Questions about modeling in HO vs O the “Sierra West” way.

geoawelch

Good evening, all. I have corresponded with a few of you and appreciate your insights. Karl suggested it might be an interesting forum topic, so I’m going to paraphrase my note to him. I appreciate any thoughts you guys have, as the level of modeling on this forum is what I aspire to, even being at it off and on for over 30 years.

Not only are you all supremely talented, the camaraderie and fellowship here is very cool.

Well, here goes...

"" I have lurked on this forum for quite a few years, joining in 2016. I had hoped at that time to begin a return to modeling, purchasing O'Neill's in HO scale. Unfortunately, some health issues (myself and family members) derailed that. I ended up selling the kit along with another I had bought from Brett.

At any rate, I'm hoping to be back for real now. I've modeled since the 80's, entirely in HO, although many of my scale modeling heroes prior to finding this forum (Bob Brown, Chuck Doan, Brian Nolan) did amazing things in larger scales.

My wife and I downsized a couple of years ago, so a layout is out of the question. I continued to be drawn to the fine work here in general, but in O scale in particular and finally bit the bullet last week and bought the Wood Cutter's Shack (along with the Reaper Paint Set) as a foray into O Scale and I find myself hugely excited.

Your work, especially your Scratchbuilt Loco Shop played no small part in making the decision. I was wondering what you feel the pro's and cons are of modeling in O vs HO?

I find it ironic that I am starting in a larger scale, though having less space, but the other thing I want is maximum value for my modeling time and budget and with Brett's kits, I believe I've found that. If I enjoy the larger scale, my plan is to then build the O Scale O'Neill's as well as trying to find some of the smaller Sold Out kits.

I appreciate your thoughts and thank you for the camaraderie and positivity that I have seen you exhibit in the many threads I have read here on the forum. ""

Kind regards,

George Welch
Loudon, NH

brownbr

I enjoy the extra detailing that can be done with O scale. It's not to say that HO scale is too small for very fine detailing, I think it is just a personal preference. You will really enjoy the Wood Cutter Shack and suspect that you will want to build more O scale. But there is nothing stopping you from building both scales if you like.
Bryan

geoawelch

Hi Bryan,

Appreciate your thoughts and have enjoyed your fine building skills here on the forum.

George

vietnamseabee

I guess for me the choice is HO primarily due to the abundance of HO vs O....just look at what Brett as well as other manufacturers have available....that being said, I’ve been giving some thought to ordering an O scale kit from Brett merely because of the additional detailing in O......since I don’t model for a layout switching it up for a kit or two wouldn’t matter too much
Terry

geoawelch

Thank you, Terry. I have to agree that there are more offerings in HO, but am looking forward to detailing things I can see and handle better.

George

Karl.A

Firstly George, appologies for the delayed response, it's been one hell of a week and my forum time has been limited.

Secondly, I'd like to thank you for posting this question publically so that some discussion may arise from it.
Now sure, most of the guys only hit one scale, be it either HO or O, so cant compare the two, however, I find it most interesting to read why guys jump to O from HO or N.
Obviously HO is where most start and have most invested, but the switch to O and the reasons for it I find fascinating.

Space,
Pure modeling pleasure,
Health (eyesight)
Investment (time/money)
Product availability
Quality
And more...

I'll add to this in a moment with my own thoughts.

Thanks again.
Karl.A

Karl.A

One question was.... "I was wondering what you feel the pro's and cons are of modeling in O vs HO?"

I enjoy modeling in both scales, I get great modeling satisfaction from both and I do find them quite similar, and also different... ha... here are some thoughts, not right, not wrong, just my thoughts.

Your question also opens the door to the question, "" What do you mean by 'modeling'...""

Do you want an expansive layout with trains and track running through it..? cities, towns, etc depicting a RR
Do you want to replicate a small logging branchline with trees, trestles, etc or another type .
Do you want 50 buildings to fill up space or
Do you want to build an incredibly detailed structure.
Maybe building a highly detailed HO or O diorama will give you the most personal reward.

So, my first response would be, what do you enjoy most about this 'modeling' hobby. What gives you the most reward.

Most peoples first response is that there is more available in HO than O, while yes this is true if you are into running trains and building a layout, HO can definitely be 'fluffed out' with alot more offerings, however, at the pinacle and the high end of the hobby the balance is pretty even. Therefor it depends on what you want, hence my prevous short list.

For instance, if you had a 12x 15 bedroom for a layout, you could def use only top level HO kits to complete it,

equally for the same space,

although top quality O has less available quantity wise you only need half as many to complete that space..
like for like it balances out.

Or, you could be like me, and many others and just have shelf units along two or three of the walls in that 12x15 room containing dioramas and structures in N/HO/O, because I just like to model.

I'll compare HO apples to O scale apples in the next post.

Hopefully a few of the other guys who have modeled in more than one scale will add their thoughts and comments to this thread.

Karl.A

geoawelch

Karl,

Thank you for your thoughtful responses.

For me, over thirty years, my modeling tastes have evolved.

I have had room-sized layouts in the past, but that changed when I discovered craftsman kits.

That, in turn, evolved when I discovered the Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette and some of the fine modeling there. I was especially taken by Mic Greenberg and Gary Nash's work from the late 70's, along with Chuck Doan and Brian Nolan.

I saw that these guys were taking great pains to finely detail their models.

Seeing and hearing all the platitudes for Brett's kits, building some Sierra West models seemed like a no-brainer. Building in O scale is attractive, but seeing the incredible work here in HO, makes that intriguing as well. I'll be modeling in both scales as well.

I'm starting with the Woodcutters Shack in O but I've also acquired a few discontinued kits in both scales.

Looking forward to the journey and appreciate other responses.

George

geoawelch

An update to my long ago thread. Unfortunately, life got “lifey” back in 2018 and again in ‘21-‘22, but am fortunately back at it again, now retired a year and a half after 40 years of plumbing and gas fitting. I had made the decision to part ways with the kits I had purchased then as I believe they should be built as opposed to languishing on someone’s shelf (mine, in this case).

I’ve recently purchased the Water Tank and Handcart Repair in O Scale from Brett, as well as the HO Scale Locomotive and Service Shop which I came into from the friend of a friend.

I have corresponded with a couple of you here so thanks again, for the cameraderie.

Karl, I wouldn’t mind that next post comparing HO “apples” to O Scale and certainly welcomed anyone else’s insight.

Cheers,

George

MuddyCreekRR

I was a long time HO model railroader......my issue...as I'm sure as to others here was that HO got to be too small. I decided to move up to O scale...in the way of On30. I fell in with a group known as The Black Sheep about the time they formed. No rivet counting allowed....follow the path you want....most of us following no prototype. I found SW back when the O scale kits were just starting to pop up, my first SW purchase was the Saw Mill Machinery...that I purchased from Brett up in Foxboro Mass....the Infamous Fine Scale Modelers Show....and I met people like Kevin, Brian, and one or two other O scale interested people at this primarily HO show. Since then, I've purchased most of the O scale kits that Brett has made....and have finished only 2 of them. A few are well along....and I'm down the rabbit hole with the O scale Foundry....waiting patiently for the subscriptions to pop up. So...to the Point, for me...O scale gives me the opportunity to do in my eyes more realistic detail work. Some may say HO can too...but in my case....bigger is.....easier...

geoawelch

Thanks Art, I appreciate the reply. I also just ordered the Truck Repair in O Scale from Brett.

I also do a bit of Plastic scale modeling and found 1/72 and 1/48 aircraft parts too small and switched to 1/35 armor.

That’s one of my main reasons for concentrating on O Scale.

MuddyCreekRR

Even though Ken K. will prove me wrong (he will).....I feel the O scale tends to give you a better chance to super detail your work. I've said to many....my eyes got too small, and fingers too big to continue HO. But there are modelers out there like Ken that work wonders on HO. I model inOn30, and as of late...On18 railway equipment...so I technically still model small stuff. But the O structures is my best path....

KKarns

Hey Art, appreciate the call out here my friend! With HO your mistakes are covered much better than in O scale cause you can't see them! I get jealous every time I see O scale cans and boxes with the awesome labels...so hard to get nice in 1:87.

MuddyCreekRR

I would think that labels and signs would be a huge issue in HO...because they are still hard to do in O. Distance is our friend....if you make someone think the label is readable...it is passable. I've tried for years to get really up front foreground perfect labels....with little success. pretty good...but not quite perfect. I'm adding On18 to my On30 layout...and its almost like working on HO locos and such...add in the N gauge drives...and I'm hurting...lol

TomMich

Here I have put labels on cans in HO, they are on the workbench and the wall. The cans are plastic sprue material. I cut them to length on my Chopper, painted them different colors, added a "metal" top. The labels are real labels reduced in size. Before gluing them on the cans I sanded the backs to get the paper as thin as possible. Without magnification from photography they look pretty good.

Robert.G

They look pretty good indeed !!!

MuddyCreekRR

That they do...Nice

TomMich

Just to give a perspective of the actual size of the cans.

Jim M

That's just crazy good, now you need a church key can opener.
I've put together a few HO scale details and I'm amazed at how small they are. On the upside, when I put together the same detail in O scale, they seem huge by comparison.

geoawelch

Remarkable.

MuddyCreekRR

No....just no....far too small....LoL.....Excelleant work....but...I'll stick with O scale....

Robert.G

Insane !!! I think I'll stay with O scale as well...

TomMich

Thanks guys. It is a challenge. I need my Optivisor for sure.

Stevepass

They look fantastic. I love little details like this, well done.

kebmo

just wondering....do i detect two "charles chips" tins on the left side of the workbench? either way, that is just incredible. i'll stick with the o scale stuff. it's all can see these days.

ALCO

I’m working on the HO Backwoods Work Train. It ain’t my eyesight that’s a problem. It’s the size of my fingers!

TomMich

Kevin, The labels are oil can labels I found on a Google search. ALCO you can see the size of my fingers related to the size of the cans. That's why I have tweezers.

Joel

Great labels. Really brings the details to a higher level.

admin

Looks great Tom, well worth the effort.