic vision, for me, can be very frustrating. Wondering when I will follow in the trajectory mentioned? In the mean time I will give eye care a high priority. Jack, you take care of yourself and enjoy your model railroading anyway that works best for you. Get to missing the N scale layout you can always do what other desert dwelling folks do...come to Big Bear Lake, Ca., to cool off. Let me know when you are in town and you can stop by to play trains. :teeth: Take care!
Sounds great Rick! I've never been interested in super detailing, kit bashing, custom painting or other similar pursuits that require good eyesight, etc. I like running trains, especially passenger, so it's highly likely that a nice RTR streamliner (i.e. Kato) and some reliable Unitrack will always hold my interest as long as I'm somewhat coherent.
I think often the difference comes in trying to model in the smaller scales, particularly with some of the detailing and decaling. I would imagine, though, that at a certain point even RTR becomes more difficult in smaller scales due to relative sizes of the equipment and the resulting difficulties in tasks as simple as railing, rerailing or coupling equipment.
Same thing with me. When I recently got back into the hobby I ordered some N stuff with the intention of setting up a fair sized layout and just watching my trains run around. Never been into the switching thing. I do want to do some kitbashing, painting, decaling, etc. and with my bad eyesight that means HO. So I'm basically building a RTR N railroad with some custom HO models that I'll put in a display case. An unexpected benefit of poor vision is that I decided to order some locomotives and rolling stock that don't fit my railroad just because I like the colors. Doesn't matter how they're lettered - I can't read it from more than a couple of feet anyway.
I'm lucky,even pushing 60,I still have fantastic eyesight,probably better than a lot of much younger people.I think if I ever got to the point where I couldn't do N scale anymore because of eyesight,I probably wouldn't be able to really do all of my other hobbies at the level I'm at..I'd probably just get rid of everything,and buy a few nice old sports cars,Alfa Romeo,Lancia,ETC..Hopefully I could still drive,LOL!!
My dad went to G scale when he retired. He says it's a good retirement scale. I still have fun teasing him about how much more railroad he could have in the same space in N Scale. My N scale 12 car Broadway set is just a little shorter than his G scale 5 car Colorado & Southern narrow gauge set.
