Large Scale Central

HO guage outside -- at least in SoCalif?

General Discussion
#1

Yes, HO outside is possible – at least in weather friendly SoCalif. Of course there is the summer heat. Now, why would a clear-thinking RR enthusiast want to go outside with HO? In my case, the desire to run very looooog trains and have as much open track as possible. Try 100’ straight along the side of a fence to a dog-bone return. As to applications in our garden RRs, picture an HO freight dragging 50 cars at the back side of a garden RR, appropriately scaled with cliffs, rocks, and trestles to suggest distance. This will be my next RR stunt.

Has anyone combined the two scales, either indoors or out, to enhance the sense of space – and offer more to watch?

NOTE: Will the track hold up? I used the fiber-tied ATLAS brand track and then coated the ties with marine spec clear. Granted, that was 30+ years ago. The last contact with the track was prior to the home sold – that’s was four years after installation in the sun and minimal rain without any determinate damage.

Wendell

#2

Wow Wendell I would like to see that! If you get it running, can I bring my stuff over and run?

#3

John-
Yes, you would be welcome to run some HO locos. At this point I am at inspiration - no designs drawn up.
In Arrowhead, you have the snow to affect any fibre-tied HO track. Yet, the clear coat did stop moisture from separating and disintegrating the ties down here in the citified atmosphere. My guess is you, as with other readers, have HO inside the house.

#4

Naw. I do not have an HO Scale layout, I was more a club member type.

#5

I’ve read about On30 running outside but I think UV stable track could be a challenge. I would use code 100 track as a minimum.

#6

Peco track is UV resistant. You can always paint the ties, too. In Britain, they run the smaller scales outside all the time, just ask TAC.

#7

Wendell, that reminds me of a discussion I had with Rick the railroad guy. Rick paints all the ties before he lays the track. Rick had an interesting way of doing that too.

Steve, thanks for kick starting my memory.

#8

“Rick had an interesting way of doing that too.”

I am curious as to how he painted the ties — “interesting” sounds like a time-saver method.

I spray all my track with Krylon Rusty Brown and simply take a rag with lacquer thinner on it and run it over the rail tops 5 minutes after spraying. A file folder moved along under the ties acts as a paint shield during the spraying.

#9

On30 is my investigation at the train show here in Anaheim, CA this weekend. The use of HO track plus the large size is appealing. the show is at the Anaheim Convention Center – next to Disneyland - Sat. and Sunday.

#10

Wendell Rick used any color of spray paint and I mean any. I guess when you overspray enough times the color blend and dull.

Let me know how much large scale you see at that show.