I need everybody's advice

[CNWlivesinme]

I find myself with a steady job and real itch to get back into the hobby.

I have 70" x 40" of space to work with. I am not set yet on an era or scale. I will be building a roster from scratch.

I really love the idea of HOn3, but the cost is frightening. I know I can do more with N-scale.

I want something simple, layout wise, a few industries, passing siding, no sharp curved radii and no spaghetti bowls.

I am leaning towards the Rio Grande in 1982.

What are the members experiences and what I should do next? Narrow gauge is just so damn cool, but I do think I have enough room to do something proper.

Thank you for all your knowledge. 

[wm3798]

Consider that you won't have to buy as much HOn3 stuff, and you might find the budget issue is less of an issue.

Lee

[DaveB]

I also think you should take a hard look at making HOn3 work if that is what you would really like.  You don't have to start big, and I would think that a relatively small amount of equipment could work really well in HOn3. 

[up1950s]

There is a much greater choice of buildings , vehicles , and people , all with a higher fidelity of detail and better functionality of loco , and coupler control in HO . With N you will double your mileage . It all depends on what floats your inner tube .

[daniel_leavitt2000]

HOn3 has some neat stuff, but you will be stuck in a specific era. N has a bit more flexibility, but we are also limited with what we can do (just try and model a GM plant).

What I suggest is you think about trains in general for a minute. What did you think of first? Narrow gauge lumber operations? Tunnel motors in the high plains? An articulated running through a whistle stop?

Whatever you imagined first, that should be your layout's focus. For me, and half the guys here we see blue engines running trains in the Northeast. Its what we know. Its what we are comfortable with.

[DKS]

What I suggest is you think about trains in general for a minute. What did you think of first? Narrow gauge lumber operations? Tunnel motors in the high plains? An articulated running through a whistle stop?

This is an excellent suggestion. But this must also be tempered with what you're comfortable building, insofar as how much you're willing and able to build versus what you'd prefer to buy. If you are looking for a real challenge, where you're building more than you're buying, then narrow gauge may be the way you'll choose to go. If you want a layout up and running in a relatively short period of time, with a lower investment of time and energy, then you may want to opt for an N scale layout.

[Dave V]

70" by 40" is not a lot of room to work with in HO.  HOn3 can do 15" radius curves, but I have to be honest; my 15" radius curves look tight enough in N scale.  You'd have room for a very tight oval or a very short switching puzzle.  Remember, too, that although HOn3 trains are smaller than HO, the structures are the same size.  A small train depot in HO is still twice as big as it would be in N.  Just something to consider.

I used to do HOn3 and it's a lot of fun, but N scale is much more flexible for the same space.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I agree with Daniel. Close your eyes, think "train", what do you see?

I see blue diesels in the city and suburbs. How about you?

Now that you have that, how do you work toward it, even if you can't quite get there yet?

[wm3798]

Hmmm.  Close my eyes, think of trains... 


Huh.  I'm obviously working with the wrong kind of models...

Lee

[Iain]

I see small Geeps and A1A trucked Baldwins in gray on impossibly small rail with oyster shell ballast.

[TiVoPrince]

Laser
focused unchanging modelers are rare.  Take an opportunity for 'something different' in a small space.  Mighty oaks grow from little acorns...

Like anyone could forever stay focused on a specific month of Conrail...

[GonzoCRFan]

but we are also limited with what we can do (just try and model a GM plant).

But modeling empty abandoned fields is now easy, thanks to Silflor...

[CNWlivesinme]

I appreciate all the advice. There is so much to think about.

I like the idea of Ed's layout. Its simple, and accomplishes a great deal. That would have to be in N-scale.

On the other hand, putting together HOn3 cars has its own charm. A two-piece shelf layout that I could turn into an L-shaped switching layout could be pretty fun. I actually think I need the small confines of narrow gauge (see what I did there ? ). I tend to go outside specific eras pretty easily, and it was the problem I had the last go around when I modeled the C&NW. Lumber in the sierra foothills might be right up my alley. In a good way.

Less is more.

[TiVoPrince]

Westside Lumber
HOn3 narrow gauge brass shays are almost always available.  Someday if interests change they can be eBay converted to funding for your next interest...

[Chris333]

http://www.blackstonemodels.com/