Modelling in N scale
This blog is the second in a series about a model railway project I’m working on.
Previous post: The return ticket | All posts on it
Switching from OO to British N scale has been an eye-opening experience for me, and I’ve had a lot of fun exploring the extra space this smaller scale allows. But one question keeps coming up: how small is N scale, really?
It’s not something I thought about much before I started. I’d seen N scale models at shows and on store shelves, but it’s hard to truly grasp the size without seeing them in action. The typical ratio used for British N scale — 1:148 — isn’t exactly easy to visualise. If you’re coming from OO gauge, the difference is quite striking: an N scale model is less than half the size of its OO counterpart. A coach that’s 30cm long in OO might be just 13cm in N scale. That kind of reduction makes a huge difference when you’re trying to build a layout in limited space.
But what if you’ve never built a layout and just want a more relatable comparison? Think of it like this: an N scale figure is about 12mm tall — roughly the height of a drawing pin or a stack of three £1 coins. A typical British N scale locomotive is about the length of a smartphone — but much thinner, lower, and far more detailed than you might expect from something so small.
Why size matters (in a good way)
One of the biggest benefits of N scale is how much railway you can fit into a relatively small area. With OO scale, even a basic oval can take up a surprising amount of room — and if you want anything more complex, you're often looking at needing a spare room, garage, or loft.
N scale gives you a lot more freedom. A simple loop might only need 2ft by 3ft (about 60cm by 90cm) — small enough to fit on a coffee table or a fold-away board. That makes it a great choice if you’re short on space or just want something more manageable to get started with.
Because the models are smaller, it’s also much easier to run longer, more realistic trains. For example, the GWR Class 800 trains running through Didcot can be either five or nine coaches long. A full nine-car N scale model comes in at around a metre and a half — not including space for couplings. In OO scale, each coach would be roughly 34cm, so a full-length train would stretch just over three metres. That’s a huge difference when you’re planning a layout.
To put things into perspective, here’s a quick side-by-side look:
| Feature / Item | OO Scale (1:76) | N Scale (1:148) |
|---|---|---|
| Track gauge | 16.5mm | 9mm |
| Average coach length | ~30cm (12”) | ~13cm (5”) |
| Standard oval layout footprint | ~6ft x 4ft | ~3ft x 2ft |
| Full station scene | ~6ft+ | ~2.5–3ft |
| Scale height of a person | ~24mm | ~12mm |
| Equivalent space coverage | — | ~¼ of OO layout |
Note: These are rough averages and may vary depending on the manufacturer.
Attention to detail
The models may be small, but they don’t skimp on detail. Every model I own so far has matched — and in some cases exceeded — the level of detail I was used to with OO scale.
For example, the flatbed wagons I have feature crisp decals, accurate company logos, and finely moulded details like tiny pipes running between the bogie wheels. It’s the kind of thing you’d expect to get lost at this size, but somehow it’s all still there.
What’s surprised me most is how much detail comes as standard with many N scale models. Features like directional lighting — something you often have to pay extra for in OO — are built in by default. My driving cars have tiny switches underneath to control the lighting, which is really useful if you want to couple two units together, as is sometimes done in real life. The passenger coaches can even be fitted with optional clip-in interior lighting, which really brings them to life.
Contrast that with my experience in OO gauge, where adding lighting usually meant fiddling with electrical pickups and gluing in tiny bulbs — not exactly beginner-friendly!
Looking ahead
Switching to N scale has definitely opened up new possibilities for me. While the smaller size comes with its own learning curve, the creative freedom it offers is worth it. Being able to build something realistic in a modest footprint has been a big confidence boost — especially after a few false starts in the past.
I’m still in the layout planning stage, and I’ll be sharing how I approach that within the constraints of the space I have — including how I’m trying to balance realism with playability.