| HO scale has ruled the model railroad hobby in | | | | computerized voltage regulation, the n scale |
| America from the time of its introduction. With its | | | | builders are allowed to program the speed of their |
| large and visibly detailed models giving a real | | | | trains as they move through the display model. N |
| sense of size, and the sheer pleasure of the | | | | scale is also a more accurate scale to most war |
| weight of the model cars in your hand, its appeal | | | | gaming miniatures, allowing some interesting |
| is obvious. But the smaller N Scale models have | | | | additions and variations to N scale model |
| long held on as second place favorites. In fact, as | | | | railroading themes. |
| many people begin down-sizing, N scale model | | | | N scale models are every bit as detailed as their |
| railroading has actually increased in popularity. | | | | HO cousins, but the details are smaller, giving |
| Already, in Japan, where living spaces are | | | | some the impression that they do not seem as |
| generally smaller, N Scale is currently the most | | | | "real" as the larger scales. But N Scale model |
| popular scale for model train builders. But n scale is | | | | railroad enthusiasts have risen to the challenge of |
| not only popular with down-sizers even here in | | | | bringing those small details out. With carefully |
| the US. N scale, being about half the size of HO, | | | | painted "aging" and some "wear and tear" added |
| also allows the hobbyist to builder longer tracks in | | | | to the railroad cars, they can be every bit as |
| the same amount of space, making a more | | | | convincing to the eye as the larger scaled models. |
| expansive model than they could with HO, and | | | | And some model railroad builders combine the |
| creating some truly amazing miniature landscapes. | | | | two scales - HO to the fore, N to the back, to |
| In N scale - sometimes called N gauge - the | | | | give the forced perspective illusion of great |
| distance between the track rails is 9 mm - or | | | | distance in the same model. This is especially |
| 0.354 inches compared to HO's 16.5 mm - or | | | | effective on large layouts. |
| 0.650 inch rails. N scale began to be standardized | | | | So if you're downsizing, or you've held off getting |
| in the mid-1960's when commercially produced | | | | into the model railroad hobby because of the size |
| models started to become available. | | | | of your living space, or just want to make a |
| Improvements in design and coupling quickly | | | | more expansive, interesting model and challenge |
| began to help the scale grow in popularity. Modern | | | | your abilities, N scale model railroading might be |
| models have even more improvements. In both | | | | just the "railroad" ticket for you! |
| coupling, now often magnetic, as well as | | | | |