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Stuff gets out of date.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.

[Yet_Another]

There is a number of people on here who have both N and G - one for the summer, one for the winter, as it were.

Maybe reframe your thoughts around what you actually want from each, rather than what you hope for, alongside what you can realistically achieve.

Each item of G might be more expensive than N, but the chances are that you won't need as many.

[Bealman]

I know a retired ambulance officer who started in N (and introduced me to the local N gauge club back in the nineties), but he switched to G and has never gone back to N. In fact he has a G gauge layout which he takes to many exhibitions!

To me, they're just big shiny plastic toys, I'm afraid.

[EtchedPixels]

As you head towards 60 O and G scale trains are a lot easier to see.

The downside is that you can't sneak one in when the wife isn't looking quite so easily

[Webbo]

I have both N and G (and some HO too). N allows more realistic track plans and the construction of scenery. G stands for grand as well as garden! I especially love watching the valve gear in motion on my ten-wheeler steam locomotive (see below).

The two gauges have quite different appeals. One is inside and the other can be installed outside so they needn't compete with one another for space or interest. If my wife would let me (but she won't), I'd have a G railway right round the back yard and still maintain a full N scale setup.

Scott, I'd go for both, honestly.

Webbo