No, the gauge of the track is different as is the size of the trains and scenery HO models are about half the size of O gauge 1/87 th as compared to 1/48 th the size of the real thing.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.