Converting scale to feet (Math formula)

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

My question is this,

I am trying to figure out how to do the math in N-Scale for a layout. I know 1/160 is the scale, but how do you figure out a layout of 507 miles between two points. If anyone can assist me I would appricate it

2

Not sure exactly what you need here but miles to feet in N scale is:

1 mile = 5280 ft.

N scale mile is 5280 / 160 = 33 feet

507 miles is 507 x 33 = 16,731 feet

A check of the math would be 507 / 160 * 5280 = 16,731

Hope this helps.

3

Jeff,

That is exactly what I wanted. Thank-you, it was blowing my mind that I couldn’t figue it out.

4

if you r trying to build a layout that big ure going to need lots of space! LOL!
o ya and how wuld you do that in HO scale… like to find out how wide sumtin is?

5

Are you serious? Divide by HO scale instead of N.
N = 1/160
HO = 1/87
So divide by 87.

6

First, you have to convert the angle of the dangle to the hypotenuse of the muffler bearing. I knew I should have paid attention in algebra and geometry instead of drawing tanks, planes and trains…

7

Draw a tank or a gun nowadays and they’ll toss you out of a public school.

8

I find it is easier to convert to inches (or centimeters if you are metric) before I do the calculation.

9

OK, I’ve had a nagging question that maybe you guru’s of math can help with.

If I’ve got a 15 x 10 foot room, how do I figure out how many acres that is in N scale?

10

Phil,

An acre is measured as 43,560 square feet.

Your 15 X 10 room is an Nscale area of 2400 X 1600 = 3,840,000 scale square feet

The room is roughly 88.15 Nscale acres

dwRavenstar

11

Thats cool! Thanks!

The Autumn’s Ridge Railway & Navigation Co. just aquired 88.15 acres for expantion![:D]

12

Yeah, especially in San Francisco.

And yet some other countries continue to build up their military to the max.
with us in their sites.

Makes you wonder who is in charge of our public schools.

13

i dont want to figure out miles though. like inches to ho scale feet to inches. i asked erlier how wide a road was in ho but they didnt tell me how they did it.

14

See if this helps. If you are going from real feet to HO then:

1 real foot * .0115 = HO scale feet or
1 real foot * .1379 = HO scale inches

So a road 20 feet wide would be :

20 * .0115 = .23 HO scale feet wide or
20 * .1379 = 2.758 HO scale inches wide

Hope this helps.

15

thanks lots! ; - D