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Converting Scale Drawing For HO Layout
Tom asks for help from readers who have a mathematical mind:
“I’m trying to build my first layout and having trouble converting the scale layout to life size. The scale is 7/8 inch = 1 foot. If that is so then what does each 1/8 inch equal in life size?”
Add your comments below.
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Divide 7 into 12 inches and you’ve got your answer. However, HO gauge is 3.5 mm to the foot (about 1/8 inch to a foot.) Where does the 7/8 inch come from? That is a monster scale!
Pass all your calcilations to Meters, example 1 foot = 30 cm. or 300 mm or .30 mt.
You would do it perfect thata way
Carlos
7/8″ to 1′ scale will translate to a little over 1-1/8″ per 1/8″. Actually 1-1/7″ inch. 7/8″ = 1′ is not an uncommon scale to use for area drawings. For ease of translation, you might want to use a copy machine and expand the drawing about 15%. You’d then be working with a 1″ = 1′ scale.
Pete: HO scale is 1″ = 87″.
Therefore, if you divide our measurement system (not metric) into 1/16″ there are 16 sixteenths in 1 inch. Dividing 16 into 87 gives you 5.4375. Therefore, every 1/16″ is equal to 5.4375 inches.
1/8″ is equal to 10.875 inches.
We are splitting hairs here so a good rule to follow is 1/8″ is equal to 11 inches. No one can see the difference.
I hope this helps you.
Mark