THE PERKS AND QUIRKS of N Scale

[@rwissbaum9849]

Sound in N scale locomotives reminds me of that famous quote about dancing bears: "The marvelous thing about a dancing bear is not how well he dances, but that he dances at all."

[@KatoUSAinc]

N Scale has certainly come a long way, I think the most exciting thing about the scale is just the huge amount of support from other manufacturers as well because it really helps to mix and match consists. Great seeing glimpses of your layout!

[@rwissbaum9849]

I've been an HO scale modeler since 1964 (!) Over the past 60 years, I've seen the exact same evolution in HO scale that you relate in N scale: improved reliability and improved detail. Everything you've said about N scale applies - in reverse - to HO scale. It absolutely requires more space. Check out Daryl Cruise's HO Scale Evanston Subdivision for a superb example of an HO scale layout that models railroads, not just trains. On the other hand, check out Boomer Diorama for a superb example of incredible detail in small spaces. *Everything* in model railroading requires choice: size versus detail, cost versus time/effort, what to leave in versus what to leave out. I think it's our individual choices on those issues that drive us to one scale or another. Inertia aside, if I were starting out in model railroading today, I'd probably pick HO scale again because, *for* *me* - and those two words are critical - the "size versus detail" choice drives me toward HO. But we're all different, so we'll each come to our decision in a different way.

[@lonnyyoung4285]

If doing it all over again, I'd probably still go with HO for the exact same reason. I was a kid in the 80s and 90s. I was never impressed with the level of detail on O scale (at least anything remotely within my small budget), and N scale also didn't have enough detail, but at least it was too small to have a lot. Currently, my railroading is limited to the long shelf display I have in my office. I can fit an entire 20 car Daylight (during WWII consist) and the shelf (mostly BLI with MTH engine, coach-baggage, and observation). Currently, I have the single coach and observation pulled off so I can get the helper engine on - AC-11. HO allows me to have a ton of detail that I can see, but small enough that I can fit a massively long passenger train into my office. Now, if I find that I want to make a little loop in a small space, then I might take a look at N.

[@FerrowTheFox]

I was a huge H0 fan in my childhood and teens, but pretty much gave up on the hobby when I started university, due to size constraints. I just don't have the space to build a nice looking layout for what I want at this time. And so my rolling stock sits behind glass. I thought about picking up N scale, but still, I couldn't fit more than a short shunting layout. So, I recently got into Z scale and I'm really happy with what I got. Yes, it's TINY, but you can build a nice layout in a coffee table! It's even possible to have DCC and functions even at this absurdly-small scale.

[@ponderingpops]

Great video Jimmy, right on target. I was in HO for years, finally switched to N ten years ago for a number of reasons, one was to build bigger industries better representing the amount of rail traffic they could support. I was always disturbed by an industrial building that was barely as big as the two boxcars next to it on the spur. For example, I have a lumber mill in the works that can support five bulkhead flats on it's spur. The mill itself is more than two feet long, and extends to nearly three feet with the attached power building and associated truck docks and parking. It looks very capable of shipping that much lumber each week. That, along with all of the other factors you mentioned, compelled me to switch to N! It probably would help to know that I am blessed to have a 16' by 20' room dedicated to my layout, and I could have done HO, but the state of N Scale was more than convincing!

[@michaelhamann156]

Today, I do not have a single piece of model railroading, but hope to do so someday soon. And I love your videos as they help me prepare before my first N scale purchase.

[@billb52302]

I'm happy with what I have in N scale. No DCC, no sound, and detailed just right. I have Atlas locomotives, Atlas and Trainworx freight cars and a mix of Micro Engineering and Atlas. I'm working on getting a fleet of Atlas GP40's for a freelanced Farmrail system based on the entire former Rock Island Choctaw route and the Herington to Fort Worth mainlines and associated branchlines. I'm more into operations than anything. If Atlas came out with a line of SD40-2's covering all 4 phases, I'd be buying them in droves as I'm not interested in the current offerings from the other manufacturers.

[@BNSFWill]

Much the same as many here…I love modeling N scale for the amount of scenery and space available. I love HO for the amount of detail to the locomotives and rolling stock I can add or buy aftermarket. They both have a lot to offer. But I still love taking old blue box and rtr locomotives and fully decking them out. I know I know, you could just buy them that way, but I love modeling and doing it myself.

[@PenguMatthew]

As an N scaler, I run all Kato stuff. To fix the sound, I use the sound box with a few speakers around the layout. Sounds better than even an O gauge system could. Sounds great, can be deafening or completely turned off with just one knob. I've also thought about looking into an inline eq to be able to balance the sounds

[@scottc287]

I'm currently building in G scale (outdoors) for my campground but have been looking at N for my winters on vacation.

[@modelrailfan37]

I model British OO Scale (basically HO but slightly larger). OO locomotive run on the same track as HO though meaning the chassis of locomotives are slightly too small for the locomotive which is probably the biggest quirk of the scale. In OO it’s also hard to fit everything into a space and for that reason I sometimes wish I had chosen N Scale since my layout is a 4x8. I’m still working on my layout and have had to get rid of a few ideas because of space, which likely wouldn’t have been an issue in N Scale

[@rf64]

I am a N scale because of the space, that I have. And to say the true , I like it very much. The detail ends up being secondary. The main thing is to like it and have a lot of fun. The maximum of my compositions is 10 wagons + 2 locomotives. It is a measure to manage the circulating material that I have. Have fun.

[@IMRROcom]

2:19 That CNW E8A 5022-A. I have walked inside that unit in real life. It now lives at the Arizona Train Museum. I did a 360 walk through a few years ago

[@JohnFallon-r4n]

Hi Jimmy, love your videos. I'm an HO scale modeler, but I have built a few N scale buildings which will be in the back of the layout. Being smaller tricks the eye into seeing them as further away than they really are. It used to be that HO was the preferred scale because of a higher quality of the products available, but that is certainly not the case today.

[@evileyeball]

I am modeling No scale at present, I just live vicariously though youtube modelers until such time as I can make space and have time/money for trains. At present my house is rather space constrained for me to have anywhere to put a layout In the future there may end up being a time when some items no longer needed are not stored in my garage and space there becomes available. there may also be a future time when my son (currently almost 6) leaves home and his bedroom is not needed as a bedroom, There may also end up being a time when my office (this room I type from) ends up with less in it because other places for the collections/hobbies that are currently in here are made available and from there I could use a portion of this room on trains. I've been looking at N more recently though because I see how much I could fit into a small space. My only issues I have are some of the isssues you bring up in that I would like to own a fleet of the preserved Steamers from my home area (CPR 2816, 2839, 2850, 2858, and 2860, CPR 3591 and 3595, and CN6060 at minimum) and none of those types of Hudson/Royal Hudson/Selkirk etc etc are made in N scale from what I can see. I also look at N for price because for example getting 2860 which does exist in HO is close to a four digit proposition I assume if it was in N it would cost far less than that.

[@csxns]

I am into HO and I have never looked back.

[@lonluna721]

I’ve been doing N Scale since 2020 and I am a huge fan of all the scenery you can do in a small area. Of my 6 DCC engines, they are all diesel and 1 has sound. Non sound works for me. Love the hobby!

[@Steven_Williams]

I'm predominately an O Scaler that also models some HO and N Scale as well. My N Scale is almost all Kato, while my HO models are a combination of Kato, Scaletrains ,Atlas , and Intermountain. I live in an apartment, so space is definitely an issue, especially for my O Scale trains which is essentially a spare room "Carpet Central Railroad" layout. I'm drinking Cameron's Smooth "Breakfast Blend" Coffee by the way. "Big Ups 👍from Chicago"!

[@kentbarnes1955]

Coffee this morning is...Black Rifle Coffee Tactisquatch (hard to pass up box with Big Foot wearing night vision goggles.). Fellow N-scaler. You nailed all the major points, confirming my view that IF you are going N scale...THIS is the channel to watch. It's interesting you brought up "detail" in N scale. As my "other" main hobby is scale modeling I've seen a similar progression...you can know get 1/48 planes with the detail that used to only be available at 1/32. In 1/72 your can get the detail you used to only see in 1/48. And there are now really nice 1/144 scale kits. Here too I believe we may have reached to point of diminishing return. Thank Jimmy!

[@Alan-ln3ls]

Perhaps every tiny detail may be insignificant in itself, but collectively they can amount to wonderful realism: as the old saying goes, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Possibly the greatest advance in N gauge was when handrails and steps ceased to be a scale six inches thick. Edit: I almost forgot - not coffee, but Yorkshire Tea.

[@Clarinetboy82]

For now, since I got back into model railroading a couple of years ago, it's o-scale. It really has to do with the Polar Express I run in my neighborhood community center every winter for the kids. Honestly, it's troubleshooting automatic switch issues that I've had to deal with so far. I model in HO when I was a kid, but I'd like to get back into small scale using N instead. Steam is my favorite though, so we'll see how this journey goes when i am able to get back into it. I also have an outdoor g-scale layout planned that I'll be starting in 2026, and I'm looking forward to it.

[@Blur4strike-2]

Drinking Folgers dark roast coffee. I have been a long time N Scale modeler since the 90's and I'm well accustomed to the Perks and Quirks of said scale. Kato and Atlas make up the majority of the locomotives in my fleet with some outliers (Broadway Limited Stealth Series AC6000CW, Bachmann Spectrum SD40-2's). I can't really form an opinion on DCC or sound in said scale as I don't have the setup that allows for it, might change in the future.

[@markg890]

I'm drinking Rita Mya from Costco. It's our daily driver. I agree WRT sound. Sometimes the quality is about on par with a musical greeting card. Sometimes it's better. Great video Jimmy. Cheers! edit: RUTA MAYA

[@Hollaraedulioe]

T-scale here. Did a lot of N scale since the 1970s (mostly Fleischmann and Roco rolling stock), but restarted recently in T 1:440. Any yes, that size is all quirks it's really barely working. but as with N, the advantage is size. After all, even an average regional train is 200m. In N that comes to ~4 ft. any believable station would need about 3-4 times that if modelled to scale. T cuts it down to 1/3rd, enabling a more realistic setup of any installation.

[@aT_TooL]

I love ho scale it seems to be the happy medium and the model feels like it’s the right size and the details are just mint and the sound is amazing

[@rodericknagashima]

Drinking my daily Matcha. Started in HO Scale when I was a kid until I had to give it up. 7 years ago I happened to get an early 2000s Japanese starter set in not so great condition, after a 3 years of missing with it on and off, I through myself into Japanese n scale trains. Now have large collection of passenger and freight rolling stock. (No Shinkansen trains) Mostly model the trains from 1987~2003, with electrics, diesels, and some heritage steam.

[@falcondragonslayer]

I’m just getting my feet wet in N scale. I got a Bachman N scale set for Christmas 2 years ago and didn’t really do anything with it, but I’ve recently realized that N Scale would be the best option for me over my other scales because I could have a fully-functioning yard and a large double-track mainline fitted into a shelf layout in my room. I recently acquired 6 more pieces of rolling stock for cheap from a train museum gift shop, a Kato EMD F7A from my hobby shop, and expanded the circle of EZ-Track from my Bachman set with 4 pieces of 5” straight track. That’s just temporary though, cause I plan to build a proper layout in my room this summer. I’ll just be running DC and have a single track on the mainline for starters, but I’ll eventually add DCC when I add a second mainline loop.

[@MacTrom1]

I’ve been an N scaler since the 70s although lately I’ve barely had a working layout due to moving a number of times. Currently an oval with small yard on a 30x72 inch folding table. I’m mostly into steam as I love the chuf chuf. lol. The one problem I have is getting older and starting to have eye sight problems. But at this stage I will not give up my N 😍

[@davidakridge2831]

I'm an original HO modeler from the 90s. I dabbled in train simulators for the last decade because of space constraints in building a layout again. When I discovered shelf layouts recently, I began to think about building one. I've been, for the past few weeks, using Anyrail to develop a layout in both HO and N to see which one I prefer. I find myself wanting to run an oval along with operations. I've built what I think is perfect for me in N. It's on a 19" x 8' layout that I can have in my private den. The thing that will be new to me is sound. I understand that the quality is no where near HO, but are you guys saying that sound in N is not worth it? I was really hoping to at least have some sound on the layout. What about the sound boxes I'm reading about? Thanks for the Videos.

[@JacobHofeldt-fq6ii]

I started with an ho scale setup that my dad built with a grass mat and a plaster tunnel on some folding tables and I loved it. I have moved more into 3 rail lionel mainly vintage conventional locomotives from the 60s on back but I do have a few Lion-Cheif and a couple of Legacy engines which are a blast to run. I do still have an interest in HO scale but I have a limited space so I chose to focus on the O scale.

[@JasperLugtenburg]

i am from the netherlands and have a n scale minitrix railway. I bought a from hobby train and it have super great quality sound.

[@IMRROcom]

All this detail is aimed at collators that will have the units one time out of the box to take some very close up photos to share on the internet. Operators, will really never get that close to care about that kind of detail (Or Anyone know where this grab iron goes? I find it along the track). I'm switching out a 12 to 20 car train, the engine is 5 to 10 feet away from me as I focus on the car at the this end of the train when I switch it out.

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

I totally agree. My favorite loco I have bought in the past year is the Atlas Trainman GP15-1. It’s a basic little tank.

[@fran_l]

Longtime HO modeller, with some experience with O scale. All your points regarding sound, details and reliability are what what I've been living by and preaching for years. Some of my best and favorite engines have no sound and have just enough detail but they work every time! Reliability always beats out details and sound for me but I do like a balance on details. One quirk I will mention about HO is that every manufacturer has different couplers and it's kind of annoying in a way. But I love converting cars and locomotives to Kadees so it's not so bad. O scale and N don't quite have this issue because they only have 2 basic styles to work with.

[@PhilipKett]

I agree that we’re near the level where detail doesn’t need to get better. With that in mind, I suspect the focus will switch to steam engines - just look at Atlas announcing a steam locomotive! On the other hand, in terms of fetting innovative in detail - the latest ScaleTrains SD40T-2 with the see-through grill is the obvious one to call out 😂

[@seanimal_rex]

Great job on the depth of field in those macro shots, tricky stuff!

[@gravesclay]

The next detail I want to see is rolling bearing caps. I think I'd be compeltely satisfied with a rivet counter if the bearing caps moved when the train rolls

[@frankgulla2335]

Thanks, Jimmy. Nice summary of the state of N scale.

[@mikefisher2673]

Peets dark roast. I've been in n scale since 1970 with my first Bachman train set. Returned in the 90s buying models and by 2000 I stopped buying models. In the last year I picked a few new models and preordered the new Santa Fe 4-8-4. Since everything I own is mostly from the 90s, with a few 70s models most have not ran and I will soon test them for running conditions. Make the necessary repairs to make them operational. Keep up the great work Jim.

[@002tar]

a train without sound is like a day without sunshine

[@WhiteWulfe]

At present I don't have a model railroad, but am debating between HO and N scale. Love the size HO has, but for a bedroom shelf layout at best I'd be able to fit in something along the lines of The Highland Terminal with HO, versus a full loop and several other things in N scale. The joys of only having about 6.5' of width I can work with, and a max of 28" in depth.

[@falcondragonslayer]

6.5’ wide and 28’ long would be a good sized layout for either scale.

[@WhiteWulfe]

@@falcondragonslayer Except that's not at all the dimensions I stated. Twenty eight inches of depth, six and a half feet of width. it's one wall, and can't stick out any more than 28", and even that is pushing the limits of the space. If I had that amount of space to work with, I wouldn't even think twice about going with HO as my favourite locomotives are readily available in that scale.

[@falcondragonslayer]

@@WhiteWulfeOh well that’s embarrassing. I read 28” as 28’. Definitely go with N Scale then. Unless you’re okay with a rather small HO switching layout.

[@WhiteWulfe]

@ No worries, it can happen easily enough, especially with shorthand markings that have a bad habit of blending together on screens. In the end, it's going to wind up being a decision made by what locomotives I can get my hands on when there's funds, and of course, doing a mockup or two in the planned area to see if I truly can go that 28" of depth. Might also pick up a scenery kit or two, so I can see what my preferences are. I won't lie though, the idea of having a full oval for continuous running and also being able to shoehorn in a 7-4-4 Inglenook Sidings plus Highland Terminal (variation of Switchman's Nightmare) and still have room for plenty of scenery elements definitely makes N scale tempting.

[@stevenhowell2477]

One of my biggest frustrations in n scale is the factory knuckle couplers. I find that many of them do not couple well to other manufacturers sometimes not at all. I wish they were as standardized as the old Rapido couplers. It's not always easy to convert to Micro Trains couplers and I don't like the "bouncing effect".

[@TravelinginMiniature]

I am intrigued about n scale because it lends itself to modeling more sincere sized industries (the building is big enough to actually justify a. railroad siding). All too often you see model railroads with an industry barely larger than a boxcar getting a siding.

[@ZacharyLewis-g5g]

Sipping basic no name at work while looking forward to adding my backdrops to bench work this weekend.

[@craigguinn5423]

Pete’s dark roast. Back in N after a 20 year break. New Broadway Limited SW7, and I really like the sound. Just seeing how much of the old stuff still works. Starting with an old door.

[@PetesPrettyGoodTrains]

Drinking Cameron's Toasted Southern Pecan this morning. For HO scale, a perk is that if an item is going to be made, it'll most likely get made in HO scale as that has the largest number of modelers. A quirk is that old ideas and products have a bad habit of sticking around well past their best by date. It's not unheard of for tooling for models to stick around for 40, 50, or more years even after newer more accurate products come out.

[@NCR-National-Reclamation-Gov]

Are Bachmann N scale easy track good if you want to build a large cheap temporally layout?

[@ShukakuTheCrazy1]

I notice with HO that the coaches don't look as good together as N scale, but that could just be me. I have 3 engines with sound, 2 HO (one Thomas and a BLI GP35) and 1 n scale (BLI ES44AC) and I think the sound on the HO is too loud. The sound on the n scale is just the right volume. Now there's one major perk to n scale that you didn't mention (probably weren't aware, as it is a more niche thing) but Bachmann's Thomas and friends line looks SO much better in N scale than HO. Especially the faces. Part of me wishes I chose N scale when I got back into model railroading (as opposed to my childhood O scale) but I really love steam. Most of my favorite engines I've gotten are steam. An articulated tank engine from Mantua, a rivarossi hiesler, and an athearn 2-8-0. It's so stylish to look at

[@dkaustin98]

First let me say that I model in On30. The majority of my steam locos have large dual speakers and I'm converting everything to Blunami. Sound is fantastic. However, before On30, I was heavily involved in N-Trak. Back in those days there was a N scale manufacturer that we all claimed was so poor quality it would discourage you from being in the hobby. I have to agree with all your comments. I thought I would let you know that a lot of the larger scale modelers, do tend to turn down the volume on their sound equipped locos or mute sound. Some have said they use the off feature for the many locos that are on the tracks not in operation. Powering up a layout with a bunch of locos with sound coming on at the same time can get annoying. I have been involved in online discussions about how much detail on an On30 loco is too much? If you are trying to win an award at a model contest, then go for it. However, when you have a loco that is going to be handled with the possibility of derailments, just how much detail do you need? How much of that high detail will break off just from handling? Does the loco for entry in the model contest become a shelf queen? I have personal experience in watching one of my Broadway Limited C-16s derail, but not roll over. Nope, it stayed upright on its wheels, while the Keep-Alive kept it powered long enough to keep it running across the layout until ran off the edge to drop 48 inches to the tile floor below. I could not get to that side of the layout fast enough to catch it. I never did find all the detail pieces that shot off on impact. One driver was damaged. That is a loco that usually is offered in the $400 or much higher range. The air in the train room was "colored blue" that day!

[@crapphone7744]

I'm sorry you felt you had to drink French roast. I wouldn't wish that on anybody. 😂

[@fepatton]

N scale was where I started (my Dad and I built a 2x4’ layout from the Atlas book) and it’s still my favorite. But reliability was a struggle in the day. I still have a Lifelike AutoTrain that my kids referred to as “The Grinder” for the awful noise it makes. 😂 I run pretty much only diesel. Kato is the best, but I love my Broadway Ltd switcher with Paragon sound. It’s a gimmick, but I kinda wish they’d license that tech to Kato and Atlas!

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

I have to agree on sound and detail in N. I got hooked on sound when I operated on a friend's HO scale layout. In N, it's a little tinny sounding compaired to HO. As far as details, in N, I'll be doing just the details that would be noticable from regular viewing distance (like SP headlight packages or my WP signature "barrel headlights.")

[@MasonKubik]

I am fairly new to the hobby, and I model HO scale. I would have to say that one quirk is that a lot of older locomotives and rolling stock all have different coupler heights. Some newer ones have it too.

[@FreihEitner]

My biggest issue with HO scale is size -- I don't have enough space to have any reasonable sized layout. My biggest issue with N scale is size -- my eyesight is too poor to appreciate the small details. I kind of wish TT scale had caught on in the U.S.

[@markofthenorth8918]

Awesome video keep them up thanks for sharing

[@SierraDaylight]

My first two n scale locomotives were problematic. My Kato UP Gevo was a dud right out of the box, and won't move. My Atlas SP FM Trainmaster ran great for the first few weeks but now it's problematic.

[@scottyounger7948]

As much as I like N scale for it's ability to fit a lot of action in not much space I still wish that TT scale (1:120) had picked up more steam over here in the US. While it does take up more room than N it seems like a good balance between N and HO.

[@cliffjones6924]

I totally agree engines and rolling stock just have to run on the layout that a person has spent who knows how long designing and building. I have three engines...2 GEVOs and 1 NW2 from two manufacturers (remaining un named) that sell highly detailed models. I finally gave up on the NW2 and boxed it up because it just failed to go through #6 turnouts without stopping and I replaced it with a new KATO NW2 that works flawlessly. The two GEVOs from a different manufacturer run OK but have their own running quirks especially when MU'd so they make an occasional appearance. One of them has already made a return appearance to the manufacturer for warranty work. My go to, never give me a problem, keeps on running engines are much less detailed Bachmann GPs and KATO SD70s. This was a really good subject today, Jimmy.

[@firecap5442]

Sipping Black Rifle coffee and enjoying the video!

[@HVACSoldier]

I’m drinking Wide Awake Coffee Seattle Style Dark.

[@RonDevito]

Lavazza Perfetto K cups as I get ready to run out the door. Out of the hobby now, but lean toward N for long mainlines, large passenger terminals, etc.

[@skerbs7755]

Drinking Maxwell House Columbian. One quirk of HO scale is 6 axle locomotives on smaller layouts. I love how they look. So cool. But since my layout is small, 5×7, I can only run my 6 axle locomotives successfully on my outside track, where my radius is over 18 inches. Also, another quirk about large 6 axle locomotives is that sometimes they wack manual switches like the Caboose ground throws. I have learned to first test them on my layout with my SD80 Kato NS. If that clears the area without wacking the Caboose ground throw, then I am good.

[@TRDeadbeat]

Kato is great, and Scaletrains too. Not Atlas though... the only two locos i have that CONSTANTLY cut out at low speed are Atlas. Nothing else has a problem.

[@Bardwell_Junction]

If you have a layout that is not too spread out, you can have good sound with only one decoder, at least if your roster is all EMD, GE, or Alco. This would make most modern layouts a bit of a challenge, but it's still doable. See Lance Mindheims blogposts from 10/17/2015, and 12/2/2015 for an interesting solution to the lack of depth in the sound on board issue using wireless headphones or smallish bluetooth speakers (kind of a home-made Rolling Thunder). The speakers won't work so good on larger layouts (unless you have several spread out, but then why should there be sound if there is no train present???), but the headphones, especially if you operate in confined spaces seem to work pretty well (and aren't going to make family or neighbors upset with you!) I was able to pick up the transformer on flebay, although there weren't many of the RS products left. Theoretically, a DPDT toggle or a rotary switch could be used to select between different sound decoders, eg, EMD 645xyz, GE FDL7xyz, etc, then use a mixer to MU them? Or, put one on the right channel and the other on the left??? I have been an N scaler since Christmas 1968, I really appreciate the advances in motors, car weights, ride height, and body mounted couplers that we are seeing. I still have some of the "stuff" I used to think was pretty cool, but by todays standard's, not so much. (actually, a lot of it is crap by today's standards) Kato's entry into the North American market was a game changer, and they have made improvements on their already reliable mechanisms. I understand that the North American market is not Katos primary focus, but come on people, if a loco is supposed to have ditchlights that flash when the horn/bell are activated, why don't they??? Is this an issue in HO also? To me, this is a little big thing. I can live without wipers, lift rings, sand hoses etc, but this particular lack bothers me for what I am paying for a loco. If Bachman can produce a Charger with sound, details and light functions that work OUT OF THE BOX, why cant Kato? Oh yeah, there is the part about the word "Model Railroading" having Model as a part of it ;-) I have added LEDs (8) and sound to a Metra F40PH, and a MP36 locos by Kato such that the number boards, headlights, ditchlights, mars lights, beacon and rear running lights are all separately controlled, as well as having the corresponding lights working in the cab cars but that is all time that I could have(should have?) spent building a layout! As N scalers, I guess initially, we are happy with whatever products the manufactures throw at us, especially if they worked well most of the time. But after a while, you see what that company is producing in HO, and start to feel like a 3rd rate consumer. At this point, at least my bank account is happy that Rapido, or Scale Trains, for instance, haven't thrown everything at us N scalers that they have at HO! Enjoy your trains or sell them!

[@charlesgriego1596]

Oat milk latte with a double shot from La Prima Espresso Co in Pittsburgh PA

[@scotteakins7203]

I had a huge HO layout back in the late 70's & early 80's. Im now thinking about starting in N scale just because of not having much room. Ive heard that you can build a decent size N on a hollow door. So im thinking that may be a good option. But i want to buy quality equipment. Loco's & rolling stock. Glad to hear Atlas & Kato are on top. Never was a big fan of Bachmann.

[@thomasl.durbin2517]

Drinking Folgers with more of that premium vanilla ice cream in it

[@sams2960]

They may get like the auto industry, get so detailed and complex the average person cannot afford them any more.

[@GeepSLSF]

I’m drinking my unsweetened tea and doing the laundry , I have a Multitude of Scales so let’s go to the Top G and only two cons are SPACE and COST … you need to have a dedicated spot with some shade with power nearby. Cost well it’s pretty high but then again so are some of those HO and N scales now but the biggest problem in G is Weather and Critters nothing like finding a snake or a trash panda messing with your stuff or worst of all leaves but you have that green thumb those plants and running water sure makes it look amazing. I have some O27 and it’s Marx we can still go with cost and space but most trains turn on tight turns and it looks fine. The HO’s Pros you can almost find what you want , detailing to the max , Cons things can get expensive real quick and depending on how big you want it to be space will get you and if you’re a idiot like me it’s HO/HOn3 pros are look at all the kool stuff that is possible then reality kicks in Cost and “ What do you mean they don’t make that “ and here we are at N scale Pros look at the size of my layout in this small space, and everything Jimmy Said , cons price on some items , I’m old and I can’t work on anything that small little alone seeing that stuff (getting old sucks sometimes) .

[@thoughtengine]

Still ridiculous amounts of steam in the UK scene! Vittoria Dark Chocochino.

[@mmsmits2868]

N-scale for me, but although I'm in Upstate NY, since I grew up in The Netherlands, I'm modeling the Nederlandse Spoorwegen on a double deck 12' by 14" shelf layout. Mostly electric locomotives so sound is not as important to me.

[@Bill_D.]

I seem to have had more fun model railroading in the 1970's. Maybe it was simpler and not as exacting and I could go to tracks and see different engines, rolling stock like 40' boxcars and cabooses.

[@W_Grizzified]

I have my sound cv’s set down to 10-15. I like to hear something but too much volume is just ear pressure I don’t enjoy.

[@davidwilliams1060]

I think HO just shares idiosyncrasies with its neighboring scales. I’m not a big fan of sound in any scale. I really liked talking with the Kato rep from Japan during the Amherst Show last weekend. Thanks for the video.

[@jbmorrow5390]

N Scale

[@KevinsTinyTrains]

As an N scaler, I am not interested in the sound at all, as they add so much complexity for a phone speaker quality level of sound. If I wanted sound I'd get the Kato soundbox that you put beside your controller, as the bigger box gives better sound due to a larger speaker. Also, for detail, I use bigger ballast than what should be to scale because I want to see the ballast clearly.

[@mv4463]

I guess I'm the weird one.. t,z,n scale. Only... I drink Tea & cocoa.. I doing full t scale suitcase and square guitar case displays.

[@zero2Steve]

While I like the idea of smaller than HO for more scenery and longer trains, I also find it too small and tedious. The scale step down from HO is too much. I know there is 1:120 in Europe, but it is rare even there.

[@jmsit78]

Drinking "2 weeks till Christmas" from tim cast

[@justin_railfan]

Starbucks mocha Frappuccino

[@adriengadson3544]

Your not getting a whole yard in 1 foot in N scale. You must mean 1 yard which is 36 inches. Also manufacturers push the speakers and set ups they are getting deals with. Sounds in N scale is just like real world sound combinations. In your car if you were to change manufacturers of your stock speakers the sound would be totally different. This works in all scales. I do and know Car audio high end competitors that have done this for decades. Step out the box and try different set ups. Also there was some early N scale like Atlas that ran pretty good in the late 70's and early 80's. The bad ones were life like , Bachmann, and etc. I still have one or two and they still function good.

[@markg890]

The good, old Atlas were often manufactured by... Kato.

[@stephencampbell2018]

I do not care about what you put into your coffee cup...nor do you care about what I put into mine. Stick to trains.