"HOscale Measurments to Nscale Measurments

[TrainsRMe1]

  Hey Gang,

    I have a good Question for ya, I  have a plan that I want to convert from HO to Nscale, my math sucks, and it gets frustrating at times, what is the formula, in my old Modelrailroader 101 layout plans, it says to use half the measurments of HO for Nscale is that right??  Any kind of help is appreachated!!  

[DSchmitt]

Close 1/2  Closer  87/160 = 0.54

[TrainsRMe1]

Ok Ok , 87/160 =0.54 Can you explain, for example, 48" x 38

[doctorwayne]

If you intend to build something from any plan, you should own a ruler for the scale in which you work.  Most of them have O, S, HO, and N on the same ruler.  If your plan is drawn in HO scale but not dimensioned, simply use the HO scale ruler to determine the correct lengths, then use the N scale rule to measure out the same dimension for the material to be cut.  If the plan is dimensioned (most are), all you need to do is use your N scale rule to do all of the layout and cutting work - the dimensions on the drawing can be read and used directly from the proper scale on the ruler.

Wayne

[BRAKIE]

Here's what works for me..If a building is 40 foot long in HO it should be 40 foot in N Scale so,I just measure 40' on my N Scaler ruler.No math or fancy formulas to worry about.

 

[R. T. POTEET]

HO-Scale = 3.5mm=1 ft;

1mm=.03937"

HO-Scale=3.5mmX.03937"=.137795"

N-Scale=3/40"=1 ft=.075"=1 ft

48"=348.34 (HO-Scale) ft=26 1/8" (N-Scale)  (48"÷.137795" X .075")

38"=275.77 (HO-Scale) ft=20 11/16" (N-Scale) (38÷.137795 X .075)

[Steve_F]

Ok Ok , 87/160 =0.54 Can you explain, for example, 48" x 38

 48" x 0.54 = 25.92"

 38" x 0.54 = 20.52"

48" x 38" in HO Scale = 25.92" x 20.52" in N Scale.

 

[tstage]

To be a little more accurate, HO is actually 1:87.1:

• 48" x 0.544 = 26.11"
• 38" x 0.544 = 20.67"

So, an 48" x 38" HO-scale layout would be a 26.1" x 20.7" N-scale layout.  Not much of a difference overall but still worth noting.

Tom

[IRONROOSTER]

For layout plans 1/2 will work.  Any place with a lot of turnouts will have to be carefully laid out based on the actual brand you are using, but that's true for any plan not just converted HO plans.

Enjoy

Paul 

[tomikawaTT]

One additional factor in reducing an HO track plan to be built in N scale.  If there is an operating pit or walk-in aisle, you can't reduce it to less than 24 inches width unless the operator is a lot slimmer than most of us.  Since John Armstrong drew most of the HO plans in 101 Track Plans with 24" aisleways...

So the simple, "Multiply the HO dimension by 0.55 on your pocket calculator," has to be modified to add back enough width to allow 1:1 scale operators to use aisles that would otherwise be only 13 inches wide.

(My own aisleways are wider than 24" - but then, so am I)

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[Flashwave]

Also, I for  one wouldn;t rack your head on getting things perfectly lined up on the plan, as long it's reslly close, things may have to sit to the left of where they should on the plan.

Chuck's right about the walkways. I wish mine were consistantly 24"

[cuyama]

One additional factor in reducing an HO track plan to be built in N scale.  If there is an operating pit or walk-in aisle, you can't reduce it to less than 24 inches width unless the operator is a lot slimmer than most of us.  Since John Armstrong drew most of the HO plans in 101 Track Plans with 24" aisleways

The point is correct, but not the attribution. John Armstrong contributed only a couple of designs to 101 Track Plans, most are the work of Linn Westcott.

Basically, if the design you are converting from HO is island-style, a simple reduction can be a good starting point, although track-to-track spacing and other adjustments must be made.

If the design you are converting has aisles, you're often better-off starting over and laying out the concept from scratch.

Many of the plans in 101 Track Plans and other plan books are based on very sharp curves that may not be appropriate for models of real-life equipment built since the 1950s. Also, most of the plans assume hand-laid turnouts built to fit the tight situations. Many folks have experienced frustration in trying to use off-the-shelf turnouts with those older plans.

Sometimes the best advice is to build the N scale plan in the same space as the HO scale plan, adjusting track-to-track spacing as required. This sometimes results in a more spacious and more realistic-looking layout.

Byron
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