converting to N-SCALE

jtomstarr Oct 29, 2019

  1. jtomstarr

    jtomstarr TrainBoard Member

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  2. Run8Racing

    Run8Racing TrainBoard Member

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    There is some formula to shrink to N scale, but I'm TERRIBLE with math stuff. I would need 17 NASA engineers with slide rules and such !!! I believe increasing or decreasing sizes is done in standard percentages of the original. I KNOW someone here can explain it better than I can !!!
     
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  3. Maletrain

    Maletrain TrainBoard Member

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    I am not sure what you are trying to do, but the "shrinkage factor" from O scale to N scale is 48/160 = 0.3 or 30%.
     
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  4. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    Or buy a Micro Trains outside braced boxcar
     
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  5. Run8Racing

    Run8Racing TrainBoard Member

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    See ??? I told ya' !!! Thank you, Maletrain !!!
     
  6. Charlie Vlk

    Charlie Vlk February 5, 2023 In Memoriam

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    The Rivarossi and Mehano single sheathed and Roco 40 Ft box cars both have two frame diagonal panels on either side of the door but running in opposite direction from the O Scale car. The Atlas and Micro-Trains USRA cars have three panels on either side of the door. Since the car is a foobie to begin with the Rivarossi and Mehano cars are closest in overal size and have the “look” of the O Scale car.
     
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  7. Charlie Vlk

    Charlie Vlk February 5, 2023 In Memoriam

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    I forgot about the Con-Cor car and it’s Bachmann clone (DUH! since I worked for Con-Cor....)
    They have the diagonals running in the right direction but the car is taller than the O Scale “prototype”.
    Charlie Vlk
     
  8. bill pearce

    bill pearce TrainBoard Member

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    regarding the 30% figure, I"m not sure I'm buying it. I have done several structures from HO scale plans and set the reducing copier at 55%, So O to N must be more than 30.
     
  9. jdetray

    jdetray TrainBoard Member

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    N-scale is 30% the size of O-scale, just as Maletrain posted. But if you need further assurance, here is a handy chart for converting between scales:
    http://www.urbaneagle.com/data/RRconvcharts.html

    Example:
    Length of a 40 foot boxcar:

    In O-scale = 10 inches
    In N-scale = 3 inches

    - Jeff
     
  10. Metro Red Line

    Metro Red Line TrainBoard Member

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    Buy an N scale ruler and get in the habit of measuring things to get used to sizes and ratios. I was a convert from HO and that helped a lot. Also, try not to handle any O scale trains as much as possible, although the eye can probably distinguish O from N better than HO from N since not only the size is more contrasting, but the mass of the different scales is more pronounced. After a while, N scale stopped looking small to me and HO started looking so big to me.
     
  11. bill pearce

    bill pearce TrainBoard Member

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    But how does alll this math account for how setting a copier at 55%makes an HO drawing exactly right for N?
     
  12. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Two dimensions vs. one dimension.
     
  13. jdetray

    jdetray TrainBoard Member

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    HO is 1/87th scale. N-scale is 1/160th scale. Divide 87 by 160 = 54.375%. For convenience and ease of remembering, many just round this up to 55%.

    So if you have an HO drawing, and you can print it at 55% of original size, you have a N-scale version of the drawing.

    - Jeff
     
  14. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    Take all your O gauge, get it really, really wet, and put it in a very hot dryer.
     
  15. bill pearce

    bill pearce TrainBoard Member

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    OK, I think I get it. When copying HO drawings I always put a rule on the glass. All this O scale stuff just confused things.
     
  16. Charlie Vlk

    Charlie Vlk February 5, 2023 In Memoriam

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    Sorry, didn’t get the question properly....
    the Reduction from O Scale to N is 0.3.
    An O Scale (1/4” = 1’-0”) box car is 10” long
    In N the same car is 3” long.
    10 “ x 0.3 = 3”
    (Easier to prove this way than using algebra learned many moons ago and used infrequently in recent years....)
    Charlie Vlk
     
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