ho measurements

[galaxy]

This subject likely would explain why I tend to buy preassembled units or kits. I am far better at English than mathematics. Hence, I am an associate editor of law journals today, and not an engineer.

[claymore1977]

12 inches per foot times 25.4 millimeters per inch = 304.8

You have 308.4. Please correct your error so as not to mislead people who may have inadequate knowledge of math and/or the metric conversions.

 

1 foot = 304.8 millimeters

 From Jim Lyman, Northport, New York

[e-mail]

 

Helluva first post eh?  In my experience, messages like this are best handled as a PM, not a forum post.

Welcome to the forums!  Please play nice! 

[tomkat-13]

Here is some info that might help! 

 

N scale  1 inch = 13.3 ft.   

HO scale  1 inch = 7.2 ft.  

S scale  1 inch = 5.3 ft.  

O scale  1 inch = 4 ft.

[jrlyman]

12 inches per foot times 25.4 millimeters per inch = 304.8

You have 308.4. Please correct your error so as not to mislead people who may have inadequate knowledge of math and/or the metric conversions.

 

1 foot = 304.8 millimeters

 From Jim Lyman, Northport, New York

[e-mail]

 

[wickman]

NP Dave I also enjoyed your electrical 101 it was quite refreshing

[claymore1977]

This may help Tom http://www.nhsouth.com/crafts/workbench/ss.htm

Outstanding Linkage!  Thanks!!

[IRONROOSTER]

A simple formula is to convert the prototype feet to inches (add in any prototype inches) and divide by 87.1

Using a calculator 40 feet is:

40 * 12 / 87.1 = 5.51 inches

And 40 feet 5 inches is:

40 * 12 = + 5 = / 87.1 = 5.57 inches

Enjoy

Paul 

 

[ndbprr]

You don't need an HO ruler to draw any layout for any scale.  You can draw it in any scale you wish.  A draftsman scale has many different scales on it and I find it convenient to use graph paper with an appropriate scale .  I prefer 1/2" to the foot but for a 4x8 I might want to use 1' to the foot as it will fit on the sheet of paper easily.  First thing to do is draw a straight line off the drawing area and mark some radii like 18, 20, 22, 24, etc.  Then you can easily set a compass for the radius you want when drawing it in.  After I draw the curve I put a circle around where the point when in so I can locate it on the railroad.  The only other thing you need is a straight edge for drawing the straight tracks.  In a particularly complicated area I will draw it in a bigger scale to make sure everything fits.  Then I will use each square as 1" increments.  The advantage is you can draw any size turnouts easily.  For a #4 just count down the straight track four squares from the diverging point before moving over one. For a #6 go six squares, etc.  I also mark one foot increments on the drawing with a fine point black magic marker and use pencil for the track.  Then I can change track location without messing up the space available.  I draw a lot of plans following doodling in a spiral binder for ideas.  I also do a lot of mental doodling when I can't sleep at night.  Whatever you do take time to live with a plan and mentally run trains over it to find problems before they become reality.

[wickman]

This may help Tom http://www.nhsouth.com/crafts/workbench/ss.htm

 

[tstage]

Ok so I will give this a go.

1:87 ( 1:87.2  acutally ) is ho scale.

Almost, Todd.  Actually, HO scale is 87.1:1

Tom

[dehusman]

1:87 ( 1:87.2  acutally ) is ho scale.  This means that 87.2 ho scale feet ( 1046.4 ho inches ) = 1 real foot ( 12 inches ).  Lets do the math. 

As long as you are going to do the math, lets do the math right.

1 inch = 25.4 mm.

1 foot = 304.8mm

1 HO foot = 3.5 mm

304.8/3.5 = 87.087 or 87.1

So its actually 1:87.1, not 87.2, a trivial difference unless you are doing something hundreds of feet long.  But if you are going go to one decimal point, it might as well be right.

A scale inch is .011 in, so a handy frame of reference for small parts is the size in ten thousandths of an inch is rough the size in scale inches.  So a .020 x .040 piece of styrene is roughly a 2x4 in HO scale.

Dave H.

 

[ctclibby]

Ok so I will give this a go.

1:87 ( 1:87.2  acutally ) is ho scale.  This means that 87.2 ho scale feet ( 1046.4 ho inches ) = 1 real foot ( 12 inches ).  Lets do the math.  If you divide one real foot  (12 inches ) by 1/32  ( I can see this with my old eyes, but 1/64 NOT ) you would get 12 * 32 or 384 units in one real foot.  Now divide ( 1046.4 )/384 which would be 2.72 ho scale inches to 1/32 of a real inch.  Geesh.  1/64 of a real inch would be about 1.35 ho scale inches.  about .. approx ..  Your mileage may vary!

If you don't need to be EXACT figure 1/32 is about equal to 2.75 ho scale inches

The other way...  1 real foot ( 12 inches )/87.2 ho feet (1046.4 inches ) = 0.011467" ... 1/32 = .03125" so  0.03125/0.011467 = 2.725 ho inches to 0.03125" ( 1/32 )

Did I do that right?  My brain hurts! 

[Beach Bill]

HO is 1:87, or also 3.5mm = 1 Ft.

10 HO feet is right about 1 3/8 inches.   4 "real" inches is real close to 29 ft.

If it is a project that is going to be toward the front of the layout or something that will end up next to a correctly scaled item, I would hold off construction until I had the actual scale rule in hand.

Good luck.  Bill

[srr90]

Hey gang,starting to plan my designs but believe it or not both hobby shops in my area are out of ho scale rulers.What are the measurements in ho scale?I heard there is a formula but not remember so like 10 foot would actually be how many inches in ho scale?Thanks