HO Gauge or N Gauge? What do you have, and why?

[wombat457]

I have both, a very small N Scale and my main HO Scale. Since having the N Scale I have found getting anything but modern equipment difficult and that which is available (Steam) is costly by comparison.

If you want a modern day layout then N is great. If you want to run a Steam Layout, I'm afraid that HO is going to give you greater choices.

 

[A2TwrOpr]

I saw this thread a little late and didn't bother to read everyone else's replies (sorry guys). So this may have been covered already by someone else.
My current layout is ho scale. The first layout I built in my house was n scale though. So here's my opinion. Ho scale is definitely going to require more room if you want have more stuff on the layout. You can't build an empire layout with ho scale on a 4x8 piece of plywood. Also, everything costs more; buildings, engines, rolling stock, etc. But the level of detail, if that's a concern, is really great. Don't get me wrong though, n scale can have the same amount of detail but it seems to have to be added by the modeler. Ho scale is easier to handle, my fingers had a hard time with n scale equipment and tiny objects. My dad has a little arthritis and couldn't rerail n scale cars when he came over. So that's something you want to consider as well. Can you deal with tiny objects. I really enjoyed my n scale layout but ho scale suits me better. And that's the bottom line, finding a scale that works for you. How much space do you have, how big is your budget, and what do you want out of the layout. Those are the questions I had asked myself when I made the jump back to ho scale. And everything I want of my layout I have accomplished with ho scale. Sure I could have done more with n scale but for me the big part of getting away from it was the size of the models.

 

[bwells]

I jumped in late also, but I think N Scale is more pricey due to the market. Much more people model HO than N and the price is adjusted accordingly. N is small and HO is more prevalent with a wider range of stuff. This has decreased recently though. As long as your eyesight is good and your fingers are agile, either will work but N scale takes half the space and HO is cheaper.

 

[Burlington Bob]

Maybe, if you're talking used equipment, I would agree. If you are comparing new, then N is cheaper than HO. This is especially true for diesels. Just look at MB Klein or Brooklyn Locomotive Works web sites for example. Prices for most HO diesels are up to two times the price of N scale diesels, sometimes from the same manufacturer for the same model type. You can get quality N scale models for as low as $70.00 http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/N-Sc...tm?searching=Y&sort=3&cat=1437&show=30&page=2. HO often runs in the $150.00 price range. http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/HO-S...tm?searching=Y&sort=3&cat=1450&show=30&page=2

 

[A2TwrOpr]

Bob is absolutely right in regards to prices. I've found the same thing with costs being close to double for ho scale compared to n scale. I had 6 Kato n scale engines that cost $70 to $80 each new. You can't even get an ho scale Athearn RTR for under $100. It seems to me that ho scale is more costly in every aspect

 

[wombat457]

That actually makes sense. When you consider that HO is the more popular, right or wrong, it is going to be more expensive as that is where the manufacturers make their money.

On the other hand, when it comes to scenery, there isn't that much difference between HO and N Scale. For example, the same item from the same company, one being HO and the other being N scale:

N Scale Built Up:

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Woodland-N-Pre-Built-Sully-s-Tavern-p/woo-br4940.htm

HO Scale Version:

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Woodland-HO-Pre-Built-Sully-s-Tavern-p/woo-br5049.htm

Not a whole lot of difference in the price when you consider what you get.

 

[PPPPPP42]

I always assume that N was cheaper because the molded shells have the same detail as the cheaper HO stuff so its much simpler to make. The prices on the lower (mechanical) half of N scale locomotives have come way down over the years as popularity and technology has increased, so that no longer is a factor in increasing price. Seems to be similar with many N scale things, less detail is easier to make.

Expect to go back and forth at least 20 times before choosing between HO or N for certain. After picking N (again) I decided I don't like the lack of good sound in N because of the physical size limitations in the speakers so I asked SCARM what it would take to make an HO layout with the 24" radius minimum main line I require for large passenger cars fit in the 16x16 area I have selected (one side of insulated pole barn/garage). I would work out yourself what you could do in both scales before buying anything at all.
Here was my answer and I think I can live with it. The long sides are 12 feet and the end blocks are 5x5 which is what it takes to swing a 24" loop around. That leaves a 2 foot walk around on the whole back side. The digitrax controls will go in the cutout with plug in jacks in the middle of both long sides and the mainline will be its own power zone. The mainline sets the table size so its all I have done so far. I might add a second inner main line for shorter freight cars. I really suck at SCARM. It has a few clunky features and I think a glitch where you can make a symmetrical shape and not have the tracks line up when you get back to the start point (had to use flex to close that loop after starting with snap). Some initial suggestions to its creator would be a better way to replace snap track with flex since its easier to plan in snap and actually build the layout in flex, and also it cuts off all the table dimensions when you make a preview picture which is annoying. Also the baseboard tools are clunky, adding ways to draw shapes like a basic art program and click on a line and set just that lines length by number would be super handy and really speed things up.

 

[paper-tiger]

N gauge is the preferred choice in the future. It is often mentioned in Star Trek, but they never show a layout.

Bruce

lol!
I like the smaller use of space, but I already feel like a crazy person, using tweezers and a needle to glue downspouts to tiny buildings in HO scale. I think modeling in N scale is what inspired the painting of the Last Supper on the head of a pin.

 

[roberto.lozano.37]

N gauge for me. The level of detail that has been achieved to date astounds me. BUT If I had the room and I was in my "final" home than HO would be my first choice.

 

[tootnkumin]

HO for me, I flirted with N back in the 70's, but I like the solid feel in the hand of HO (and I can see it (just).