Ho Scale Feet on Regular tape mesure/ ruler???

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hello all

how do i measure HO scale feet with a regular ruler/ tape measure?

I know theres a ruler made for HO but dont have one yet… also any ideas on cheapest place to find one…

Thanks all Hobojim

Thanks for all your help!! found a converter on line…

Hobo Jim

2

If you have a ruler with metric, 3.5mm = 1 foot. Otherwise, 1 inch on a regular ruler/tape = 7’3". Good luck converting fractions of that.[:-^] Gary

3

[(-D] No kidding! In decimal format, 0.138" = 1’ as a fraction it would be 69/500ths of an inch. [%-)]

4

Heh Heh! In N scale 1/16" = 10 scale inches, 3/4" = 10 scale feet. Not too hard to figure the fractions. (Funny that the “N” in N Scale refers to "N"ine milimeter gauge)

Sorry that this doesn’t help you too much though Mr. H. Jim

5

BAH! N-SCALE! [;)]

6

As I sit here, happily measuring 1:80 of the given metric dimensions of my prototype with:

  • A meter stick.
  • A 12" school ruler with a metric scale on one edge.
  • A (Japanese-made) 3.5M tape.

I can’t help feeling for you scrambled-dimension modelers. (Why measure English-measurement prototypes in Metric-measurement?[%-)])

The only method which will allow you to measure quickly and retain your sanity is to acquire a proper scale rule. Then use it to mark the back side of a flexible tape, so you can measure longer dimensions easily.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

7

Agreed! Buying a scale rule was one of my better purchases. I never thought of making a custom tape measure though…not a bad idea. [tup]

8

Hey Hobojim,

Check out Walther’s website or catalog. They have several.

9

N scale 1 inch = 13.3 ft.

HO scale 1 inch = 7.2 ft.

S scale 1 inch = 5.3 ft.

O scale 1 inch = 4 ft.

10

Hi,

All of the previous postings are certainly “on track”. To add to them, an easy “ballpark” measurement is simply 1/8 inch equals 1 foot. Again, that’s Wrigley Field ballpark, but it will certainly expedite doing estimates (obviously, use the exact conversion for construction or the like).

Mobilman44

11

1/8"-1’ is more economical. You get 9 more scale feet per inch.[:o)] Actually that is 1/96th scale, common for model ships.

12

Hey, reklein - Not to be too picky, but HO scale is 1:87, so compared with 1:96, it’s 9 more feet per FOOT, or 9 more INCHES per inch. 1 inch is 7.3 HO feet, so 9 more feet would be quite a change of scale…

  • Gerhard