Have any of you thought about going to the dark side?

[txronharris]

I’m at a crossroads. About to be able to start a layout and have a decent 9’x9’ L shape to work with.

But I’m thinking of changing scale from N to HO.

No other reason than just thought about it. Yes I know I have more to work with in NScale. Yes my leaning towards prototypical ops and switching can be done in both very well. But the drawback of selling off years of N scale and starting over seem to maybe outweigh and reason to switch. I can probably fund the whole swap with selling off everything, but thats a kick in the head.

So on the fence. Any advice? Anyone done it then came back to N? Just rambling here.

[Dave V]

Thought about it, did it, no regrets.  But I'm keeping one foot in N scale just 'cause.

Follow the hobby where it leads you and don't worry about what other people think.  You don't need anyone's approval to do what makes you happiest!

[eric220]

It’s really just about preferences. What is attracting you to HO scale?

[fire5506]

Here's a thought, do like I did join an HO club and keep the N scale for at home. That wasn't really why I did it. I liked the club and guys in it so I joined it, but I intend to keep my N scale for at home.


Richard Webster

[ednadolski]

Is Proto:87 dark enough?   




Ed

[wazzou]

It’s really just about preferences. What is attracting you to HO scale?

I’m not thinking about it but for me, it would have to be the HOers. 

[MVW]

I can sympathize with the OP. I've had similar thoughts, but will be sticking with N for now. But I'll offer a slight caveat regarding the OP's plans:

Back in March I was trying to offload some surplus N scale engines. A few went to members here, and the rest went on eBay. And I would say that about 50% of my eBay transactions were freaking disasters. I bought and sold fairly intensively on eBay 10 years ago or so, and continued to do so infrequently over the years ... but I've never run across a bunch of yahoos like I dealt with this spring.

In fact, it's highly unlikely I will attempt to sell again on eBay. Just sayin' that unloading your N scale inventory may not be as easy or remunerative as you expect.

Whichever way you go, have fun!

Jim

[davefoxx]

"We are HOers.  Resistance is futile.  Your life, as it has been, is over.  From this time forward, you will service us.  We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own."

Sincerely,
The HO Borg

[davefoxx]

I think it’s well known that I sold off my N scale collection and went all in on HO.  Haven’t looked back.  I enjoy the mass of HO over N scale, and I was weary of certain other aspects of N scale that wasn’t doing it for me anymore.

I sold most of my collection here in the Trading Post.  I priced it to move and did not expect profit.  I basically priced it at what I would pay for used N scale pieces, and it went quick.  That funded much of the new layout’s benchwork, track, a locomotive, and a few freight cars.  I wanted DCC and sound, so the move to HO worked for me with no regrets.

Like Dave V., I do have N scale in the house: my daughter’s layout with a couple of Kato North Pole Express trains and a few pieces left over from my N scale collection that I did not want to part with.

Hope this helps,
DFF

[DKS]

Personally, what bothers me the most is referring to HO as the "dark side." Even in jest it suggests a kind of scale prejudice that I cannot tolerate, even though I'm an N Scaler with no desire or intention (or time left) to switch scales. You need to follow your modeling heart wherever it leads, to whatever scale brings you joy.

[propmeup1]

My real first train was N in 1968. Had a nice little Rapido layout dad built me. Then in 1973 I moved to HO in a 5 X 10.  Never finished it. All the while i kept gravitating back to N. Reason for N was I just liked the small trains, that simple.

However once I got my own place the N in me really came out and now i have a 11 X 13 walk into.   I love 50 car trains etc.   But I still have a few HO items kicking around here.   To sum it up i'll go with it's a space / size thing. Smaller the scale the longer the train in a smaller area.

[sd45elect2000]

I have HO and O scale trolleys. A bit of track and trolley wire.

I guess I never left the dark side?

[CRL]

The only thing that would cause me to switch from N to HO would be if I wanted to forego standard gauge 1970’s era diesel freight and change to narrow gauge steam. HO diesel holds no attraction for me, but HOn3 is pretty neat.

[Dave V]

I started in HO of course.  Then dabbled in HOn3.  Then back to HO.  Then N.  Then G.  Now back to HOn3 with some N and a little G.  And I have Lionel for around the Christmas tree.

Model railroading is a big tent.  Trains are trains, fun is fun, and good modeling transcends scale and gauge.  As I intimated earlier, you sure don't need our permission to follow your heart!

I was first "attracted" to the Railwire due to its N scale focus (and its many Daves).  I still think the Railwire being primarily N scale focused is a good thing...proving to the world that N scale is as much a modeler's scale as any other.  But the increasing about of work in other scales and gauges on the Railwire only makes it better.

[Chris333]

If I could do this I'd switch to On3 in a second. He has servos in each of the hopper cars.