Subject: Metric vs Inches for modeling

From: Frank Kerfoot <[email-masked]>
Date: 23 Sep 1996 18:55:50 GMT

In considering all of the heated comments recently on the relative merits 
of the metric system as compared to the english system,I find that the 
english system has a significant benefit for me (beyond the facts that I 
grew up with it, so it is natural for me, and that all of my equipment 
and measuring tools are english). Most of my machine work involves live 
steam train models. I am working in 1/8 scale (7 1/4" gauge). Another 
common scale is 1/16, corresponding to 3 1/2" scale for a standard gauge 
prototype loco. Both of these scales and gauges are the de-facto 
standards in the metric world as well. When working in 1/8 scale, the 
fractional sizing of english stock is very handy. A 1" dimension on the 
prototype is 1/8" on the model, and available as a standard thickness or 
width.Likewise for multiple inch dimensions. While not everything can be 
scaled directly from the prototype due to strength or functionality 
concerns, a lot of it can, and fractional inch sizing facilitates this. I 
don't see much modeling (at least of trains) in 1/10 or 1/100, which 
would cater to metric measurements.

Frank Kerfoot
[email-masked]

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From: "Tony P." <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 20:22:11 -0700

I can see where the "inch" system is great for scale modelling of 
originals which measured in feet and inches, but not metric originals.  
No real trick to converting metric to metric 1/8th size, either, but 
metric 1/8th size into inches!!! not me!  Depends on the original, I 
guess.

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From: [email-masked] (Adrian Whichello)
Date: 24 Sep 1996 23:19:06 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>,
Reginald barron  <[email-masked]> wrote:
>Frank Kerfoot <[email-masked]> wrote:
>DELETED
> I 
>HO ....... or better HO! Perhaps the 
>most popular scale for model trains
>is 3.5mm to the foot! (appx 1/87)
>
>
>Reg Barron
>

It's 1 in 87.085714. Probably better expressed as a fraction (!): 1 in
87&3/35ths.  And people claim that S (1 in 64) is the only Imperial (when they
mean rational) scale!

--
Dr Adrian Whichello                                  Phone: +61 2 9351 4824
Imaging Science and Engineering Laboratory             Fax: +61 2 9351 3847
Sydney University Electrical Engineering      Email: [email-masked]
Australia                           WWW: http://www.ee.usyd.edu.au/~adrianw

"I wish to God these calculations had been executed by steam!" - C. Babbage

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From: Reginald barron <[email-masked]>
Date: 24 Sep 1996 00:21:06 GMT

Reg Barron