Next Project Dilemma: Talk Me Through It

[scottmitchell74]

So:

After finishing my first project back in 2012 (American Appalachian homage to baseball and trailer park upbringing) a few years later I discovered and fell in love with British N Gauge. I spent a lot time here and purchased all the rolling stock, track, locos and housing kits (Which I've mostly constructed) but about eight years ago or so, I hit the famous hobby "lull" and everything just stayed in storage.

Recently, for reasons just as mysterious, the "switch" turned back on.

My dilemma? The switch flipped for G Scale Garden Railway. I'm 51 now, like being outside, thinking about grandchildren (not compatible with n gauge) etc...

 So, in the meantime I've been in my garage cleaning the old layout, getting trains running again, etc... and that reminded me of my grand N Gauge plans.

Selling my N Gauge stuff would definitely get me a $$ nest egg for the G Scale, but it would bury the N Gauge dreams.

Talk to me! ?

[Bob G]

I started in OO at age 5. Switched to N at age 10. That ancient OO was finally sold when I was 53 (in 2013).

I started on modern OO in 2009 because SR EMUs and high quality class 33s started to become available. I now have two vices. DCC sound in OO and dinosaur DC in N.

I don't miss the 1960's OO stuff. I don't even have any N that's older than 2005 apart from about half a dozen coaches and a loco.

Stuff gets out of date. New stuff happens.
Just go with the flow.

Bob G

[port perran]

Is the N Scale dream just wishful thinking or is it what you really hanker after?

N will give you much more scope for creating a realistic model of a railway if that is what you want. Perhaps re-imagining memories from your younger years or days gone by.

G Scale, on the other hand, is grander but more expensive I dare say and perhaps more difficult but the idea of trains running around the garden has a certain appeal.

I'm not so sure about N not being compatible with grand children.
When they are tiny I agree but get to, say eight or nine, and they begin to appreciate the delights of the smaller scale.

In the end you must decide what is best for you.

[Newportnobby]

If all you want is to run trains round your garden then G is better for you

[njee20]

I'm not sure we can really help. The two are polar opposites, so it depends what you want.

Grandchildren and N needn't be incompatible. My son's had his own N since he was 3. I wouldn't let that dictate your choice. Crashing or abusing G scale locos is more expensive, after all.

My dad has an extensive G scale set up in the garden and it's fun from a novelty perspective, but it'd never be my only model set up.