One thing I find bothersome as someone in HO is that a significant number of the advertisers exhibit a bias toward N scale. Another thing that's also bothered me is that some new models have been released first in N, with HO following later, which is the reverse of what has traditionally happened in the past. Dieter Zakas
A few years ago, I would have said that N-scale had a more modern bias...or rather HO had a more transition bias. It felt like N scale was getting new Modern cars more frequently and before HO did, but I don't know that I think that's true anymore if it ever was. Certainly, given the size, modern mainline unit trains and stack trains are going to be easier in N scale and so, I would expect that fans of modern railroading are going to give N scale a longer look. But HO has caught up.
If I was just starting out fresh in the hobby, I would sure give N-scale a long look - just for its greater utilization of space alone. That to me is its greatest asset. I like to run long trains and "railfan" trackside, watching them run from different perspectives. N-scale would give my trains a chance to stretch out and run without the danger of "catching their tail". That said, the HO scale still looks better to me. I'll just have to try to annex more house space :tb-ooh:
I was thinking about the scale issue today and I came to the conclusion that I am doing it all backwards . My main modeling focus is HO where I modeling the modern era (2003-2011) with a heavy throwback to the BN mid 1970's to 1980's and in my model worlds, the BNSF still runs allot of that Cascade green. My planned N-scale layout is focused on the Great Northern with some Northern Pacific and a cameo or two of the CB&Q set in a wide range from the 1940's (steam) to 1969 (just before the BN merger). I am backwards because Nscale does lend itself well to the modern era to allow long trains with great space utiliazation potential....HO requires much much more space. Plus, there is just more good steam in HO than N (though there is some very good N scale steam). I have the Kato Mikado and wow I like it. Of course with a Northwest setting for the GN and NP to grind through, N scale does lend itself well to majestic scenery which is what I am hoping for. I also just prefer HO and heck if I had the space I would probably consider O scale. My G scale far into the future plans is to have a simple garden layout just for some railfanning ere not yet chosen
