HO Scale drawing paper

[Anonymous]

Anyone know where I might be able to find some graph paper for drawing HO scale structures? Graph paper that has its grid done in exactly 1/87 scale? I've tried making mine own using the HO scale ruler but that is a royal pain. Somewhere someone must have thought of this before me!
Thanks
John

[DSchmitt]

I have never heard of any[:(] If you have a computer and a CAD program, you could make some[:)] Maybe there's an untapped market out there[8D]

If you don't mind your buildings being a little undersized, you could use 1/4" grid to represent 2 feet[8)]

[nfmisso]

Try here:
http://perso.easynet.fr/~philimar/graphpapeng.htm

[DSchmitt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nfmisso

Try here:
http://perso.easynet.fr/~philimar/graphpapeng.htm

Thankyou. Very interesting[:D] I just downloaded the program

[DSchmitt]

I have played aroud with the program. The free version will only print standard rectangular graphs with a choice of pre selected spacing. For metric the spacing are 1mm, 2mm, 5mm and 10 mm. So it will not do 3.5mm (HO scale)

Using the "N-divide" function, I was able to create a 17.5mm x 17.5 mm graph with 3.5mm spacing. However, registering the program is required to print it.

Still an interesting program. I am considering registering it.

[dknelson]

I think the idea of scale graph paper is an excellent one, and not just for HO (obviously our O scale friends do not need it -- but even the standard 1/8 inch graph paper might not be made to close tolerances). I bet there is a money making opportunity here if someone wants to pursue this. Maybe Micro Mark?
Dave Nelson

[ndbprr]

As an engineer I don't care for the idea. Cad programs will draw in full size which allows a myriad of detail to be added that in scale can be smaller than the pencil point. Any decent Cad program can then reduce the image to whatever size is needed (read scale). You don't need a full blown engineering type CAD program either. in fact for most of us (me included) the simpler it is the easier it is to use.

[Sperandeo]

Hi John,

I'll suggest a different approach: Make your drawings in a larger scale, 1/4" or even 3/8" to the foot. It's much easier to make accurate, detailed drawings in a larger scale, and you can use a standard architect's scale as your scale rule. Then you can either take meaurements off the large scale drawings and use your HO scale rule to lay out parts for your structures, or use a copier to reduce the large-scale drawings to HO. The latter might be useful for cutting out scale size templates, but you don't really need an HO scale drawing to build an HO scale model.

Good luck,

Andy

[DSchmitt]

Copiers aren't always conveniently available. Scale drawing paper would be handy for quick sketches or mock-ups of proposed buildings, so you can see how they would fit on the layout.

[Anonymous]

Okay guys I'm about to rock your world. I knew there had to be a way to do this. After experimenting with Microsoft Word all day long I have the formula and I am happy to share.[:)]
Using Word, create a table that is 36 columns wide by 45 rows. Change your measurement in Word by going to Tools, Options, General and change your measurements units to mm. Now highlight the entire table and go to Table, Table Properties. On the Row tab, select Specify Height and make it 3.5mm and change the Row Height is box to exactly.Then go to the colum tab and change the preferred width to 7mm. I tried changing it to 3.5 but Word won't make the table column width any smaller than 4mm. So use 7mm and just remember that your columns are 2 HO scale feet wide and your rows are 1 HO scale feet high. If you have done it right, you should have a table that fills up just about the entire sheet. Oh in your page setup change your margins to 25mm top and bottom and 15mm left and right. Change your paper size to Landscape. That should do it.
Good luck with your HO graph paper.
John

[Anonymous]

And now that I have gone through all those gyrations, I have come up with an even better way, although this one takes a bit longer. If you are Word savvy at all you should have no problem with this.
Open a brand new sheet in Microsoft Word. On your bottom toolbar is an icon called Draw. Click it. Up will pop some choices. One of them is Grid. Select it. You'll see another menu that allows you to chose the size of your grid spacing. Make sure you are in mm not inches. See the previous message on how to change that. Select Snap Objects to grid and change the grid spacing in both areas to 3.5mm. Click okay and a beautiful 3.5mm by 3.5mm grid will be on your sheet! Don't celebrate yet. Its just a guide.
Now using the Line tool, very carefully set your double cross cursor on the upper left portion of your grid. Click your left mouse button and hold your shift key down. Holding shift will allow you to draw a perfectly straight line even if your hand moves a little. Drag that line all the way over to the right side of your grid and release. Go back to the left and repeat the process four more times.
Once you have 5 perfectly straight lines, select the first one and hold the shift key down and select the other four. You should now have all five selected. Press ctrl c and then ctrl v. You'll see a copy of the 5 lines you just drew. Grab the top one and drag them all down to the grid line below your fifth drawn line and release. Do it again, and again and again and again until you have copied the lines all the way down to the bottom. Be very careful in placing your lines to make sure you are setting them right on top of the guide grid underneath. Now repeat the process for the vertical lines. After its all done, you should have a perfect grid sheet with lines exactly 3.5mm apart...HO scale grid paper. This suggestion is a bit tougher but well worth it cause you'll have perfect 1 scale foot lines in both directions. Try it. I think you'll like the results.
John

[Noah Hofrichter]

[:D]Thanks dragondog!![:)] I got this to work and it is amazing. This will help in Grayhound challengers scratch building contest as I begin drawing plans. One tip though, draw your lines in the light blue color as it makes it easier to see the pencil lines you make on the page.

Thanks again[:D][^] Noah,[:p][8D]

[Anonymous]

Being and older MRR I am tending to agree with Andy! Also , the fact that I have worked with drawing my whole adult life, I think sticking with what I know works for me. It's a simple method! However, do what works for you!

[eng22]

Dragondog,

THANKS- I love the idea and had no problem with your instructions!