Has anyone thought of getting out of O scale because of..?

I have been in all the scales and even though HO has a lot of advantages, O gauge is the most exciting for a number of reasons.  The biggest drawback is the amount of room that it takes.

 

Art

I totally agree with Rick. My HO experience (when I was in my 20s) was exactly like he described. Derailments for no apparent reason, locomotives lurching, and gluing on those stanchions was not fun. O gauge, be it 2 rail or 3rail with some attention to track laying will run very reliably.

 

If I ever leave O I'm going to S not HO. Why? Because I like to be different and it has more "heft" than HO.

Leaving O Gauge has never entered my mind but expanding into other gauges has.  Now I have an O Gauge layout, and S Gauge layout and a Christmas layout which is a combination O and Standard Gauge layout.  Thank God I have no interest in any of the other gauges.  It wouldn't matter if I did because I have absolutely no room for anything else. 

In defense of HO, because it's smaller, lighter, & "to scale", the tolerences are much tighter than O-Gauge toy trains, making all the details of your equipment much more important. A high skill level is required to get everything operating properly including coupler type, height adjustment, wheel type & proper gauge, near perfect track, properly weighted rolling stock, & many other factors. Trains are rarely "Ready to Run", even right out of a box that says so. Even expensive models need some sort of modification to work right. Once this level is achieved, they run reliably for years, but it takes a lot of time at the bench & lots of learing & skill. A well functioning HO layout is a real joy to run & very realistic operations can be recreated. 

 

  I have had a lot of problems with Ogauge derailing & uncoupling over the years. RMT's smaller, mostly plastic, light weight cars are THE worst for this on the tight curves of my layout with long trains. They just can't handle the forces of the larger, heavier cars, so Ogauge is not immune to those issues just by virtue of it's larger size...

My answers underlined. To tell you the truth, if somebody had a sizable G scale layout and wanted to swop I MIGHT consider it. But, I think I have too much invested to turn back now. I just like the looks of the those huge Garden Scale freight cars. But I like 0 scale fine.

I've had HO and N scale in the past. When I see that stuff in the hobby shop now, I can't believe that I use to have it.....it's soooo small. Sure I wish I had more space, and that a scale boxcar didn't cost $50+, but it's so much easier to see and work with when it comes to detailing, painting, and weathering.

Wow!  Going on 3 pages in just 16 hours (at this writing).  Interesting post...

 

Like many of you have said - we like TRAINS but for most of us O seems a great fit.

 

Personally, I'd like to go into large scale running mostly American prototype equipment similar to what I have in O. Wouldn't totally abandon O however. All we have at present in large scale is a single Santa Fe PA unit, an SD70, and a MTH Virginian Triplex. The big locomotives are beautiful and have the same degree of 'presence' that our O gauge pieces have compared to HO. 

Hello Everyone.  I'd say NO way would I switch I have to much $$$ invested in O.

 With all the time just to build the table. I have all the track and I am now starting to get the wire needed to start running it.  I also enjoy getting undear the layout.  Plus it gives me a lot of relaxing time away from all of the medical problems that I have.

          Scot

I'm just getting into "O". For 30 years did "N", with large layout. Last week just got done tearing the layout down, boxing everything to put up on E-Bay.

3 years ago, I bought my first "O" Lionel. Secretly buying track, cars, etc. I love it, and I can see the details without a magnifying glass. So far as a listener, I've learned a lot here.

 

I am coming from the other side.I had a good size ho train collection.After one night of trying to run a long train.I wasn,t geting any fun out of the trains.I ended up with the whosre headace.Well going to the rest room I came across a model train magzine.At the back was want ads for trains.I called a number of a fellow looking for ho train.I got a nice gp40-2 locomotive.Not long after that I cane across a ad from northeast trains.A new company called mth had a erie berkshire for sale.To me o gauge are easyer on the eyes.And stays on the tracks and you run long trains.No looking back.

Not a chance in **** will I ever give this hobby up. I want to be buried with my Milwaukee Road 261 by Lionel. 

I did, as a teenager....I had Marx 3/16, and addtional rolling stock could only be found

around the holidays, and that in limited supply.  I never saw the 3/16 flat cars for

sale that were found in a few of the Marx work train sets.  I saw a Varney B&LE flatcar

kit and built it to see if I could.  I could, and MR and the model magazines babbled

and raved about HO.  There were all these fantastic and appealing different prototypes available in HO.  But it used this silly tarnishing brass track, which the trains would

not stay on, and I wandered away to play with automobiles for years.  During that

time I accumulated HO models in boxes that filled a closet.  Current HO seems to have the same problem as O, in a dearth of different prototypes, but all the stuff once available can often be found on the net.  Three rail O seems hung up on just a few

historical prototypes and rarely wanders off into new territory.  That is why the

temptation to return to HO exists, but I have not forgotten its problems, and I like

to build large structures and hefty models, without applying details with a tweezer. 

I should empty the closet, for I am sure I will not return.

I enjoy 3 rail. That said I love all model trains. The biggest downside to O  are the huge space/curve requirements if you like to run the big scale stuff. I had a large N scale layout years ago pre dcc.  I think with DCC it has made it easier for people in the smaller scales and inexpensive, you can buy a new N scale DCC deisel for under $100 no sound.

 HO and N scale must garner the most in terms of popularity. I would be interested in learning what the percentages of interest are for each of the other scales.

I thought about HO because of space constraints in a condo. Then I did the math; with 8' between the floor and ceiling that's at least 16 loops I can fit in an 8' X 5' space. so far I've got 8 loops in and still have four feet before I hit the ceiling. 

To late in the game to change now but if I was starting out new now it would be S gauge. Lionel and MTH are raising the bar on S gauge.

Anyone saying HO "won't stay on the track" has either not run HO in 20+ years, or doesn't know how to lay track.  If the track is laid properly, and if you run quality equipment, HO runs just as reliably as O gauge.  HO also has Fastrack-like systems that allow quick setup and reliable operation.

I'm aware that this is an O gauge forum, and I personally like any scale/gauge, but there's no need to trash other scales just because you aren't into them...

Yes I've been thinking about it a lot over the winter as I can't get out to the shed toooo cold & when I do nothing runs without any problems, won't start, no smoke, no sound,will not couple.

Had some folk around over Christmas to see the trains run manage to get one running but they were board by then.

Would be nice to have a small HO or On30 layout in-doors to run in the colder months.

James  

Do I wish that we had the selection in O that HO and N does? Yes

 

Do I wish that we had the number of choices in structures both kit

and prebuilt that they have in HO and N? Yes

 

Do I ever wish to change from O to any of the others? No

 

 

That being said I do have some HO and N that I will pull out once in a while and play around with and on rare occasions I will dig out the American Flyer stuff my wife bought for me from one of her co-workers but I'm pretty content with my O gauge.

 

Jerry

Like the vast majority here, I thought about it and just could not make the move. "O" is the way to go.

 

 

Joe B. 

Wow!!  All responses offer insight from another point of view which is good.  I stopped at a hobby shop and looked at and held some rolling stock....man is it little lol.  I might buy a few pieces that I really like and see if that helps any.  This spring I am going to start on a G scale layout.  This may possible bridge the gap if I decide to go to HO.  Not sure if I can sacrifice and build a smaller O scale layout and be completely happy. 

Heck no, still having too much fun.   But full disclosure: I also have a small Z layout in my home office desk drawer, and a N layout in a dining table I made.  And the wife just suggested I try a hanging G layout from the ceiling.  Nice of her, but not a top priority - O scale is still the king:   If its not O scale, its NO scale! (Sheldon Cooper) 

I was brought up on "O".

Then the usual story of school, getting career, marriage , childrenetc

 

When I was married I got back into the hobby because I wanted a Train around the Christmas tree. When my son turned 5 my mother in law bought him a H0. it was the beginning of a lot of frustration as the folks described above.

 

Consequently my son found my Dad's O-Gauge which I had packed away and frustrated with the derailments we packed the HO and set up the O-Gauge and we have been really happy ever since.That was 4 years ago!!

 

It reawakened a dormant interest and I have enjoyed a closer relationship as a result of this!!

 

O-Gauge is just big enough in size has some weight and a 

'presence"to it!!!!

G-Gauge is good for around the Christmas Tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

o

I was on the Forum 24 hours ago or so, and look at this 3-page topic that has blossomed in less than a day; I can't keep up, but I really don't want to be here all the time.

 

To the out-of-O question: sure; S is always attractive, and has been called "the perfect scale" by many, including me, but if it's so perfect, why has it always been - let's face it - an also-ran? And I no longer think that it is "the perfect scale". And, as I am equipment-

oriented, as are so many of us, the product just isn't there. Lionel, where is your S-scale 5344 J1e Hudson? The USRA 2-6-6-2? The...everything else. Same to you, S-Helper/MTH,

American Models. Because of the MTH entry, I do see S having it's first true big-league

success in the next few years; Mr. Wolf may do for it what he did for OS3R 20 years

ago. (Wouldn't a common operating system be nice? Does Lionel offer DCC in S?)

 

Anyway, my Preferred Scale/Gauge pair does not really exist: 1:58 scale (like the

K-Line Allegheny and small Pacifics/Mikes) utilizing a proper, 2-RAIL track system

with a .97 inch gauge (1/58th of 4'8.5"), but allowing some sharp-curve variables

should the modeler need them: blind/flanged drivers (interchangeable), swinging pilots

(easily frame-mountable), truck-mounted Kadee couplers (mounting holes on the frame is

you can handle it) and let's just leave the "electro/proto couplers" behind this time.

 

But: no other format (OS3R) offers so much variety, quality and substance to us.

Supposedly John Dillinger, when asked why he robs banks, replied "that's where the

money is"; I'm still in O-gauge because that's where the good stuff is. 

 

 

 

Have I thought about it?  Yes.  Would I actually get out of it?  No.   When the kids were much younger, we did have a combination of O and HO - this was my first exposure to HO.  The HO was constantly being knocked off the track, and the kids always came back to the O scale format.  30+ years later, the kids have been replaced by grandkids, and they literally can't handle HO either (they tried it at their house) - plus you can't load up the gondolas with various types of people and goodies in HO like you can in O.  So, I'm very comfortable with O scale.

 

 

I have dabbled a bit with HO and N scale for a few brief periods through the years. Currently I am a strictly O gauge guy.

 

I have to say, I really love all the different gauges but O gauge is just in my blood. i have a great time viewing the other scales when I get a chance. They are all great and I get some interesting ideas that I adapt to O gauge 

 

It comes down to the simple fact; I'm a train lover. Big, small, old, new, plastic, metal, real life, doesn't matter...love them all.

Never considered O scale or HO.  I am a O gauge guy, actually a O27 guy. O27 gauge provides more track for limited spaces and more train operating.

 

O scale is too big and HO anything is too small and finicky and dc.

 

Just the way it is, no need or chance of changing.

 

Charlie

Look, the fact of the matter is that unless you are doing both gauges you are leaving something on the table. I want it all, period.

I am very sattisfied with O scale.  I have seen many HO scale layouts and shudderd at the problems they have with track and equipment.  It is frustrating how much more material is available in HO, however some manufactures seem to have seen the light and realized O scale is a market.  I have been able to fabricate most of the items that are not available, it is part of the hobby. But I would still buy a lot of things that are available in HO if they were made in O scale. Things I would buy: a finely detailed (brass) Prat trus bridge,  scale rivited 8000 gal. tank cars from the steam period(black please not a lifesaver package), a scale Prarie type locomotive preferably from a 1890 prototype. The actual railroad does not matter I know my favorite line will not be manufactured.

To quote that great sage from Stratford, Ct Don" No"!

 

 

I was in HO for 20 years and thought I would not go to any other scale, after my eyesight took a turn and joining a fantastic O gage club, I wont be going back soon...

However I still have my HO stuff just in case!

0nr thing about o gauge-you do not have to say where's the beef-at 65 yrs old I would need a german shepard to help me see ho.

I have thought about it several times .. First off a lot of my friends own ho.. Second is all engines are dcc Or can be made dcc. I don't have to deal with legacy tmcc and mth dcs  . I run all full scale 0 and own a 12 x 26 layout and it still is no where big enough .I can't run no more then 15 cars .. I want to run lashed engines with 75 cars you need a 50x50 layout to do that.. I can buy 2 inter mountain es44s  compaired to 1 lionel plastic version . I can buy 4 big boy engines compaired to the new vision line engine. It also gets old fixing every engine you buy even if there new cause most company's in 0 have horrible quality . The main reason I stay in 0 is vision line engines or engines like the s3 261and the  diecast es44s .

Does "S" Gauge...American Flyer Freight Cars fit on "O" Gauge track? Will they ride on them or is "O" Gauge track wider than "S" Gauge track?...Just curious

No not at all.  I grew up from age 4 - 16 with O.  Then at 17 - 19 I did HO.  Then back to 0 at age 50.  Even in the years where I had no trains up and running I always dreamed of some day putting up a permanent O gauge layout.  I like the fact that I can see them well, which allows me to work on them without any visual problems.  Also I just like their size .... great to view in action.  O also provides more operating cars and operating accesories than HO.  Plus their is the nostalgic aspect as well.  O can take me back to being that little kid again.   

I have a lot of MTH DCS tinplate, but my main intrest is G gauge since 1976.

I got a 20.3 scale loco for Christmas and then ordered a AMS caboose. O gauge is OK, but the 20.3 caboose is by far the best model I have ever bought. It even has uncoupling levers that actually lift the pin on the knuckle coupler. I have had AF S gauge, HO, HO traction, Lionel Standard Gauge, Z gauge, Marx repo, I like them all but the 20.3 stuff is super, especially for the price. 

Question: Are 3-rail trains better than they have ever been?

 

I can tell you HO trains have also come a long way in the past 20 years as have 3-rail trains. A friend recently bought an HO starter set for his kid, and I was truly impressed with the quality and operation of the set. Both the power pack and engine were both smooth and responsive. No problems with the track either.

 

Size, ruggedness and nostalgia have all been common reasons for being in O guage. But for whatever reason, HO is STILL the biggest market. Which is the reason why so much more product available in HO. HO was never a toy train, with the exception of TYCO's Lionel based copies. On the other hand, 3-rail trains for the vast majority of its history was a TOY. It's funny to look at the old Lionel catalogs and see some 027 train set with words like "Realism" and "Accuracy." Man, I bet that makes some folks today just cringe.

 

It's only the past 20 years where scale fidelity has become a part of the 3-rail market. And again, that's not market driven. It's manufacturer created and to some degree, driven. I often wonder if the train makers don't wonder if they have created a monster that can't be controlled. Even the train makers know that can no longer introduce products that have no hope of making a profit for the sole reason of out doing the competition.

 

On top of being a small market share, we are the most diversified of any scale. PROOF? Williams by Bachamann is making products that cater to the traditional style of operator. Yet frequently you read comments like:

 

"I would buy WBB if they had a command system."

"Williams needs to ditch the sheet metal handrails on their diesels."

"The new Williams steamer is nice, but I'll wait until they put more detail on it like additional handrails instead of the cast in ones."

 

Please, no way.

 

These are the exact reason why some of us buy WBB. There are many other products that already have these "missing" features, and yet some folks are never content.

 

It may be a GREAT time to be in O gauge. But I would dare say it isn't a great time to be in the manufacturing of O gauge trains. This is not a slam, but has anyone else noticed that over the years Mike Wolf looks more and more stressed. I remember seeing him in the early days with his boyish enthusiasm and excitement. To me, he looked like he had the weight of the world on him the last time he was at YORK. I'm not picking on Mike, but rather trying to say the business end of the hobby is not as easy as some think it is.

 

Anyone who loves being in O gauge, but is continually unhappy with the products being offered, absolutely needs to borrow several million dollars, start their own company (preferably by popular demand, located here in the US), and find out how difficult it is. And you will most likely find out how wonderful your products were when you have your going out of business blowout.

 

I personally love O gauge. But unlike many, I AM CONTENT with what is made and thankful there is a market to justify it being made. And I believe if more folks adapted this attitude, they would actually ENJOY the hobby a great deal more that it appears they do.

I see a lot of comments on problems in the other scales, I must add, the only problem with decades of running "N" scale was burning out switch machines, constantly replacing them. As to other problems, none. No problems with derailment or other problems. Really started to enjoy it more as more stuff became available.

I do like" O" gauge, but to tell you the truth I have "S" and some Standard gauge 

as well. Now to figure out once I have room which to set up on a board.

 

Tin 

 

My distant future lies in HO gauge.When I retire in 19 years,I plan on building a HO scale amusement park.Faller makes some fascinating operating rides.I have a few of them already.Something to look forward to building in the future.

Dan

No, never!

 

I was in HO for 30 years, with some N and PW Lionel mixed in. This included five HO layouts, the largest of which was 12x20-ft, and the last two had a lot of ‘scale’ details.

 

The last HO layout was 100% computerized and I had over 100 guests look or admire the layout. The most common comment from women and girls was, “Oh, how cute!” Some men seemed to appreciate the work and details, but since very few were modelers, the appreciative ones were comparatively few.

 

Fast forward to my present O 3-Rail layout, which I started building almost three years ago. As of last weekend we have had 145 guests not including the repeated visits that many of them have made. Not that it makes any difference to me, but I have yet to hear anyone say “Oh, how cute!”

 

Everyone, regardless of gender or age, has actually shown their appreciation for the work and the details. Of course they like to see the trains run, but also have always commented, for example, on the passenger cars with passenger figures, the engineers on the locomotives, the weathering on the structures and other details throughout the layout. And it goes without saying that they are thrilled with the operating accessories.

 

Surprising? Not really. You see, with O gauge trains, people can actually see the details! HO gauge is superb for creating scale scenes and taking pictures of them. But honestly, unless you use a magnifying glass, the fine details will escape your eyes; regardless of how young you are. And as far as operating accessories; well, as far as I know and can remember, HO has few, if any, that operate reliably.

 

O Gauge provides a degree of satisfaction that I simply did not experience with HO.

 

Just my 2¢.

 

Alex

 

PS. BTW, I think that S Gauge is an excellent option, but I still like the larger O Gauge.