planning layout

[Anonymous]

in planning my layout (ho), i would like to know how you figure the degree of incline going from one level to another ?
\ slopoke

[IRONROOSTER]

Grades are expressed as percent which in turn is the number of inches it rises (or sinks) in elevation over 100 inches of length. Thus an incline that rises 3 inches in 100 inches of track would be 3%. If it rose 2 inches in 50 inches it would be 4% since you have to double the measurements to get 100 inches of length.

Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

It is really easy here. You get a metre stick (a 1m long ruler (doh)) and a spirit level. Measure the gap (in cm) at the bottom of the hill below the ruler when the ruler is level and that's you grade!

a yard stick would nearly work but it is only 93cm long so it would tend to over estimate the grade by a wee bit.

[dehusman]

An easy way to figure it is the percentage of grade (the way grades are usually described on railroads) is the rise in inches for every 8 ft of run (96 inches). 8 ft or multiples is pretty easy to figure out. So if you want a 2 % grade or less (a good idea) then you can go up 2" in 8 ft of run. So it you want to go up 4 in, then you will need 16 ft of run to do it.

You can also use this to see what your grade rally is. Take a 2 ft level, put it on your grade and put 1/4" thick pieces of wood under very tip of the low end. When you get it level, count how many pieces of 1/4 in wood you have under there. That's your approximate grade in percent. If it is a little above level with 4 pieces and a little below level with 3 pieces, then your grade is a steep 3 1/2 percent (3+ pieces of 1/4 " wood). Its not exact, but its a reasonable approximation.

Dave H.