Hi everyone, I'm new to model railroading. I'm reading up on the hobby and was curious which scale(s) do you use? I'm trying to decide between HO and N scale. I like the small size that N scale offers to build sets in smaller areas but HO scale seems to offer more choices in engines and accessories.

What are y'all working with and working on?

O scale for me but if I built a smaller railroad it would be N.
Not much help but Im running out of room. LOL.

I currently have an HO trainset or 4 and I am interested in building a layout for my 1:64 cars. S scale buildings are a close match. I am still on the fence about what I will do. I currently do not have any space for either the cars or the trains.
Richard

I've been collecting both HO an N for some time now and relize N is a better choice for me because of lack of room to set up a layout,I'm just getting started on my first layout built on a 36x84 in hollow core interior door which looks like it will offer plenty of action and space for scenery and buildings

HO. MAX eqpt, better reliability than N. A nice scale compromise would be HOn3. 1/87 in scale and ability of slightly tighter curves.

BEFORE YOU EVER STICK 2 PIECES OF TRACK TOGETHER.....

Get a copy of John Armstrongs book "Track Planning for Realistic Operation" Read it over and over - especially the chapter "Operational reliability through standards." As long as you are doing al the work to build it, you want to have it work well, and not bore you before the first structures are built.

Thanks,

I've been looking over a catalog of several brands at a local hobby shop and noticed that there aren't many steam engines available in HO. N scale seems to offer a bit more. Does anyone know if the trend will change back towards steam engines? Seems that it's mostly diesel that is all I can find.

...I've been looking over a catalog of several brands at a local hobby shop and noticed that there aren't many steam engines available in HO...
That's probably because there is so much out there from previous production. The prices for the stuff on the secondary(used) market are such, that it doesn't make economic sense to manufacturers to make new product available. I think it's safe to say that whatever there is in N scale, there's more of it in HO out there.

Bachman Spectrum, Lifelike and Broadway Ltd make steam. Precision Scale does too. If you have any actual skills you can build Bowser METAL STEAM ENGINE KITS. you need Dremel, files, and such. I've built about 20 of them. The English's who own the company will help yu with questions if you call them! They pull better than any plastic engines. I suggest the PRR H9 as your first kit. If you can do that one then you could build the rest - even the Challenger 4-6-6-4!

I've been looking over a catalog of several brands at a local hobby shop and noticed that there aren't many steam engines available in HO. N scale seems to offer a bit more...
What railroad are you going to model? And what time period?

Do yourself a favor and get yourself a copy of the Walthers HO Trains catalog. about 10 bucks.

HO mostly and some N. Getting in to O now.