Hi there my MRXRer Friends!, I have been sucky at math since grade school. So I need some help with a question[?] that I have. First of all I know that all demensions in “N” scale is ½ the size of “HO”. Now I’m rebuilding a part of my layout. On this particular plan that I’m incorpurating into my layout it says:scale of plan is ³/16"=1’0",24 grid, that sounds like a lot of “fronteir geberwhis”(from Blazing Saddles). The plan is “HO” but I want to build it in “N” scale.[;)] I need help getting started, most of my work has been triale and error with really good results, but I want this to come out prefect. HELP.
FROM MATH CHALLENGED
[xx(]
TrainsRMe
First of all I know that all demensions in “N” scale is ½ the size of “HO”.
First of all, N is not 1/2 of HO, it’s a little bigger, like 55%. Enough to cause a difference.
On this particular plan that I’m incorpurating into my layout it says:scale of plan is ³/16"=1’0",24 grid, that sounds like a lot of “fronteir geberwhis”(from Blazing Saddles). The plan is “HO” but I want to build it in “N” scale.
3/16" = 1’- 0" means that if you put a ruler on the plan, every 3/16" represents one foot in the layout.
24" grid means that the lines drawn on the plan represent squares 24" x 24" (in HO).
To build the same HO plan in N you’re probably well advised to allow about 75% of the HO size. While N is only 55% of HO, some things don’t scale down exactly, like access openings.
Okay, there’s a start. Feel free to ask more if that has confused you more than it has helped.
Regards
Ed
one real important point is that on a trackplan you can’t count on N being half the size of HO . it should be , but when you actually build it , it will rarely work out that way so be careful .
3/16" = 1’0" means that 3/16" on the trackplan = 1 foot on the real layout
24" grid means the gridlines on the trackplan are 2 feet apart
it’s not math really , just simple measurements 
To be precise, N scale is actually about 54.4% of HO, not exactly half. But it’s not always as simple as just reducing the dimensions of an HO scale plan, since the full-sized human operators don’t scale. So you have to allow the same amount of real-life room for aisles in N scale as in HO.
In terms of the rest of the plan, 3/16" = 1’ 0" simply means that if you take out a ruler and measure on the printed plan, something that measures 3/16" (.1875") would take up 12" on the full-sized layout. To do the conversion with a calulator, multiply the measured dimensions by 64 (12"/.1875") to find out the dimensions for the HO scale layout. To do the conversion to N scale in one step, multiply the measured dimensions on the plan by 34.8 (54.4% of 64). But again, things like access aisles and track centers may not come out exactly right with just a simple mathematical conversion.
That’s a small scale for a printed plan, so some things may be a little tricky to measure. Also, you should be advised that published plans are not always drawn so that they could actually be built. Track-to-track centers are sometimes off, curves may not be drawn square with connecting straights, and turnouts may be drawn with geometries that are impossibly sharp or, at the least, don’t match commercial turnouts.So you may need to do some tweaking for N scale realities.
The 24" grid just tells you how large the squares that are overlaid on the plan would be in real life for the HO scale layout. It gives you a rough visual idea of how things would fit, but doesn’t enter into the scaling calculation.
Hopefully not quite as confusing as authentic frontier gibberish …
Regards,
Byron
http://www.modelrail.us
Warning, Danger, Will Robinson! It depends if this is a table layout or around the room type because, guess what, people still need the same amount of aisleways and access! So be real careful when you try to duplicate a track plan in a different scale. The best thing to do is take the area you have available and try to copy the concept of the track plan if you like it.
i think what we have seen from quite a few threads recently is that you cannot follow a plan exactly. They rarely come out to work exactly, so they should be used as a rough plan
my 2 cents
And HO is half of O gauge.[;)]
Red
another thing to consider is to use the same space for the N layout as the HO plan suggests , the longer mainline run and more space between towns looks great in N . this is especially true with the standard 4’x8’ trackplan because they’re always too crowded in HO
Right [:o)] Interesting: American O is 1/48, HO usually said to be 1/87 (its not exactly but close enough) , 48/87 = 55.2%: N is 1/160, 87/160 = 54.3%
Thanks for the tip guys, I will try this out tomorrow. I have been using the MR book “101 track plans” by Linn Westcott. I guess the deminsions are outdated.
Thanks again
TrainsRMe
PS,
If there’s anymore info please let me know!!