Does "HO" stand for half "O"

Brandy: Most people who grew up in the Postwar period generally regard "HO" to mean "half-O". That being said, "O" scale is 1 to 48 proportion while "HO" is 1 to 87 proportion, so strictly speaking HO is not quite half O is size, but pretty close.....

Yes.

To expand a bit, HO (1/87) is half of British 0 scale, which is 1:43.5. 

HO is actually half of British O-scale, which is 1 to 43.5, hence 1 to 87 for HO.  Elsewhere in Europe, O-scale is 1 to 45 while here in the U.S. it is 1 to 48.

Now if you're not completely confused, just place your HO plan drawings on a copy machine and enlarge them to 181% and you'll have O-scale plans for 1 to 48.

The correct answer is "Yes and No."

You have to go to Europe for this one. O scale/Gauge Zero is 7mm/ft or roughtly 1:43.5 scale (17/64) and runs on 32mm track. H.O. is at 3.5mm/ft or 1:87 and runs on 16mm track (so does "OO" which is 4mm/ft). That said, American O scale is 1:48 or 1/4"=1-foot yet still runs on 32mm (1.25" gauge) track, but American H.O. follows European practice.

There have been many theories as to why American O scale went to 1/4". The most plausible is that it was easier to work with. This includes the track gauge which wasn't reduced to the correct 1.177".

There's a whole other discussion about where the 56.6" track gauge came from including the Horses' A** theory (the most entertaining punch line). The most plausible there is that engineers (civil, not train) specified on the rail center lines (rails were originally milled beams 3.5" wide with metal straps on top). The gauge between would come to 56.6"

Only on here.

I thought it was How Ordinary.

Bill

Bill ROFLOL

Just wondering what the best way to change HO drawings in 1.87 to 1.43 O guage. I understand the difference that to referred to. Just doubling the dimensions get me close enough, for scratch building model railroad structures?........ Once again thanks for you guidance on my issue................................Brandy!

Doubling HO will give you the 1.43.5 scale dimensions (British O). If you want the 1:48 scale dimensions (US), see Bob Bartizek's post above about enlarging them to 181%.

I have a multi scale ruler.  Along one edge is HO scale ruler. On the other edge it is O scale. If plans are in HO scale I measure how long an item is....in HO it's 26' 4" long. Easy to convert to O with the O scale side. No %% on a copy machine or whatever. Also works with converting HO kits to O.....

Ok thank's a bunch Dave, where did you get the scale ruler? I will get one of those for sure. 

P.S. Next time you get to Huntington, call me and I'll open up the Club house at the Kyova Mall and show you around/what were doing! Also bring something to Run HO/O/N, or all three. I'll treat You to lunch at Kahuna's. Thanks again Brandy!

to get a scale rule, try a loco hobby shop, or if none close by, maybe Walther website, or Micromark website.

The scale ruler is an even better idea. Here's one from Micro-Mark

Model Railroader's Scale Rule

My LHS also carries them, yours might also.

That's the one I have......great tool.

Photo copies that have been resized up or down can create errors.  Not all copiers keep the ratio perfect and thus you get errors when just measuring off enlarged copies. 

I have it also, haven't done a lot with it so I forget I have it sometimes. I got it from Micro-Mark and about 6 months later my LHS started carrying them, or I would have gotten it there instead. I've never actually tried the copy machine method, about all I have done is kits, all in O scale already. Would like to maybe do some scratch building someday.

Guys,

In reading the first few responses, I would agree with Boxcar Bills assessment. Being late of a split club. Joining it was quite different in the beginning, I was enthusiastic, I really was! Yet, I knew how underwhelming HO was! So I'm glad for the split up in the club! Actually, it was a healthy split!

HO stands for How Ordinary!!! Tiny features, tiny track, tiny non-moving box car doors and tiny engines many derailments.......uhboy! what a nightmare!

I'm glad I'm out of a multi-gauge club!

I bear them no ill will, strangely, for me it was a GROWING experience! I'm happy with O gauge, not ready yet for G gauge. IMHO!

Mike Maurice

Two ways to attack it depending on how the drawings are done. If they're done in feet and inches relative to the prototype, just use a 1/4" scale architect's scale ruler and use the feet and inches. If the drawings are in physical inches, multiply the measurement by 1.8125 and that will yield the physical inches in O scale.

For track layout dimensions, you can use the same multiplier, but it's better to just double the curve and elevation measurements. Crossings and Numbered turnouts remain the same.

When I want to convert HO plans to O scale plans I go to our local UPS store where they have a Xerox machine that can enlarge or reduce images.  On the HO drawing I use a scale rule to draw a line that is 4 HO scale feet long.  I then put it in the machine and set it to enlarge to 183 per cent.  I then check the new O gauge drawing by measuring the 4 ft HO line I just drew.  If all went well that 4 ft HO line should now be a 4ft O scale line....that is the O scale line should be exactly one inch long.  If it is not one inch long then reset the copier a little larger or smaller and make another copy.  Just keep trying until you get it right.   Good luck.  Odd-d

I wish that we still called it properly "Gauge Zero"; so sleek, like most of us (cough-cough). I know why it changed, speech patterns being what they are, but still.

I do prefer the US 1/4" O-scale - every ruler is a scale ruler, how handy. Unless

you're stuck with a metric ruler. Bummer.

1:43.5? Really? What long rainy afternoon brought that squirrelly figure to mind?

Not 1:87 H0 - 0 came first.