HO conversion

[Viperjim1]

I'm wondering if someone can help me with a conversion from HO to n scale? What would the radius be for a HO 30" radius to n scale radius be thanks in advance.

[Philip H]

IIRC, the reduction for photo copying is 56%.  Seems the same would be a good starting point, so a 30" radius in HO coul dbe 14" in Nscale - but if you hav ethe area to do 30" in HO, why not do it N scale as well and really get close to prototype?

[davefoxx]

Approximately 16-5/16".  I got this answer by using this formula: 30" times 87 (HO scale's ratio) divided by 160 (N scale's ratio) = 16.3125"

Hope this helps,
DFF

[Cajonpassfan]

IIRC, the reduction for photo copying is 56%.

Not to be too picky, but N is 54.375% of HO, not 56%....
However, I would not recommend simply shrinking an HO plan; suggest you take advantage of the smaller scale by having broader curves and greater distances between towns. In my opinion, 18" minimum is just about the tightest credible curve, and 20" is better, unless your layout is a branch line. Others will have other opinions....
Have fun with N!
Otto K.

[Erik PRR]

A quick and almost correct way of converting is to divide by two and then add 10 percent. In the example: 30/2=15. Add 1,5 = 16,5. But as mentioned - that's really a minimum. Rather strive for somewhere right between the original figure and half of it, say 20-25.

That is how I count when I stumble upon an HO track plan!

[Rossford Yard]

So true on not scaling exactly. You still have full size modelers in the aisle that need at least 2.5-3 feet, and some of us would like more!

Ditto on the 18" curves, 20 preferred.  I have some Atlas C55 curved turnouts, and I think they are 21.25R" on the longer curve, so that is what I set my minimum at, knowing a few curved turnouts were going to find their way into my layout.

[ednadolski]

suggest you take advantage of the smaller scale by having broader curves and greater distances between towns.

Definitely, and you can further benefit from using longer turnouts (which is nearly always an improvement, operationally as well as aesthetically).

Also when reducing a plan, BOLO for aisle widths becoming too narrow, and elevation changes becoming too small to fit a hand (such as in a helix).

Ed

[Viperjim1]

Thanks for the quick replies and I will be using Katowice unitrack and be using the 30degree track but the layout in HO is 10 by 20 and I figure this should be about roughly 8 by 12 when done in n scale as I'm laying out my track play now and was wondering to speed up the process of design . Again thank you.

[peteski]

Thanks for the quick replies and I will be using Katowice unitrack...

Katowice?  That is a city in southern Poland!   

[davefoxx]

Katowice?  That is a city in southern Poland!   

Yeah, but is it pronounced KAH-toe-vice or KAY-toe-vice?   

[Rich_S]

Yeah, but is it pronounced KAH-toe-vice or KAY-toe-vice?   

According to Google, it's pronounced "Kah-toe-vee-sa" 

[Kisatchie]

Katowice?  That is a city in southern Poland!   

Hmm... is that the Polish
version of Miami Wice...?

[peteski]

According to Google, it's pronounced "Kah-toe-vee-sa" 

What he said. 

[peteski]

Hmm... is that the Polish
version of Miami Wice...?

Very cute Ms. Dee!    Nothing like it. Southern Poland is in the Tatry mountain range. Katowice is a coal mining town.