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Converting N Scale to HO Scale
Hamhari has a question for readers:
“Hello model railroaders. I have a question about a plan I have in mind. It is an N scale plan but I want to build it in HO. I was told that I would have to double the diameters of the curves (12 in N to 24 in HO). When I went to another website I can never get a straight answer from people there. They told me that I would have to double the size of the benchwork from 4×8 to 8×16. Is that true? It looks like the others would have told me that in the first place. Thanks!!”
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7 Responses to Converting N Scale to HO Scale
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Go to this web site http://www.lctm.info/Biblioteca/Libros/index.htm and find layout plans in some they have the diameter of curves and length of ho etch. I hope this helps you. Regards John
Yes N gauge is roughly Half the size of HO thus doubling the N scale plan in HO.
Gene says about all, remember that doubling in one direction also requires doubling in all the others too. This has the effect that 4 x 8 becomes roughly 8 x 16 as a rough guide also the height is also affected in a similar fashion. The main difference in size is the baseboard dimensions doubling everything should give you ample space without it being excessive.
I have seen HO trains run with O scale as rides in an amusement park with O scale people inside open passenger/ freight cars and an O scale engineer sitting on the tender driving and it looks pretty neat.
Gene and Steven said it best, as HO is amost twice the size of N, counting length, width, and height. The curve radius is about the same – 22″ HO = 11″ N, 18″ HO = 9/3/4″ N, using Kato or Atlas track.
As is recommended, take the measurements of the N layout and double it for HO. That’s the track dimensions. For the board you would need, figure the track dimensions and add at least one inch on the sides and ends so that the outer track isn’t too close to the edge of the board. That’s the size you would need.
The smallest size for good running in HO is a board 4×8-feet. However, usng Atlas Snap Track, that board would accommodate only 18″ radius curves, which means 4-axle engines. The 22″ radius curves (six-axle egnes) would bring the track too close to the edge of the board
Right, John Mc Cabe, so just put a 2-4″ shield/guardrail of about 1/8 inch (or heavier if you have the money) plexi glass. This helps keep the trains off the floor and helps keep little (and big) fingers away from the trains and or layout.
Works for me. Cuts real smoothly on tablesaw.
The conversion factor is: 1.83908046, so just multiply the number in N scale (1:160) by the factor and you’ll get the number in HO. Having said this, you can see that roughly you can multiply by two or double the size (height – length – with).