HO conversion

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warlock_1492

New Member
Hello

I was wondering if anyone could tell me the conversion formula for HO scale from actual size.....

For example, how many inches would I need to have a beam if it measured 12 foot long in actual, converted down to HO scale?

Any help would be great.
 
The ratio for HO scale is 1/87.1
So a 12' beam in HO scale would be 1.65" long.

1" divided by 87.1 equals .01148" (one HO scale inch)
multiply that by 12 gives you .138" (one HO scale foot)
multiply that by 12 gives you 1.65" (12 HO scale feet)

Dan
 
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A handy tool to have at the bench is a scale ruler. They are a foot long and have each scale marked along their own edge. Makes it easy to cut material to scale lengths or even to measure scenic details like road widths, pole spacings, etc. Any half decent hobby shop should have them.
 


Alright, great scale ruler.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~lhonings/rulers.html

Works great if you have some heavier paper. I know some people said they glued it on to like an old steel one they had.

Not the best compared to a real scale one, but its a start. Just be sure to print at 100% size!
 
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I found a FREE calculator for model railroaders (both Windows and Mac versins) called ScaleCalc. The following is copied from the website:

Features six different calculator windows: ScaleCalc, GradeCalc, HelixCalc, RiserCalc, SpeedCalc, and HelixMaster.
ScaleCalc is a scale units converter. It has most of the common scales, but you can add any other scale(s) you may need.

GradeCalc calculates grades. Input any two of the four factors (level distance, incline distance, rise, or grade) and it will calculate the other two.

HelixCalc is a (very) simple helix calculator. Input any three of the four factors (rise, radius, number of turns, and grade) and it will calculate the other one, as well as rise per turn (to see if you have enough room between levels for the train) and track distance (to see if you have enough money).

RiserCalc calculates the heights of a series of risers along a constant grade.

SpeedCalc calculates scale speed, given distance, time, and scale.

HelixMaster is a much more complex helix calculator. You enter the space available, the offset (distance from the edges of the space to the center of the track, the bottom and top entry/exit angles (90 degree increments only currently), the height to gain, the number of turns (this can be an estimate), whether the loop runs clockwise or counterclockwise as viewed from the top, and whether or not the entry and exit tracks should be included in the grade. It fills the available space with a helix with the largest possible radius and makes it oval-shaped if the space is not square. It then calculates the radius, the length of the straight sections (if any), the grade, the spacing between levels, and the total track needed.

Here's a screen shot of the Scale Conversion screen. Note that when you change anything in the window it updates dynamically .. pretty sweet! I haven't tried any of the other screens/options yet.

ScaleCalc.jpg
 
The reason I was looking for a calculator this morning is that I had found a 'Generic Deck Planking' on a Model Ship website. Available from 1/32" to 1/8" .. it has a plank spacing of 0.028" .. and I was curious as to what size that was in HO .. which led to looking for just such a calculator.

Entered the .028 into the inches box (set to Inches (Dec) put HO into the 'Convert From' box and 'Prototype' into the 'To' box.

ScaleCalc2.jpg


P.S. Just noticed that under 'Edit --> Edit Scales' you can arrange the scales like you want including deleting or adding a custom one.

The reason I "Originally" was looking around the Model Ship website was that I was thinking about using some of the photo etched parts available. Found a website for example where they are selling 1:96 brass fittings. Just scrolling around the page .. there is a "Tool Kit" .. says assortment of hand tools in scale. There are a couple of ladders .. 20" and 12" wide .. both 4" long.

So. I added a 1/96 scale under the Edit Scales menu. Then .. started entering ladder dimensions. The 1/96" scale is 90% of HO so things like the ladders scale out well .. especially considering that they are available as 12" and 20" widths. The 12" in 1/96" scales to 1' 1 7/32" in HO .. the 20" to 1' 10 1/32" in HO .. both 4" lengths scale to just over 29' HO.

Finally .. since hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers come in all sizes the tool hand tools should work fine .. I mean .. heck .. a 12" wrench in 1/96" scale is a 11" wrench in HO.
 




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