For me it is the same as for others, size and space. Two days ago I was almost tempted to go back to H0: saw the new Märklin railbus with sound. The sound was incredible, I thought they had a subwoofer behind the counter, but it was just the speaker in the tiny car (well, not so tiny as it would have been in N-scale). But no way to go back to Horribly Oversized, I have too much N scale stuff to do this. And I know how the big stuff would look in my space, not good.
I am in N Scale because my father bought me an Atlas "First Generation" train set (and my younger brother an AHM set) in the hopes that it would keep our hands off of his HO layout. But I stuck with it, over 35 years later!
Two layouts in the Seattle area: http://www.unwclub.org/2c.html http://www.featherriverroute.com/index.htm This type of work keeps me inspired and shows that quality that can be achieved in N scale. We may not be able to see each individual rivet, but we are able to capture the feeling and spirit of an area in a relatively small (and realistic for most folks) amount of space.
When I re-entered model rr about 15 yrs ago,I chose n scale because of space restraints.Now,2 wives and 3 daughters later I have less space.Another reason was the first issue of Model Railroader mag I bought had a BN layout by Ed Hammer done in n scale.I was hooked.
I chose N scale because you can model large industries realistically and not "crowd" them. I like broad sweeping curves and vast landscape which is another thing N scale allows for. Most importantly, it's easy to sneak engines in to the house.
For me, I can run long trains and not need a football field to do it ( gotta admit though that a well done fine scale O layout can be pretty impressive....NOT the Lionel, etc, stuff). My wife likes being able to do the "full story" scenery. Between us, we have 13 active Ntrak modules with another two in planning stages and two "semi-retired 48" corners (they're just to cumbersome to move out of our second floor bonus room). I got into N scale when I got a "first generation" Atlas E8 Santa Fe passenger set for Christmas (1968). As I recall, my brother got the Santa Fe C-Liner freight set. Boy....have we come a long way since then.
I first started out in HO scale.... but i was also younger too.. easier to work with... then i joined an Ntrack club.... the rest is history. I like N Scale because of the ability to make long long trains. I am up to about 70 cars on my unit grain train now, and thats not as long as some of them, but it is still a show stopper when we do a club event at the church or library. People are always amazed as to how 4 little engines (life like fa's) can pull such a long train.
Ditto. I was in HO (like my Dad before me), but switched to N in the late 1970s after much anguish. I like being able to do large industrial areas like the West Bottoms in Kansas City, or the port area in Newport News, VA, or almost any of the major industries in Baltimore or Chicago or St. Louis... If you want to recreate the look and feel of upclose railroading, you ought to be in O or G scale, but if you want to see long trains snaking through broad expanses of overwhelming scenery, N is the best option.
Was 10, when I received first train set, was a Tyco Santa Fe set. At time didn't know difference in RRs or engine types, or anything. My second time around (1987) bought a pair of athern GP35s. Custom-painted them, but got tired of running the "race track" circle. Local hobby shop was nice enough to give me a $$ swap in N-scale equipment for my HO. Still was buying Model Power/Lifelike engines for $8.00 a piece. Almost, got out of the hobby because of them. Finally, went back to the Hob and bought a pair of Kato engines. Been, an N-scaler ever since. Best attributes: *small size.:thumbs_up: *still Big enough to detail.:thumbs_up: *size makes kitbashing and scratchbuilding very easy.:thumbs_up: *Running reasonably length trains.:teeth: Jerry G.
I enjoy N scale and model it because of a lack of space, I must admit that if I had the space I would model HO Australian propotype, there is very few models in Aussie N scale but lots in HO, modeling an American Santa Fe N scale layout is a new experience for me, a new learning curve that I am realy enjoying, chances are if I had the space I would most likely model the same in HO. Dave Downunder.
Hey. I've grown up with Lionel 'O' from my dad's old train's from when he was a kid, with a mix of the few trains I can afford from my shoe-string-budget. I've always loved HO, and I had this little set that I used to setup on the floor, but trying to make a HO train run on carpet is an almost impossible task. But recently I've set up a 4x8 board, and built two tracks, but took it down, to make a bigger yard. (I had to make a decision of two trains running, or a big yard, but choose the yard. space is limited.) Now since I've been going to the Greenburg Train Shows, my jaw too dropped when I saw those N Scale trains. So I bought a starter N Scale set at the Montvale Show, NJ at St. Joe's, for 25 bucks, I began setting up my n scale railroad. But I took it down, for the reason of my big dillema! I've come to the conclusion that HO is a great way to model railroad with a limited budget. You go to a train show, you can get an HO scale engine anywhere from 5-20 dollars, plus lots of bargain rolling stock. Most N Scale engines are brand new, and at least 30+ dollars. That's the plus for HO, but the pro for N is, as stated already, space! On my 4X8 layout, I can fit at least 3 blocks, and a decent, large yard. Right now, I have my HO setup, but I think tomorrow afternoon, for the third time in two months, I'll start building my n scale layout again. Good choice?
I COMPLETELY agree!! My dad bought me the Bachmann Silver Chief for christmas one year, that lead into a few more cars, a new Conrail loco... (viewable at my railimages page) Aside from being born into it so to speak, I have always appreciated the aspect of surrounding industries/farms ect. and enjoy the sweeping curves (tho I dont seem to have any on my layout which is only 2.5 feet wide..) I also like to run long trains; I remember always trying to count how many cars went by I remember one that was 148 cars! -NUTEY-
Big scenes and long trains. I can fit 30 cars plus 3 locos and a cabooose in a 12' siding. I can run a 20 car local and really fill up and switch a major industry. I can also put a good portion of a train on a long bridge.
I chose N because it was half the size of HO and therefore I would have 4 times the layout in the same area and I could store my boxes for locos and rolling stock in 1/8th the space. This is very helpful when you have hundreds of locos and cars.
I have just converted from HO! It's all because I have limited layout space and model the modern era. Trying to run Superliners and 89' TOFCs and auto carriers on 18" radius HO track was disscouraging, enough for me to drop the hobby and turn my layout into a 4x12' dust collection facility. I have since re-adapted most of the elements of my old HO layout into a 4x8 N scale design and amd currently in the benchwork/track planning stage. I'm currently selling off all of my HO collection and accessories. I am holding on to three of the HO locos, and will turn them into superdetailing projects when I have spare time.
I choose N scale because the drop dead gorgeous brunette I was standiing next to at the train show Ntrak layout 30 years ago thought the little trains were cute.
I am actually scaling up by getting into N. I have heaps of Z gauge loco's and rolling stock and will continue to buy more as well as build a 16' by 11' by 12' u shaped Z layout. But i am buying N gauge Pennsy rolling stock and loco's ( steamies only ) because there is so much available compared to Z, and also i am looking at setting up some T-Track modules. My dad is building a small round the room layout in N and i want to be able to bring something of mine to run around.
I want a higher scenery-trains ratio than my small quarters, small budget and HO would allow While the per-unit cost of N is higher than HO, the possibilities just look better to me.
