Have some rolling stock, varying lengths. Would like to know what size they represent. Some boxcars are 40’, 50’ etc. My layout is rather small 5x9 HO, and some curves are really tight. So, purchasing 60’+ car lengths make it too unrealistic, let alone a real challenge to not scrape tunnel entrance. I figure there must be some sort of guage which would tell me lengths. And when I go to lhs, I can specify what lengths of a particular type of car I am looking for. Thanks!
Only meaning to be the slightest bit sarcastic, they already make them. They are called tape measures. To get the scale measurements of a typical HO boxcar, measure the length of the car in inches, mulitply by 87 to convert from HO to proto, divide the product by 12 to convert all them pesky inches to feet, and Bob’s yer uncle.
'N Peg’s yer aunt.
Oh, you could also take along a pre-made table with 10-15 lengths of boxcars converted to HO scale by multiplying all those lenghts by 12 to get it back to inches, and then divide the quotients by 87 to get the equivalent in HO measured in inches.
there is a ruler you can buy from the lhs that has the scale inches and feet on the ruler already, i think it is about 20’ and the actual lenght of the ruler is about six inches.
Most stuff modern is about 50’ and more, car trailers are about 80’ standard boxcars about fifty feet. Sounds like with your tight corners you may want to model the early steam era, they are about 36’-40’. The tank cars are neat looking and are about 30’ feet long, the box cars usually have cool stuff advertised on the side making them visually appealing
They definitely sell scale rulers that you can use to measure in HO scale … and avoid having to make those pesky calculations.
I bought one last week to help with some building kits. Scale feet on one side with inches and mm’s on the other.
1:87 Scale Rule made by C.T.T. INC. Dallas, Texas
I bought it at my LHC.
When you do the math, Rick’s reply can be changed to this (HO scake in parenth.):
Most modern stuff is 7" long (51’), car trailers are 11" (80’), boxcars are 7". Steam are 5" to 5-1/2" (36’-40’), tank cars are 4" (29’).
Therefore you only need 4", 5", 5-1/2", 7", and 11".
| HO conversions | inches-to-feet |
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Sully,
The easiest thing to do it is to measure them with a ruler, multiply that number by 87.1 (HO scale is 87.1:1), then divide it by 12 to convert it to feet.
Example: 6-7/8" car x 87.1 (scale) divided by 12 = 49.9’ (or 50’) car
Tom
Cool I always wanted to know the math. I used to just look on the box for my car size. Joe A.
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=10116
[:D]
Best way is to keep a cheap plastic ruler ( the kinda flexable type ) and mark out major lengths that are needed such as scale 6’ for people and 30, 40, 50’ ect. for cars. Use mine for train shows ect. so I don’t have to guess as there are some odd scales out there that few use but may show up.
[quote user=“TBat55”]
When you do the math, Rick’s reply can be changed to this (HO scake in parenth.):
Most modern stuff is 7" long (51’), car trailers are 11" (80’), boxcars are 7". Steam are 5" to 5-1/2" (36’-40’), tank cars are 4" (29’).
Therefore you only need 4", 5", 5-1/2", 7", and 11".
| HO conversions | inches-to-feet |
|---|
How about this one for $3.87?
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/ctt/ctt9087.htm?source=froogle
or from walthers for $4.29
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/233-9087
It couldn’t hurt to buy one if you already need stuff from walthers.
BTW: Thanks for the help selector. I’ll try your iron board technique tonight.
well, thanks all. Love having the math handy, simple as it is. However, the scales are cheap enough according to y’all, so I shall pick one up as well. Thank you again!