Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Yet another newbie stoopid question about HO ruler.

10640 views
7 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Southwest US
  • 12,914 posts
Posted by tomikawaTT on Saturday, November 3, 2012 5:50 PM

Paul_in_GA

Okay, ANOTHER newbie question.

Why does Walthers flextrack have little points on the ends of the ties?  Sprue material?

More likely vents.  Those flat round spots on the tie bottoms are where the plastic goes into the mold.  There are no sprues as such.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

  • Member since
    September 2012
  • 369 posts
Posted by Paul_in_GA on Saturday, November 3, 2012 3:07 PM

Thanks all for your answers.  And Ken, Pizza BeerSmile

Okay, ANOTHER newbie question.

Why does Walthers flextrack have little points on the ends of the ties?  Sprue material?

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Saturday, November 3, 2012 2:52 PM

 I only have one ruler, I try to keep her in the Kitchen as much as possible!

 Ken

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Chamberlain, ME
  • 5,084 posts
Posted by G Paine on Saturday, November 3, 2012 2:29 PM

The design if the scale is based on an engineer's drafting scale from back in the days when engineering drawings were done on paper and digital did not exist.

Refering to the picture above, the divisions on the right of the 0 are in feet and 1/4 feet (3 scale inches), the divisions to the left of 0 are scale inches. The idea is that, if you want very precise measurments to the inch, place the scale rule so one mark is on an even foot and other mark is somewhere in the inches section. This will give you a measurement to the nearest inch - like 34'-7". This applies to the other scales on the ruler as well.

In practical usage, the HO scale inches are so small, I just use the quarter foot marks, but some people doing very close work (rivet countersSmile, Wink & Grin) would use scale inches.

George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch 

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 4,115 posts
Posted by tatans on Saturday, November 3, 2012 2:05 PM

The increments to the left of the 0 with 9  3  are  measurements in inches(1 foot) - count them----  if there was room it would read  12  9  6  3  0 .    - - -  see the scale below S gauge and it's the same only the 12 is missing.  You are not the first person on earth to query those numbers.

  • Member since
    September 2012
  • 369 posts
Posted by Paul_in_GA on Saturday, November 3, 2012 2:04 PM

cuyama

Paul_in_GA
On the left end, in HO scale, it doesn't start with 0, it starts with a 9 and a 3.  Can anyone please tell me what the 9 & the 3 mean?

Does it look like this?  

Those small tick marks to the left of the zero are one foot of HO scale inches.The 3 and the 9 are labeled. The "6" in between them is not.

In measuring something, you line up the nearest foot mark on the right and then read the remaining inches on the left. Similar to an Architect's scale rule.

Yup, that's ruler I have.  I understand now but with my vision I need an electron microscope to read it! Geeked

Thanks.

Paul

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern CA Bay Area
  • 4,387 posts
Posted by cuyama on Saturday, November 3, 2012 1:52 PM

Paul_in_GA
On the left end, in HO scale, it doesn't start with 0, it starts with a 9 and a 3.  Can anyone please tell me what the 9 & the 3 mean?

Does it look like this?  

Those small tick marks to the left of the zero are one foot of HO scale inches.The 3 and the 9 are labeled. The "6" in between them is not.

In measuring something, you line up the nearest foot mark on the right and then read the remaining inches on the left. Similar to an Architect's scale rule.

  • Member since
    September 2012
  • 369 posts
Yet another newbie stoopid question about HO ruler.
Posted by Paul_in_GA on Saturday, November 3, 2012 1:37 PM

Okay, don't laugh at me guys okay?  But I have an HO ruler like I'm sure most of you do and I think it's pretty darned nifty.  However, since there are no instructions with this General brand ruler I have a question about it.

On the left end, in HO scale, it doesn't start with 0, it starts with a 9 and a 3.  Can anyone please tell me what the 9 & the 3 mean?

Thanks for answering something which will probably seem obvious after it is explained to me.

Paul the newbie (hey, ya gotta start somewhere right?)

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!