Switching from o scale to ho scale

I'm interested  in this topic. I, like you are on the fence about switching scales. I like O scale because of the size and detail but I just don't have the room to run or store it. So over the last year I've seriously been contemplating selling my excess stuff, keeping certain items and starting in HO.

I want to do the same thing, as there is a better selection for the modeling of the 21st century railroad. The problem is I already have learned the legacy and dcs system, and I don’t want to learn a whole new system. Also, I don’t want to have to sell everything on eBay, as this would take along time. I love o scale and all the extra features ho doesn’t have, but I wish I started in the world of Ho from the beginning because it is cheaper and I could have a bigger layout.

I was into HO and had to many problems with it. I like O guage o whole lot better

I had no idea they made H.O. accessories!

Jon

It's something I contemplated for a bit, but honestly the pros of O gauge just out weight HO for me.

• O has better sound systems - more room, bigger speakers
• O in most cases have better lighting / smoke features
• O is way easier to work on yourself - at least for me

This is my list and is probably different from others, but are items that are important to me.

Depends on your goals. If you want long trains running through magnificent scenery, then HO, or, better, N scale is where you need to go.

If you like the massiveness of O, then you have to compromise on the long trains and magnificent scenery and concentrate on what you can do in the space you have. For example, a shelf-type switching layout supports a lot of activity in a small space. If your thing is locos, an engine terminal will provide hours of entertainment jockeying locos around. BTW: back in the Dark Ages, John Armstrong designed an O scale engine terminal to fit a 4x8 space, published in MR.

In my HO days I was (and still am) a Pennsy foamer with several locos, including the I-1 2-10-0. Then I scored a 3rd Rail I-1. The HO version was just inadequate, and I was hooked on O thereafter.

Thanks. I love the o scale trains as well, the detail alone. Just very frustrating trying to find accessories 

Thanks for all the perspective. I’ll probably stick it out just frustrated. Alot of good views on o scale 

Hammer, what kind of accessories are you looking for?

Its O gauge or NO GAUGE!

I have had Z,N, ho and O...  while i really like N...  to me, the O is much more SATISFYING.  

I never really liked HO.

I always came back to O.  Then with the advent of TMCC, sounds etc...  the O was what i stayed with.  

I guarantee running a Vision Big Boy is way more fun than some quiet HO train...  just my take on it...

rex desilets posted:

Depends on your goals. If you want long trains running through magnificent scenery, then HO, or, better, N scale is where you need to go.

If you like the massiveness of O, then you have to compromise on the long trains and magnificent scenery and concentrate on what you can do in the space you have. For example, a shelf-type switching layout supports a lot of activity in a small space. If your thing is locos, an engine terminal will provide hours of entertainment jockeying locos around. BTW: back in the Dark Ages, John Armstrong designed an O scale engine terminal to fit a 4x8 space, published in MR.

In my HO days I was (and still am) a Pennsy foamer with several locos, including the I-1 2-10-0. Then I scored a 3rd Rail I-1. The HO version was just inadequate, and I was hooked on O thereafter.

Yup, for me the massiveness of O helps suspend disbelief I'm sort of seeing the real thing. Even the lobster claws help me in this regard because having watched real coupling and uncoupling the prototype action of the lobster claw knuckle closing or releasing looks like the real thing in my mind's eye. It's caricature used effectively.

Lew

BNSF-Matt posted:

Hammer, what kind of accessories are you looking for?

Well for instance I’m looking wrought iron fencing for a parking lot. Cant find it, wanted a very detailed coal factory,cant find one in o scale. 

I started in "N", a large layout. Over 30 engine. Cars to numerous, etc. But eyesight and age I decided to sell it all and was amazed how quickly it was all sold. I thought about HO, but a post and video here had me go into "O". But been contemplating going into HO, because I can not only have a bigger layout and scenery, but in HO I can find the engine I want and need not available in "O". Also so many more scale vehicles, buildings, etc in scale were we have to settle for larger vehicles and so many generic buildings that are out of proportion or scale.

What's stopping me is only that the "O" scale items I have sold, many lucky to get 20.00 dollars on 70 to 100.00 cars and engines lucky to get a 1/3 back. On many "N" scale items, I made money or broke even. Very few did I lose money on. Had an HO Christmas layout rather then a "O", (a Mayberry scene which covered a large table at local church basement. After 5 years, I made a 4.00 profit on the HO engine and cars.

I guess my decision will be based on how well I can slowly, yes its going slowly, items marked way down a the auction site and see how well they sell as I slowly add to them. 

I would suggest trying HO before you sell any of your O stuff. Some guys love HO and others find it too small. Most new HO locomotives have DCC and sound, and the sounds are quite good. The variety of products in HO will blow you away, but the only way you will know if you will be happy with HO is by trying it. 

Hammerlane posted:

BNSF-Matt posted:

Hammer, what kind of accessories are you looking for?

Well for instance I’m looking wrought iron fencing for a parking lot. Cant find it, wanted a very detailed coal factory,cant find one in o scale. 

For fencing check here: https://brennansmodelrr.com/catalog

As for the coal factory, check out Menards O gauge buildings. Very detailed and good prices. Don't remember if they have a coal factory, but there are a lot of good buildings there.

 https://www.menards.com/main/h...auge+Model+Buildings

Hammerlane posted:

BNSF-Matt posted:

Hammer, what kind of accessories are you looking for?

Well for instance I’m looking wrought iron fencing for a parking lot. Cant find it, wanted a very detailed coal factory,cant find one in o scale. 

Hammerlane, First of all what you stated you are looking for are better termed detail parts and buildings and NOT accessories. While i'm not exactly sure what you mean by a "coal factory" - maybe a coal mine? These items are available in O scale. it just takes time and patience to do the searching. Google will become your friend. Try BTS, American Model Builders, and Protocraft for starters.

Remember the O scale market is 1/20 the size of the HO one; hence many of the suppliers don't have big advertising budgets. The products are out there; you just have to search for them. Finally scratch building is always and option. When i started back in this hobby in the 1980's it was often the only option.

Hammerlane-

Please email me a picture of the fencing that you are looking for.

O gauge is my favorite size.  I am building a hi-rail layout but I am finding that the large curves I really want 090 or O81 etc eat up a large amount of real estate in my finished attic. I did model in N scale for years and at one point I was a member of an Ntrak club. N scale is great for scenery and long, long trains, 50-70+ car freight trains, something I can not replicate with my current space. However O 3 rail has incredible detail and works very well, yes it takes up space and I might go smaller with 072 curves.

All scales have certain charms about them and things that make them less desirable.  Best thing is to determine what you want out of your model railroad and see which scale fits that idea the best.

O - has the size, smoke volume, and sound volume going for it

HO - has the shear volume and depth of options

N - has the ability to run full length passenger trains easily along with very realistic freights

All can be used for operations, it more or less depends on the type(s) of operations you are most interested in.  Sound has come a long way in HO and N scale.  Broadway Limited's Paragon 3 with Rolling Thunder has really changed this dynamic especially in N.  Detail in N has come leaps and bounds as well as options.

Before giving up on O scale, please check out the scenery source list on this forum.

It is a comprehensive list of accessories and other supplies which can help pinpoint what you're looking for and reduce your search time.

https://ogrforum.com/...c/scenery-sourcelist

I came to O3R from HO.....still have all my HO stuff. 

I will admit that when I built my benchwork for my O layout, 20 x 36 feet, I thought how much HO railroad I could get in that same space.......but then I recalled all the issue that come with HO I do not deal with in O3R......kept building the O3R layout!! 

To each his own......I will admit there must be a thousand more structure kits in HO....some really cheap......but I'll stay here.

I had HO and O as a kid. The HO stuff never ran as well as the O stuff (granted we're talking Bachmann stuff here, like starter set F9s and a Daylight GS4), even on EZ Track. I'd set up the HO stuff and run it on occasion, but I built an O layout as a kid.

When I got back into the hobby after college I stayed with 3 rail O. While I like the realism of HO I can do Hi-Rail O, which is what my current layout is, much easier. Everything just works with not much fuss. Yeah I can only run 10-12 car freight trains and 6 car passenger trains but I still enjoy it. Plus with O being larger the trains actually seem more realistic to me than the smaller scales, even with that extra rail. 

Probably too deep into o3r to change now anyway. Thanks for all the great perspective and links 

Try doing both for a while, and see how it goes.

Sounds to me that you really enjoy details, and detailing. Yes, the HO options are endless. So, start with a very small HO layout. A shelf layout against a wall.  Almost an operating diorama. Just a small point to point …. with two distinct areas …. and go crazy detailing it. See then if you want to grow it.

Yup … O and HO are both great, in their own ways.

Good luck.

Did you mean a Coal Fired Powerplant?

There is a model of that from Korber Models. 

https://korbermodels.com/produ...al-light-power-plant

Andrew

I have thought about the same thing, especially when your space is limited (mine is roughly 9x14), a smaller scale can be very tempting, and if you factor in cost, that is a big factor as well.

Simply because of the size of the hobby, N and HO scale has competition going on, you don't have the oligarchy you have in O, and for example with command control  you have a common standard with DCC (which means though DCC systems are not cheap, you only need to have one, to fully use MTH and Lionel Legacy features you have to basically spend double the cost to achieve the same thing,MTH control of Lionel command equipment is not complete). HO scale track is a lot cheaper, the rolling stock and engines are a lot cheaper (same with N), plus you have a wealth of buildings and detail pieces and cars and so forth available in those scales. Taking a gander at the Charles Ro site, a #6 turnout with an Atlas switch machine is like 27 bucks, do that in O and it likely will cost you close to 100 bucks. And HO and N are a lot more reliable than they were in past years, these days with the can motors they are using and other improvements in things like coupler systems, they work a lot better. 

But like others, there is something about O gauge equipment that talks to me, some of it of course is the roots in the trains I had as a kid, other parts are the size of it, the sound of it running on the rails, and not to mention being easier to work with given my eyesight and dexterity, and while I don't have a huge collection of stuff, almost all of it has meaning to me in one way or the other. 

Hammerlane posted:

...... a very detailed coal factory,cant find one in o scale. 

Just what is a coal factory anyway?  There are structures for mines, towers, tipples, and collieries....

This is what I call a coal plant 

http://www.btsrr.com/bts7240.htm

The Mill Creek Coal & Coke Tipple No. 2 is a freelanced composite of several different tipples located in West Virginia. The design has two tracks serviced under the tipple. There is room for a stub track if desired under the fixed chute on the back. The mine servicing the tipple is a drift mine that runs horizontally into the mountain.

https://ogrforum.com/...tchbuilt-coal-tipple

Hammerlane posted:

Thinking of going to ho scale because there seems to be more accessories available. Just started modeling. Any thoughts

Have you considered two rail O scale?  The March Meet next week-end is a good venue to meet with two rail modelers.  Many of your pieces of rolling stock ought to be convertible.  John in Lansing, ILL

You can also scratchbuild your own.  This one is black foamcore for the structure shells, embossed aluminum foil siding on the tipple, Evergreen styrene siding on the office building and dollhouse flooring material for the loading dock.  Total cost was less than 40 dollars.

Why not do both.  Will explain later.  No time now.

geysergazer posted:

rex desilets posted:

Depends on your goals. If you want long trains running through magnificent scenery, then HO, or, better, N scale is where you need to go.

If you like the massiveness of O, then you have to compromise on the long trains and magnificent scenery and concentrate on what you can do in the space you have. For example, a shelf-type switching layout supports a lot of activity in a small space. If your thing is locos, an engine terminal will provide hours of entertainment jockeying locos around. BTW: back in the Dark Ages, John Armstrong designed an O scale engine terminal to fit a 4x8 space, published in MR.

In my HO days I was (and still am) a Pennsy foamer with several locos, including the I-1 2-10-0. Then I scored a 3rd Rail I-1. The HO version was just inadequate, and I was hooked on O thereafter.

Yup, for me the massiveness of O helps suspend disbelief I'm sort of seeing the real thing. Even the lobster claws help me in this regard because having watched real coupling and uncoupling the prototype action of the lobster claw knuckle closing or releasing looks like the real thing in my mind's eye. It's caricature used effectively.

Lew

Lew 

I agree I’m starting to like the lobster claws also 

Hammerlane posted:

BNSF-Matt posted:

Hammer, what kind of accessories are you looking for?

Well for instance I’m looking wrought iron fencing for a parking lot. Cant find it, wanted a very detailed coal factory,cant find one in o scale. 

Hammer

Here’s what I did tuned this coaling tower into a coal yard where customers come to buy coal and soon I will have trucks loading here to deliver I paid $15 for it at a hobby shop in St Louis I repaired and re painted it 

I started with HO when I was about 5, When I was 8 my father brought home an O gauge set for around the tree, Seriously I never looked back, I have dabbled in "n" and "HO" a few times but just can't leave O. I always hear the room to make a circle, sorry that don't fly, it only takes 29" in O-27 ( giving a little room beyond the O-27 size. ) 

HO is big into scratch building, if your up to it, why not in O. I'm going to get my chance in a year or so. I will be building my own layout in a converted garage to train room. about 15' x 25' of space but it will probably be about 10' x 25' ( I have to remeasure it when I can get around in it again. ( super yard sale is coming real soon. ) 

Like others have said get some and see how you like it, I would look at some nice but not to expensive encase it's not for you. 

I have thought a few times what I could do in "n" or "HO" in the space I mentioned, but I'm electrical challenged so reverse loops would be a problem, plus "n" is way to small for me, and I'm not about to start in HO with what I have in O

There’s many reasons I  switched to O scale. One is my physical health I have arthritis really bad in my hands I was in HO for years but got to a point where I couldn’t work with it and my eyes are not so good so I switched to O while I can still work with my hands and eyes kinda bucket list so to speak. Now the second is this forum there’s a lot more active threads here you can get involved in and the people here are great. I started painting figures in O scale a couple weeks ago. Here’s a pic I done I  think I wouldn’t  get the results like this in HO without looking through a magnifying glass

Lots of flag waving, partial information, and information that is in error in this thread.

Bottom line is you will have to decide for yourself without any of us trying to talk you into staying in O or talk you into leaving it for some other scale of OUR choice.

In other words, YOU must be satisfied with YOUR decision, and I suspect THAT will require some investigative work on your OWN to determine what type of gains and give away's there will be between O/HO scales and how they apply to your set of "givens" (room size/etc) and "druthers" (preferences). If you can't figure it out for yourself, and settle the issue TO YOUR OWN SATISFACTION, then you'll be always dependent upon validation from others as to your choice.

In my case, I've tried many different scales and themes and I drawn my own conclusions and have made my choice for myself, thus, I'm confident I've made the correct (for me) decision. I highly suspect you must do likewise, or you'll never be settled inwardly with your hobby of trains.

Good luck!

Andre

You could always do both :

Rusty