Calculate HO Scale distance to 'real world' distance

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

hi all,

I know there has to be a formula to calculate HO scale distance to ‘real world’ distances.

For instance, if I have 36 inches in HO scale, how much ‘real world’ footage would that be and can you show me how you figured it out?

Thanks,

cplmckenzie

2

HO scale is 1:87.1 ratio. If you have 36 HO scale inches, just divide it by 87.1 giving you .4133 real inches, or just a bit bigger than 3/8" (.375").

Mark.

3

Okay,

So if my HO train travels 36 inches, how many feet would it have traaveled if it were a real train.

4

Actually to get real world inches you would multiply 36 inches X 87 and get 3132 inches, divide that by 12 and get 261 feet in the real world

5

Its a small world afterall!

Its a small world afterall!

6

In my world that Is less then the length of a football field and yet some modelers think you can build a complete steel mill or chicago with room left over a container yard in that space. A distance that is better suited to one large non compressed industry that keeps the trains in proper perspective. Having gotten that rant out the other part of an unasked question is in HO 60mph is just about one actual foot per second.

7

So, one piece of Atlas flex track is the equivalent of 261 feet of track on the prototype. Real world!

Rich

8

Yes. The LION runs subway trains, IRT type subway cars whcih are 50 scale feet long. Him runs trains of six cars which would be 300 scale feet. Him can build the platforms of him 4’ long, which leaves a little space fore and aft as does the prototype.

NYCT runs ten car trains which would be 500’ long on the IRT, and 600’ long on the BMT and the IND routes. To figgue figgurings divide or mult by 87 and you should be close to the mark.

Here is 1:1 truck spring. You already know what a KaDee spring looks like, if you can find it after it flies across the room. If you drop this one, at least you will know where it went.

ROAR

9

Thank you,

Now I can begin to figure how many times my mainline runner needs to go around a track made up of 6 18" curves x 2 (both ends of oval) + 6 9" straights x 2 (both sides) to cover a distance of Pittsburgh to D.C. giving my yard loco time to break up an inbound train and build another outbound train for the next run.

Anybody have any ideas on a lap counter?

Thanks,

cplmckenzie

10

Hi Guys

I’m an EE from the early 60s and believe it or not I still remember most of what the Professors’ hammered into our brains, but to be honest I’m a very lazy engineer. I keep my TI-30 within arms reach but when I have to use my brain I’m normally sitting in front of my computer and it’s easier to the click on the Handy Converter Icon than to use my TI-30, that doesn’t require any thinking at all.

The Handy Converter Icon brings up Stan’s Handy Converter that I purchased for about $20 many years ago. His program will convert anything from any scale to any scale or the real world by simply putting in the numbers you want to convert. No thinking required! Best model railroad software investment I have every made.

This isn’t a plug for Stan’s Handy Converter, it’s just something I found that makes our hobby so much easier without having to use my brain.

11

Apparently, I was interpreting the OP’s question differently …

I took it as if he was asking how long in real life measurement an HO scale yard-stick (36 inches) would be. I can see how his query could be taken both ways. 36 REAL inches in HO scale would be as how you described.

Mark.

12

I agree with you, Mark. The OP’s question can be answered either way, and both explanations are correct.

Rich

13

If he doesn’t know already, OP’s gonna find out that there is a bunch of unavoidable selective compression in our hobby.

In the end, do what looks good.

14

In our hobby, I think there is an effort to make the trains be the star of the scene. If everything was reduced to exactly HO scale, the trains would be a small part of the scene.

Being selective when compressing helps keep the trains prominent, IMO.

Edit: I get your point. One large industry in a given space looks more realistic than a lot of industries overly compressed.

15

Amen!

16

http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/page/modelScaler

An app to do the conversions for you.