StrasburgNut
Pennsy Area rail fan
Hi All! I have been lurking for a while taking in a ton of information so I can get back into Model Railroading. So I need to post a question (first post by the way) I cannot find the answer too.
Before I ask, here is what I want to do. I have a 13' by 6' room in my basement that I will be converting into my model railroad empire. I would like to have layout like a dogbone, cut in half lengthwise, and on it a mainline that runs on it and some switching too.
I have some N scale already, but am not opposed to switching to HO.
So the real questions:
1.) Is N scale easy to work with? I'd like to run a long train or two on the mainline with a nice size yard to switch around in. I hear that you need to be perfect in putting down the track, or else there will be a lot of derailments.
2.) I am trying to correlate the radius dimensions with the width in feet. I am thinking of depth of 30 inches for all three side of the layout. What radius curve can I fit in there comfortably and run most equipment? I am pretty sure I can fit the broad radius cuves for N scale in 30 inches, but what about HO?
Any further help would be greatly appreciated. Especially in terms of what are the pros and cons of HO and N scales, and what is readily available for each.
Also, what type of track does everyone use? I see the snap track out there, and I was wondering how good it really is.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Before I ask, here is what I want to do. I have a 13' by 6' room in my basement that I will be converting into my model railroad empire. I would like to have layout like a dogbone, cut in half lengthwise, and on it a mainline that runs on it and some switching too.
I have some N scale already, but am not opposed to switching to HO.
So the real questions:
1.) Is N scale easy to work with? I'd like to run a long train or two on the mainline with a nice size yard to switch around in. I hear that you need to be perfect in putting down the track, or else there will be a lot of derailments.
2.) I am trying to correlate the radius dimensions with the width in feet. I am thinking of depth of 30 inches for all three side of the layout. What radius curve can I fit in there comfortably and run most equipment? I am pretty sure I can fit the broad radius cuves for N scale in 30 inches, but what about HO?
Any further help would be greatly appreciated. Especially in terms of what are the pros and cons of HO and N scales, and what is readily available for each.
Also, what type of track does everyone use? I see the snap track out there, and I was wondering how good it really is.
Thanks in advance for your help!