malletman
Alcohaulic
I am considering this very topic very hard right now. I got really frustrated to the point of an autistic meltdown the other night as to enjoy HO scale, when viewing close up, I have to remove my glasses for them to be in focus as it exceeds what my bifocals can cope with. Then when I want to look across the layout as the train keeps moving, I have to put my glasses back on. Same for working on them/detailing them and building kits in HO scale. I never considered N scale as even as a teen, my eyes were to bad to enjoy that small of a train. Two years ago at the Indianapolis O scale meet, I picked up a couple old All Nation diecast metal locomotive kits. It was refreshing to be able to see them while I started building them. Then that scale stalled as I wasn't working at that time. But now with the frustration with HO, I dug out the kits, stripped the poor attempt at a Monon passenger scheme off the F3 and ran the NW2 back and forth on a short piece of track. As I am cursed with a small train room, a shelf set up around the room is about my only option in 2 rail O. Along with shorter wheel base diesels or steam. My thoughts are the later years of the CGW with a small elevator still using box cars for grain service, and the simplified "lucky strike" scheme on the F units and NW2. I can manage painting that on my own. The drive design on the older All Nation engines can cope with tight curves and #4 turnouts I would have to use. The big bonus is I can see things again in this scale and older kits are not really any more expensive than HO scale anymore. Anybody else at a crossroads where you could step away from one scale and move up and are on the fence? Mike the Aspie