| Many a newbie model railroader will decide that, | | | | not have large layout, one solution is to send your |
| instead of HO, they prefer to build their railroad empire | | | | lower track slightly underground so that your upper |
| using O scale model trains. While the bigger trains may | | | | track does not need to rise as much. |
| seem easier to work with and just plain more fun they | | | | Is your landscape out of scale? Even though a |
| can also be a source of frustration to the | | | | locomotive is higher than a one story house we must |
| inexperienced. Here are some common mistakes | | | | remember that in the real world trees still tower over |
| made with O scale trains. | | | | trains. No where is this single mistake made more than |
| Is your turning radius too tight? While the minimum | | | | with O scale train layouts. The same scaling mistake is |
| turning radius for an O scale train is 24 inches you | | | | common with outbuildings and people. When buying |
| have to realize that box cars and passenger cars are | | | | any accessories or buildings for your layout make sure |
| not the same length. If you're recreating an 19th | | | | that you know it is to scale and not that it just looks to |
| century freight route you might be OK but if you | | | | be the correct scale. |
| decide that instead you'd like to run a modern Amtrak | | | | Does your train match your track? Unlike Ho scale |
| passenger train you may be plagued with derailments | | | | where everything pretty much works with everything |
| with such a small turning radius. Besides the | | | | else, O scale modeling can truly be confusing when it |
| functionality of too small a turn radius you also have | | | | comes to matching the correct track to your train. |
| the glaring fact that it just doesn't look that realistic. | | | | Since the early days when these toy trains were run |
| Are your inclines too steep? Most new model | | | | on shiny three rail tracks there have been some major |
| railroaders envision some sort of tunnel or bridge in | | | | innovations that include two rail systems, more |
| their layout where the trains will run underneath its own | | | | authentic O gauges and the option of running O scale |
| track or up over the roads the cars travel. When | | | | trains on narrow tracks. Do your research before |
| you're working in smaller scale where you have room | | | | buying even your first train set, because once you've |
| to build long inclines this is not usually an issue. Not so | | | | selected a track, you're stuck with it or will be doing a |
| with O scale. Given the height required to clear another | | | | major overall down the road. |
| train track your O scale layout will require a very long | | | | Keep these common mistakes in mind when planning |
| incline indeed especially if you've created a long train to | | | | your layout and it should make building your O scale |
| begin with. You're not going to go from ground level to | | | | train layout much more enjoyable. |
| train clearing bridge height in only two feet. If you do | | | | |