from an old thread, O-gauge caliper
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
I don't really need the little guys, but I'd sure like to get me one of them miniature tape measures.
Ed
maxman 7j43k It appears the caliper will do multiple scales. I wonder how. I think there is a little guy inside with a minature tape measure to make the measurement, an abacus to make the conversions, and an assistant to post the final result in little windows like they used to do at the ballpark.
7j43k It appears the caliper will do multiple scales. I wonder how.
I think there is a little guy inside with a minature tape measure to make the measurement, an abacus to make the conversions, and an assistant to post the final result in little windows like they used to do at the ballpark.
Yep thats how it works.
7j43kIt appears the caliper will do multiple scales. I wonder how.
maxman richg1998 Echo Mountain Model Products sells one for $58.00 and it does different scales. I don't know how current the website is, but here is contact info: http://www.echomtn.com/products.htm and here is link to 2014 catalog: http://www.echomtn.com/14CAT.htm
richg1998 Echo Mountain Model Products sells one for $58.00 and it does different scales.
I don't know how current the website is, but here is contact info: http://www.echomtn.com/products.htm
and here is link to 2014 catalog: http://www.echomtn.com/14CAT.htm
Very interesting. It appears the caliper will do multiple scales. I wonder how. And I wonder if reading it is more awkward than using a calculator. Sure would have been nice if he'd had a larger picture to study.
Anyone want to buy one and report back?
richg1998Echo Mountain Model Products sells one for $58.00 and it does different scales.
Uncle Butch
Thank you. This was very helpful. I have saved this to my favorites
YGW
I have a digital caliper from Harbor Freight- quite inexpensive- that uses a small button battery for power. I use it for small measurements in my garage shop and very occasionally for HO model work. It seems- as Big Daddy described above- that a simple hand calculator, or the one on your smart phone, is all that is needed to obtain reliable HO conversions by merely dividing any value by 87 to arrive at the scaled-down measurement. Certainly, enough precision can be had at two places to the right of the decimal point- beyond that, it seems counterproductive. Keeping it simple.....
Cedarwoodron
http://www.urbaneagle.com/data/RRconvcharts.html
this is what I use
yougottawantaIf anyone has the link to the spread sheet mentioned I would greatly appreciate that link.
HO Scale Measurements HO ft\in 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 0 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.10 0.11 0.13 1 0.14 0.15 0.16 0.17 0.18 0.20 0.21 0.22 0.23 0.24 0.25 0.26 2 0.28 0.29 0.30 0.31 0.32 0.33 0.34 0.36 0.37 0.38 0.39 0.40 3 0.41 0.43 0.44 0.45 0.46 0.47 0.48 0.49 0.51 0.52 0.53 0.54 4 0.55 0.56 0.57 0.59 0.60 0.61 0.62 0.63 0.64 0.66 0.67 0.68 5 0.69 0.70 0.71 0.72 0.74 0.75 0.76 0.77 0.78 0.79 0.80 0.82 6 0.83 0.84 0.85 0.86 0.87 0.89 0.90 0.91 0.92 0.93 0.94 0.95 7 0.97 0.98 0.99 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 8 1.10 1.11 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 9 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.36 1.37 HO ft\in 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 10 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.47 1.48 1.49 1.51 11 1.52 1.53 1.54 1.55 1.56 1.57 1.59 1.60 1.61 1.62 1.63 1.64 12 1.66 1.67 1.68 1.69 1.70 1.71 1.72 1.74 1.75 1.76 1.77 1.78 13 1.79 1.80 1.82 1.83 1.84 1.85 1.86 1.87 1.89 1.90 1.91 1.92 14 1.93 1.94 1.95 1.97 1.98 1.99 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.05 2.06 15 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.20 16 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 17 2.34 2.36 2.37 2.38 2.39 2.40 2.41 2.43 2.44 2.45 2.46 2.47 18 2.48 2.49 2.51 2.52 2.53 2.54 2.55 2.56 2.57 2.59 2.60 2.61 19 2.62 2.63 2.64 2.66 2.67 2.68 2.69 2.70 2.71 2.72 2.74 2.75 HO ft\in 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 20 2.76 2.77 2.78 2.79 2.80 2.82 2.83 2.84 2.85 2.86 2.87 2.89 21 2.90 2.91 2.92 2.93 2.94 2.95 2.97 2.98 2.99 3.00 3.01 3.02 22 3.03 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 23 3.17 3.18 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.28 3.29 3.30 24 3.31 3.32 3.33 3.34 3.36 3.37 3.38 3.39 3.40 3.41 3.43 3.44 25 3.45 3.46 3.47 3.48 3.49 3.51 3.52 3.53 3.54 3.55 3.56 3.57 26 3.59 3.60 3.61 3.62 3.63 3.64 3.66 3.67 3.68 3.69 3.70 3.71 27 3.72 3.74 3.75 3.76 3.77 3.78 3.79 3.80 3.82 3.83 3.84 3.85 28 3.86 3.87 3.89 3.90 3.91 3.92 3.93 3.94 3.95 3.97 3.98 3.99 29 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.13 HO ft\in 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 30 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 31 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 4.34 4.36 4.37 4.38 4.39 4.40 32 4.41 4.43 4.44 4.45 4.46 4.47 4.48 4.49 4.51 4.52 4.53 4.54 33 4.55 4.56 4.57 4.59 4.60 4.61 4.62 4.63 4.64 4.66 4.67 4.68 34 4.69 4.70 4.71 4.72 4.74 4.75 4.76 4.77 4.78 4.79 4.80 4.82 35 4.83 4.84 4.85 4.86 4.87 4.89 4.90 4.91 4.92 4.93 4.94 4.95 36 4.97 4.98 4.99 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 37 5.10 5.11 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 38 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.28 5.29 5.30 5.31 5.32 5.33 5.34 5.36 5.37 39 5.38 5.39 5.40 5.41 5.43 5.44 5.45 5.46 5.47 5.48 5.49 5.51 HO ft\in 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 40 5.52 5.53 5.54 5.55 5.56 5.57 5.59 5.60 5.61 5.62 5.63 5.64 41 5.66 5.67 5.68 5.69 5.70 5.71 5.72 5.74 5.75 5.76 5.77 5.78 42 5.79 5.80 5.82 5.83 5.84 5.85 5.86 5.87 5.89 5.90 5.91 5.92 43 5.93 5.94 5.95 5.97 5.98 5.99 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.05 6.06 44 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.20 45 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 6.25 6.26 6.28 6.29 6.30 6.31 6.32 6.33 46 6.34 6.36 6.37 6.38 6.39 6.40 6.41 6.43 6.44 6.45 6.46 6.47 47 6.48 6.49 6.51 6.52 6.53 6.54 6.55 6.56 6.57 6.59 6.60 6.61 48 6.62 6.63 6.64 6.66 6.67 6.68 6.69 6.70 6.71 6.72 6.74 6.75 49 6.76 6.77 6.78 6.79 6.80 6.82 6.83 6.84 6.85 6.86 6.87 6.89 HO ft\in 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 50 6.90 6.91 6.92 6.93 6.94 6.95 6.97 6.98 6.99 7.00 7.01 7.02 51 7.03 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 52 7.17 7.18 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.24 7.25 7.26 7.28 7.29 7.30 53 7.31 7.32 7.33 7.34 7.36 7.37 7.38 7.39 7.40 7.41 7.43 7.44 54 7.45 7.46 7.47 7.48 7.49 7.51 7.52 7.53 7.54 7.55 7.56 7.57 55 7.59 7.60 7.61 7.62 7.63 7.64 7.66 7.67 7.68 7.69 7.70 7.71 56 7.72 7.74 7.75 7.76 7.77 7.78 7.79 7.80 7.82 7.83 7.84 7.85 57 7.86 7.87 7.89 7.90 7.91 7.92 7.93 7.94 7.95 7.97 7.98 7.99 58 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.13 59 8.14 8.15 8.16 8.17 8.18 8.20 8.21 8.22 8.23 8.24 8.25 8.26
BigDaddy I still have my slide rule....somewhere.
I still have my slide rule....somewhere.
I seem to have mislaid mine. It's not where I left it. Well, it actually might be. Where I left it. But it's not where I THINK I left it.
But I have my father's. He got it to go to college on the GI Bill. It's a big ole magnesium Pickett Model 4. I see on Ebay they're sharply discounted.
7j43kWhat I'm trying to get at is that I don't see much use in an HO caliper. I suppose if I had one, I might find an occasion to use it. But I think it would be rather rare. And, remember, those dimensions pretty quickly would be turned into "regular" dimensions. At least, if I were doing model building. I think it far better to get a GOOD caliper in basic decimal inches first. THAT one will be more useful overall. You, of course, might find you still have a yen for an HO one. These things happen. Ed
I totally agree with you. The only uses I could see is if you were verifying the dimensions of a model or making a scale drawing working from the model, or if you were checking the dimensions of a detail part.
A HO scale dial caliper is entirely too situational a tool to use for me to spend money on it.
At the current time, I am working on building an NW2 in HO scale. Dimension in HO feet and inches are pretty useless. I convert any of those dimensions (wheel diameter is an obvious one) to decimal inches. 40" quickly becomes .459", because it is more useful. And, of course, it reflects the true diameter of the model wheel. Mighty handy. Say, for example, if you wondered what size brass rod to use to make one (1/2" would work). Neither do they sell brass rod in HO feet/inches.
Note also that, for a wheel in HO, NMRA's RP-25 is also in decimal inch dimensions. Not HO feet/inches.
One additional compelling reason is that my machine tools are all in decimal inches. I am currently in the middle of machining a fuel tank on my milling machine. EVERYTHING is in decimal inches.
What I'm trying to get at is that I don't see much use in an HO caliper. I suppose if I had one, I might find an occasion to use it. But I think it would be rather rare. And, remember, those dimensions pretty quickly would be turned into "regular" dimensions. At least, if I were doing model building.
I think it far better to get a GOOD caliper in basic decimal inches first. THAT one will be more useful overall. You, of course, might find you still have a yen for an HO one. These things happen.
I am certainly not saying I had a pocket calculator in fourth grade.
7j43k I deal with this all the time. "Spreadsheets"? Right. I've got me a "pocket calculator". From the olden days. It's not blue tooth or wireless enabled. And it can't be hacked. I just enter my number, multiply or divide as necessary; and I have my answer.
I deal with this all the time. "Spreadsheets"? Right.
I've got me a "pocket calculator". From the olden days. It's not blue tooth or wireless enabled. And it can't be hacked.
I just enter my number, multiply or divide as necessary; and I have my answer.
In the above, I say that I use one NOW. It, admittedly, is from the "olden days". But not THAT olden. More like "shortly after they became commonly available and dirt cheap".
Sorta like back in 4th grade. You DID do the homework, didn't you?
THEN I start referring back to fourth grade. Notice that I shifted to past tense. That part is about knowing how to multiply and divide.
On page 69 of the OCT 1997 issue of MR is a table to convert real dimensions to HO scale in an Excel spreadsheet. (HO 1" = .011") You can do the same with a spreadsheet program and print one out for easy reference.
Note:
I bought a plastic General 6" Dial. It cost $30. It is not accurate, and not very useful as far as I am concerned. I went to Starrett's website and bought a steel a 6" dial caliper (3202-6). It is accurate to within a .001". Its made in China. If thats not your bag, an extra $100 buys you a dial caliper made in Massachusetts. Plus its made out of steel. It costs about the same as an Athearn RTR locomotive (without sound). In my book the Starrett was a better purchase.
http://www.starrett.com/metrology/metrology-products/precision-measuring-tools/slide-calipers/Dial-Calipers#currentPage=1&displayMode=grid&itemsPerPage=24&sortBy=listprice/asc
I don't use digital precision measuring instruments, because dial and vernier dont have batteries that have to be replaced, and I prefer to not have to fiddle with my tools to get them to work.
Once I get my workshop set up (still unpacking) I plan to create one of those spreadsheets, print and laminate it. Then I'll just thumb tack it to the work bench.
Ed (7j43k),
I didnt do my homework, I just took the tests and passed the classes once I figured out I could get away with it.
[quote user="7j43k"]
4th grade? I was out of high school, married with kids before pocket calculators were affordable.
When I need to know how big a thing is in HO, I use my digital calipers,witch tells me in nice big numbers,I then turn to my SPREADSHEET hanging onthe wall to my right.In less time then it took you to smart off I have my answer
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Thanks everyone for the replies. Very helpful If anyone has the link to the spread sheet mentioned I would greatly appreciate that link.
Thanks
hon30critter 4th grade pocket calculator? I think we were barely past the personal chalk board stage back then. I think I was in grade 8 or 9 before I saw my first Texas Instruments calculator. Dave I was out of high school by the time the first "affordable" 4 fuction ones were available...LOL
4th grade pocket calculator? I think we were barely past the personal chalk board stage back then. I think I was in grade 8 or 9 before I saw my first Texas Instruments calculator.
Dave
I was out of high school by the time the first "affordable" 4 fuction ones were available...LOL
General made a dial calipers that reads out in HO feet and inches. I have one and it is very useful, but I think it is now several years since General offered it. It is not digital but "analog." I think it also can be read out in O (1/4" scale) but there the conversions are much easier using regular calipers and other measuring devices.
Dave Nelson
7j43kSorta like back in 4th grade.
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I asked that same question here a while back,3/4mts ago.Was told they were no longer being made, anyway I couldnt locate one.
Someone,can't recall whom, posted a link in that thread, to a site that had spreadsheets to covert all kinds of stuff. Thanks to who ever that was.
With tose spread sheets and my 20$ caliper its quite simple to figure out what I need
I read not to long ago in the MRH forums about TMTV HO Scale Calipers.
Do some searching.
I believe it is TrainMasters TV.
I recall seeing a HO scale caliper at one time with Micro Mark on it but Micro Mark no longer shows it. Not enough demand from what I found out.
Echo Mountain Model Products sells one for $58.00 and it does different scales.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I think in the last 2 months we had this conversation and someone said there used to be a converting calipers.
It wouldn't be hard to set up an spreadsheet to do the conversion or even a calculator app on your phone or computer.
The cheap Harbor Freight calipers used to burn through batteries, they are better now. They are plenty accurate for our purposes.
For 8' 10 ...Convert to inches 8'x12"= 96"+ 10" and it = 106" to convert that to 1/87 multipy 106 x 0.011494 and you need 1.22 ruler inches to be 8' 10" in HO land
0.011494 is your conversion factor for HO to convert the real dimension in inches into scale inches
If they can do HO measurements, I am sure they will specifically declare that. Starrett, for one, does not declare that.
I'm in the middle of a project now, and I convert everything to "real" dimensions in .001". Which is exactly what a caliper will do. At least, a non-metric.
I sure wouldn't MIND a caliper that output both "real" dimensions and HO. But I don't think anyone makes a good one that does that. And I don't want a not-good one.
Are you talking about actual HO calipers - i.e. calipers that will measure 1" but tell you it's 87.1"? Or, regular calipers that will do that calculation for you?
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Quick question. I have reviewed some of teh digitial caliper but it is not clear to me whether these can be set to measure in HO. For instance, If I wanted to measure a wall height of 8'-10" in HO scale, do the digital calipers have this capibility or do I have to still do the conversions first ?
Thanks in advance for your response