I'm having a bad day here, and can't remember my basic math facts.....
I've drawn my layout room to the scale of 1 1/2" = 1' and now I'm trying to doodle and dream of a layout for the space. Browsing through track plans and looking for stuff to possibly use but how do I get both the room and the track plan to the same scale?
I know it's just a math problem but for some reason today I'm not seeing it so how do I do it..... for example if a plan is drawn at 9/16" = 1', or 3/4", 7/8", 1" what is the correct way to scale it up to 1 1/2" = 1'....
Thanks,
Tom
Take the scale you want and divide by the scale you half. In your case 1 1/2 divided by 9/16 on a calculator this would be 2.666666. Increase the 9/16 plan by 2.666666 to make it 1 1/2.
Alternatively, if both plans have a 1 ft grid imposed on them, you can free hand copy squares on the smaller scale plan to squares on the larger scale plan.
I am not sure if this is what you're asking, but I hope it helps.
Enjoy
Paul
I can't help with the math much (lucky I work in a job that doesn't require math, a tax examiner) but keep in mind that you might not want to do an exact 1:1 translation of a given track plan. That is, take an HO 4 x 8 model railroad with 18" R curves. A comparable N scale layout could be built in about a 2.5 x 5' space or maybe even smaller. However, if you built the layout as written but just converted it to N scale tracks, those tight 18" R HO curves become broad 18" N scale curves, allowing you to run any length of passenger car or engine.
IRONROOSTER Take the scale you want and divide by the scale you half. In your case 1 1/2 divided by 9/16 on a calculator this would be 2.666666. Increase the 9/16 plan by 2.666666 to make it 1 1/2. Alternatively, if both plans have a 1 ft grid imposed on them, you can free hand copy squares on the smaller scale plan to squares on the larger scale plan. I am not sure if this is what you're asking, but I hope it helps. Enjoy Paul
That's what I'm asking, but it still is somewhat confusing. I was doing it the opposite way and saying that 9/16" = 1' was 56% of 1 1/2" = 1' (I think) so you would have to increase the plan by 44% to normalize both scales.
9 divided by 24 is equal to 0.5625 or 24 divided by 9 is equal to 2.6 so I guess I'm on the right track so to speak. It's been awhile since I've been around a copier but I assume you can enlarge or decrease by strange percentages like 44%
Thanks Paul,
Tom don the road in Fredericksburg.
Hi Tom,
Scales are "ratios",(not fractions) Fractions can be divided to form their decimal number equivalent, by dividing the top number by the bottom number, 9/16in/1ft.=0.566in./1ft 7/8in./1ft= 0.875in/1ft 3/4in/1f = .75in/1ft 1 1/2in./1ft =3/2in./1ft =1.5in,/1 ft The / mark in ratios stands for "per" and is not a division sign, whereas, fractions eg 9/16 can be divided to produce equivalent decimal numbers. Any ratio can be inverted (flipped), and is still true, whereas, Fractions cannot be inverted. 3/4 does not = 4/3
0.566in/1ft = 1ft./0.566in Then 1.5in./1ft x 1ft./0.566in = 1.5in/0.566in = 2.65 roughly. Note that because each of the units of 1ft/1ft cancel out, and in./in. cancel out, so we are left with a scale ratio of 2.65/1 So, go to a copy store and enlarge your 9/16 train layout scale drawing by 2.65 to fit your 1.5 room drawing scale Do the same math with any other layout scale diagram. Of course, the dimensions of the scale drawing may,or may not be the same "ratio", so you may have to alter the shape of the layout to fit the room. Personally, It\s easier to use a pencil, straight edge, and a compass to "doodle" the layout "similar" to the commercial drawing. My 24'x24' around the room layout started out as a single wall dogbone with a central peninsula. I had the final plan drawn, but constructed the entire layout a bit at a time (with dead switches in position for expansion) Bob Hahn
HO scale is 87/1 or 1/87 87ft./1ft. 1ft./87ft or 1in./87in.
What is the HO scale length of a 39ft.rail in inches?
39ft/rail x12in/1ft = 468in./1rail x 1in./87in. = 5.375in./1rail or 5 3/8in. /1 rail