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