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N Scale or HO Scale?
Nigel asks readers:
“I plan to build a train set up in half my double garage. Although I have quite a bit of space… enough for an HO set I think… I somehow prefer the look of smaller N scale trains. With this amount of space is N scale too small given that the cost longer term might be greater for me to fill this space with enough of the smaller track and trains, or should I just add more extensive (hopefully not too expensive) scenery like rolling hills etc?”
60 Responses to N Scale or HO Scale?
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How’s your eye sight for smaller scales? And will you be able to fix small things?
I agree Ron. While the cost of H0 and N are about the same, and one can get about four times as much in the same space using N, for us older people, eyesight can be a big problem. Z scale is even worse, it looks like fly specs on my glasses.
Me personally I think that both ho and n scale costs are around the same. The space they consume while is the big difference you have to figure out if you have the patience to work with N scale due to size or go with ho being a little more of a space hog but easier to see and details. I model ho scale and am in a club that models both Ho and N
Several things to consider with N scale: 1st, eyesight…I gave up N scale because I couldnt see it so good, another thing to consider is dust in the air…N scale can be fussier than HO. If you go with N scale start with a small layout (no pun intended) that can be expanded over time.
I also have a Twitter car garage and elected to go N scale. I love my layout, 4 x 10 and elevates to the ceiling for parking space, however, at my age, 60 it becomes harder to see enough detail to do Mtc. Also, would love to go DCC but no way could I make the changes to the engine. As I’m sure you know, the N scale supplies are much better than in the past, but still not as many as HO.
In the end, a personal choice for sure. I’m thinking about switching to HO due to age and want to continue to do Mtc. On my layout. It sounds like you have half the garage, so space should not be an issue. You will love whatever you decide on, best wishes
It really is your choose. I like HO, N gauge the parts and piecies are so
Small for me to handle plus see. Sounds like you have enough space for an HO layout. If you are into dcc and sound. N gauge is far behind in the sound area from what I read. I have been HO all my life. There are several sites out there that you can get other pros and cons HO vs N gauge. I would read everything available to help with your discussion.
I have N scale. The smaller the more critical everything is. HO offers a greater variety of products. If I had a little more space I would do HO.
Hi Nigel.
I don’t know what your tastes in trains, scenery and eras are, but I’ve found a larger space with N scale gives me the flexibility to have 2 or 3 urban/suburban areas connected through rural areas (farming, mining, forestry etc). Yes it can be more costly for N scale, but half the fun is building and expanding 🙂 – and I agree, N scale has a more appealing look for me.
I agree, N Gauge is far more enjoyable because you can do so much in the space you have. I only have a 10′ x 8′ shed but I have 2 separate layouts with so much going on with both of them I could never achieve with HO. Go N all the time.
I model in N scale due to the space I have. My layout is mounted on a hollow core door. I run DC or DCC on the same track, notat the same time,I can run three locomotives at the same time on the same track.
Provided you have the patience and reasonable eyesight to work with the smaller scale then I would agree that going for N gauge would be better. You can build a more scale realistic layout rather than cramming too much in to the space available. I used to model in Z gauge and had a great little layout on an 8 x 4 board. Now I’m starting on a G gauge garden layout because it’s a lot easier to see through old eyes and also I now have the space to do justice to it.
My first question to that would be, how good is your eyesight! With N you can get a lotmore into the same space, but realistic trains in N tend to have to be a lot longer, therefore costing more. If N scale locomotives go wrong they are smaller and therefore harder to fix. Over the last 55 years my taste in modelling has changed, due to changes in space, budget and eyesight/ co-ordination. I now model mainly in 0n30 or 0:16.5, which is narrow gauge running on track the same gauge as HO (OO) but the scale is 7mm/foot (1/4 inch/foot). I find I am able to build a far more realistic model in a smaller space, and with narrow gauge the possibilities are endless! Passenger trains look fine with just 1 or 2 wagons and converting HO locomotives to the larger scale is great fun. If there is a club near you maybe you could go see what others are doing, to get a better idea of what would fit your needs best. We exhibit our layouts and I have to say O scale is a lot easier to work on than the smaller scales, but that is just my personal take on it!
I, also, run in On30 and love the scale. It is large enough that you can see what is going on but small enough to fit into a small space and specialize in narrow gauge lines in the woods, mountains, or desert canyons. And On30 is funner!
Iam constructing a layout in half a garage , the layout is 7m x 6m which is ideal for ho 00 gauge.
This size allows a good variation of scenes , marshalling yards, rivers bridges etc.
All the best for your N gauge
Get the best of both scales. I have HO scale running close to the people who run on our club layout while running N scale more to the rear and in some of the Moutain area. This gives you a forced perspective and looks great if done right. Think about it and have fun working on your layout.
Yes, I like this idea. Personally I am really an H0-fan, allways have been. N-scale was not even available when I started. H0 may seem like a “waste of space”, but it isn’t. Go for quality instead of quantity, save a lot of money, and have a layout you can enjoy without reading glasses.
Running a small N-track thing high up in the mountains will enhance the perspective. I have never tried it, I didn’t have the money, but it was a fantasy I had for a long time.
I was about to write what Dennis did. I’ve seen this done with multi scales and the perspective looks great. People or clubs will have one running a nonstop route with the other more involved.
I would suggest you go with HO. At least at this time the are much more accessories for that scale. Also mentioned above they are small. I went with N scale because of space and I am happy with it. I just think the possibilities are greater at this time
I personally think n gauge is such a fiddle the pieces are much more fiddly and everything so I tiny yes there is a benefit of n gauge because it is small you can fit a lot on your layout but as I shop for my stuff I have oo gauge I see hardly any n gauge for sale. I would say go for ho gauge because is easier to work with.
I am into N scale and I found it to be a very good scale to work with even at my age lol. Honestly Nigel it really all depends on how much space you have. I have a good portion of my basement to work with and I still want a bigger layout. Athough my layout is only one layer there is so much more you can do in n scale.
Good luck on your choice and Happy Railroading
Have both! I have a 5X8 layout with HO and N gauge. And I have plenty of room. And the cost, well it builds up. the important thing is get your track together and run those trains! 😉
Hi Nigel I have 3 layouts at the moment 2 n scale and 1 OO scale. 1 n scale layout is a u shape round the room measuring 5.2 Metres X 3.6 Metres X 5.2 Metres modelled on the English countryside with rolling hills,towns, station, coal mine, farms, etc my OO scale is twice the size with very much the same + a holding yard with a powered turntable. My other n scale is a 4.2 X4.2 metre square modelled on the Rocky Mountains. I first started with a 6×2 foot layout upon completion it took me 35 minutes to become bored with it so I built a bigger one and went to dcc much better but still not enough.What I’m saying is there are those of us that enjoy operating a model railway with its shunting yards and moving wagons around then there are the people who love the building of dioramas creating scenery and the problem with that is your layout is never as big as your imagination. So after waffling on in a nut shell a DCC powered N scale is the way to go as big as possible. Good luck Graeme
I went with HO scale because there were so many more locomotives and a lot more rolling stock, building kits and accessories available. It was a lot easier for me to super detail structures, paint people and vehicles etc. I am now 70, my eyesight isn’t that great and I’m not as steady as I used to be. Depending on how good your eyesight is and how steady your hands are, I would say it depends on what kind or railroad you want. If you run HO articulated locomotives and passenger trains, then you really need wide radius curves and preferably #6 or greater turnouts, which take up a lot of room. It is almost impossible to run a 14 car passenger consist on less than 10 x 20 feet and have it look realistic. The same with an articulated or ABA diesel set with 40-50 freight cars. Having said all this, N scale has come a long way. You can now get steam and diesel locomotives with DCC and sound. There is a lot more rolling stock available, structures and scenery details. N scale costs about 2/3 to 1/2 what HO does and you can get twice as much railroad in the same space as HO. Check walthers.com, trainworld.com, factorydirecttrains.com to compare costs and availability.
personally I’d choose ho because its easier to maintain and operate compared to n scale. I have both at home and the main deterrent that stopped me building n scale is the price of the locomotives. ho seems miles cheaper and the track is easier to clean models are easier to clean and oil and I personally think n scale looks ridiculously tiny. same with z scale and t gauge.
NIGEL, I HAVE AN HO LAYOUT ON A 12 BY 6FT TABLE I BUILT IN MY 2 CAR GARAGE. IT’S ATTACHED TO A 1500 LB ELECTRIC WINCH TO 4 CABLES ON THE TABLE, SO WHEN I’M DONE WORKING ON IT, UP IT GOES! DCC HO IS THE WAY TO GO!
I prefer n scale but my dad left me all of his many totes of ho. I live in a townhouse so space is a premium. You can see more and have more options in ho versus n scale. Where I live there are very few trains stores and only about 2′ of n scale vs ho. Also there are alot more supplies to scratch build in go available at hobby lobby etc. if I had the room I’d go ho and keep my nscale.. Fwiw
I have had layouts in both scales. I have found that each has its good points and bad. The layout that I have now is HO. I picked HO because it’s easier to work on for me. I like to put in my own DCC decoders, lights, and super details. The older I get HO is easier to see and handle. You can’t go wrong with either one. Good railroading….
Bill
while n scale requires less room ho scale gives more options as far as accesaries. I chose n scale because of limited space. I have noticed that some scalers build with ho scale but put n scale in the rear to give the impression of distance. personally if ii had a big warehouse I would go with a garden scale layout.
N scale for me is good for smaller areas, as for a larger, say 6-8′ x 20′ layout, it is real hard to fill in unless you put a small city or a forest or two in there somewhere. My plans are for H.O.
Nigel, OK Good Question. To start with HO used to be the one to go to . It had at one time more rolling stock , Bigger selection of engines, Buildings and so on. But as N scale has evolved in recent years all that is becoming available. What used to be the best economical price, The HO scale was the cheapest way to go, But anymore N Scale is becoming more and more equal in price to HO Scale. For me HO is small enough, to work on and I know that because I look for used stuff and fix it up instead of buying out right. N Scale is small in comparison and therefore some repairs can become tedious. But is no different than me trying to get that great detail on something in HO. What it really boils down to these days is the space you have, How much railroad you want, and are you planning to make that layout so it breaks down to take to train shows. I know one person who has a full HO layout on one level and a full N scale on a lower level. But he goes to train shows and he has a portable layout to do that also in N Scale. That whole layout in HO you might want would take up hefty space but to do the same layout in N scale might take up a third of that. Where you might not have room to shallow your curves, the N Scale will give you plenty. of room to do that. I have seen some beautiful N Scale layouts so even though I don’t do N Scale, I don’t discount it it can be a wonderful scale to work with. One other thing…… The latest craze is Z gauge and I have seen some wonderful layouts out there with wonderful detail. I have also seen some great detail in buildings too. So I can say I think the Z Scale is getting closer to being the old N Scale Your choice But the smaller it is the more patience you might need. from Newman
I just moved into a 2 bedroom 2 bath apartment and “N “Scale comes in handy I got my stuff out of mothballs I have a 2 ft by 4 foot layout I hope to ad another 2×4 later down the road and make it as portable as possible If I did “Z ” Scale no sweat there but Z scale is expensive too small and too rich for my blood even though they are getting more authentic only drawback There is no market for “N Scale Interurban Trolleys I wish there were I saw a guy on You Tube “N” scale The Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee If I scale modeled anything I would prefer Panto-graphs and catenary I would be debating on whether to model a PRR Reading Piedmont & Northern Erie-Lackwannna Illinois Central or South Shore I like them all just the same but the older stuff on the PRR & Reading I grew up around
Fred, Make your Trolley N Scale a portable layout to take to shows. Small Layouts is what I like hosting the Train Day at the Museum each year at the Terre Haute Children’s Museum. We had 18 small layouts spread throughout the 3 floors of Museum just a few weeks ago. We think this recent show may have been the largest gathering of small layouts at one show in a long time in the Mid West. Go for it I have my portable layout called the Tree Stump Railroad in HO just for shows and has been to probably 60 to 70 shows since I built it. I have seen very few trolley layouts in N scale and it would be very unique and a big hit at shows. You can have your main layout at home and your portable for shows. from Newman
I have a slab of cork on a piece of wood for my layout and a Green Grass thing and I spike my track using a flat head screwdriver and small nails and I have to say Its hods real good Plus I clamp my track joiners for added stabilization maybe Later I may switch over to Bachmann E-Z Track I seen it up close and personal and its sure fire trouble free operation and N Gauge is getting more open market nowadays My preference is short line in Florida Catenary is hard to get. I may take a snees using 50 pound test monofiolmant fishing line I have several streetcars too and Bachmann has come out with “N Gauge Peter Witt Types I rode them in Philly when I was a kid we also had the Near sides too and double ended Brills I hope Imperial models comes out with it but I guess there has to be a real market for it first
Hey guys if anyone has a thing for Heritage Power this is in Davenport Florida a CEMEX Yard Goat in Atlantic Coast Line In a way I’m sorry I relaocted to Florida the reason my wife’s health issues and she needed a warmer climate I’m missing out on some good stuff like Norfolk southern Heritage Units My favorite one is The Illinois Terminal I heard it glows in the dark and sticks out like a sore thumb to boot I have several videos of the Illinois Terminal It was bought out by Norfolk Southern What CSX needs is a guy like Wick Moorman who reconizessthe Impotance of Nostalgia and Heritage
I probably have no business commenting since I am so new to model railroading. I am 68 years old and while I have dabbled in model railroading the past 20 years, I haven’t really had a layout completed anytime during those 20 years. I started with American Flyer which my dad bought when I was just a kid. That took up way too much space so, I started buying some N scale track, cars, etc. but, they were in storage for at least 10 years. It was last year that I decided to start my first N scale layout. It is coming along VERY slowly. My comment to Nigel is simply this….the detail in N scale is fantastic. I am focusing on a staging area, some sidings, but, no real landscape at this time. It will come in time but for now, I just want to enjoy running the trains. I am not a visionary and because of that, it would be impossible for me to start a layout with much landscaping. I think it will come in time and, hopefully, I will see the landscape take shape. For now, I am wanting to enjoy just running the trains.
FYI I heard The South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has been having Issues with their new Silverliner Vs’ from Hyndai – Rotem a structural defect in their wheel assemblies mad them top heavy on one side which was a accident waiting to happen. That was the bad news now The Good News They are under warranty and Hyndai-Rotem is picking up the tab for repairs Denver Colorado has the same kind of cars and I was wondering if it raised any red flags there Personally I think SEPTA junked The ex PRR & Reading Co Silverliners by Budd & St Louis Prematurely they had to borrow stuff from MARC NJ Transit and AMTRAK But on the other hand a buddy of mine told me it was some diversifying railfanning in unusual locations
Nigel, Lets back up a bit first. What kind of “running of the layout” are you interested in? If you like switching cars into industries, and moving cars around prototypically then I’d say HO would be better for you as the cars are heavier and will stay on the track better when you have to back the train up. If you just like running the trains around the layout, then either scale will be OK. You indicated you plan to build in part of a garage. My garage is usually dusty and dirty from the cars coming in and out. Dust becomes more of a problem the smaller the scale. Once you figure out how you feel about these two problems, I think the solution to which scale will become more obvious. Hang in there, and try some things out. Set up a 4×8 on some “horses” and run some trains for a while and see how it goes for a month. Maybe some of the issues mention in all these replies might not be too bad after all. If you don’t have any trains yet, look for a garage sale or go to a local train meet and check out used track, cars, engines, power pack. Use these to “check out” your 4×8 layout.
This is the AMTRAK Silver star Davenport Florida The area is nice for photgragphing now iof there was only more traffic
G scale
I like passenger rolling stock to look going around broad curves, so it’s N scale for me. But more important are two items that have been already mentioned: eyesight and physical coordination. N is much less forgiving than HO if either is a problem.
I had an old, partially developed HO layout that I wanted to revive. However, I was interested in N-scale and was torn between scrapping the old HO layout and starting over in N- scale. I spoke with a friend that started in N-scale and he had to give it up in favor of HO-scale because of his eye sight. I reconsidered…I went with the HO-scale because I can get along better for longer due to eyesight considerations.
Depends on your age. N scale and HO scale are childrens toys. Anyone who is serious about this hobby wouldn’t even consider either of those scales. As the old saying goes “it’s O scale or no scale.
A very personal choice. I model in Z scale, I’m 75 and I’ve worn glasses all my life, but love the small stuff. It frustrates rivet counters because at 1:220 realistic rivets disappear without strong magnification. If you look at most of the layouts in HO, you get a railyard, then 4′ away a town, another 5′ another town, etc. In other words, many HO layouts have no realism at all, even if they run with gimmicked clocks. N is much better, you get about twice as much layout in the same space, the curves can be more realistic, you can run longer trains, etc. And from what I see, there’s as much available in N as there is in HO and prices seem to be in the same ballpark. As some posters stated, the smaller you go, the better your track work needs to be, you have to keep track and rolling stock cleaner, and it’s more difficult for a fumble fingers (like me, but I still get along with Z). Of course, you need a warehouse for a realistic layout, but N or Z have more possibilities than HO.
Hi Nigel. Firstly I’m assuming that since you talk in HO and not OO then you are probably in America. I’m not sure what size a double garage is in the USA but in the UK its normally 18′ square ( to get under the 30 square meter permitted development rules) in American and Continental N Scale (1:160) that makes just over half a mile. {Quarter of a mile in HO} Just think what you could in half a mile of real-estate.
Wow !!!!!!! there are a lot of very good responses and it all boiles down to eyesight,price,and space.I made my decision HO on detail even though N scale has come a long way the detail in HO wearher iits trains buildings or landscape is better and the visibility of detail is easy and more defined.The key thing is my choice and ive had many years of enjoyment . Now make your choice and love the greatest hobby in the world. Oh by the way if somewhere down the line you change your mind you can start a. Ew all over again. Oh what a great hobby.
Eye site is very important with the smaller cars and little cars can be a problem if you have grand children who try to eat them.
I think if you go for the advice from Ted Stapleton and Malcolm Cleaveland you have all the information you need. A small “evaluation layout” is a great idea. You’ll know what looks and feels right quite quickly. It is a very personal choice based on what you enjoy about railway modelling. The most important thing though, get off the fence and TRY SOMETHING. If you don’t you could find yourself still trying to make the decision a long time from now.
I’d go for N-scale, but I’d build sections. That way, you won’t feel that completing is an insurmountable task. I hat a Z-scale layout that would have taken up the space of a garage, but since I built it in sections, it always felt manageable, finance-wise and time-wise. The bad news was, I had to move to a smaller space. The good news was, because I built in sections, I could reuse the benchwork and most of the track and turnouts.
Go for the N if you want the most use of your space…. HO if you want more detail.
I would use both scales. HO up front and N in the background with your rolling hills. Just a thought.
I model in N scale
HO has more products. Every thing has far more detail. Dexterity and eye sight is not as much of an issue
You don’t say exactly how much a ‘considerable amount of room’ is so I’m guessing it’s more than 4’x8′ in size. Regardless of that, you’ll probably be happier with the HO over the much smaller N mostly due to pieces/parts being so much smaller in N. You won’t get as much track on the layout but then again you could always put an upper level in. So I’d suggest HO.
I hope to set up a lay out using Dutch engines and trains, those are I believe only available in HO scale. First win the lottery…..
With that space, you could build a nice O scale (2-rail) or O Gauge/Hi-rail (3-rail) layout. Yes the trains would be shorter, but you could run locals, handle switching of industries, and operate a continuous run on 36″ radius curves. The comment we make about O scale is “Trains you can actually see when you’re between 50 and 300 years old,” A bonus of 3-rail if you can handle the presence of a third rail is that every piece of 3-rail equipment produced to date will negotiate 36″ radius (O-72) curves. In the video below, there’s a mix of scale-wheeled and hi-rail equipment. The locomotives are MTH 2-rail/3-rail diesels with scale wheels and fixed pilots. Some of the car groups have “transition cars” on the ends that allow coupling of Kadee couplers to strings of cars with traditional 3-rail couplers.
Hi guys and girls – I can’t add anything to your already positive well worked responses.
Both gauges have merit for the area available. Just be sure you know what your railway will do – lots of shunting and wagon worrying then HO is probably the go, long trains in open country then N can’t be beaten.
The cost of a rolling stock item, loco or length of track is comparable. Everyone mentioned eyesight – that is why I switched to the larger scale recently.
Have fun
At the end of the day it really comes down to what you are happiest with. You have mentioned you are attracted to N scale, then why not go with that and build a small layout of this to see how it goes. Join a local club, visit exhibitions, get a feel for all the scales, see what they look like, how they operate, and what sort of layouts you can plan.
All of us have our own favourite scale, mine is ho/oo just because it’s what I have always used since a young boy…. However, N gauge can be very attractive in the right setting, and I have in the past built a lay-out to this scale also. Good luck with your project.
I find N gauge too small especially if doing your own Mtce. Hope this helps. Wally
I found that H.O. is better cuz I do a lot of my own work on locomotives. Like installing decoders and wiring. I think N scale is a little to small and sometimes a little more costly.
Nobody addressed the idea of operations versus detail. If you are more interested in operations, go with N scale to fit more possibilities in the same space. If you are more into detail, go with HO or larger. I’m sticking with N scale for now.
BTW, whatever choice you make will be a good one. It’s your personal preference that counts.
I suggest you consider both. Use the “N” scale as a scratchpad to work up your own ideas for what you work up in “HO”. The smaller layout can also be your play while working up your larger set.
I have this done by several folks. A couple of them put the smaller layout on rollers to put beneath the larger one. For one it was handy for his grandkids to enjoy without them disturbing the “Master” layout.
Just a thought.