Scale conversion help

6.35 mm

O scale = 1:48

1 foot = 304.8mm

304.8mm ÷ 48 = 6.35mm

6.35 "milli"-meter

Euro O may be 1:43 or 1:45 though.

Not that I don't use metric measurements when they pop up (we were taught both the English and Metric systems in school way back in the 20th Century; why be narrow-minded about it?), but I do tend to think in 16ths and the like, and one of the nicest things about N. American O scale is that every "regular" ruler is an O-scale ruler - just look at all those 1/4" segments!

Funny, though, US money has always been metric - since day one; long before the "metric system" was worldwide in money or anything else. 

At the engineering school I attended during the dark ages of the 1960s, science and engineering-science subjects were taught using metric units, although we certainly knew how to convert to English units (say from Joules to BTUs). When we got to the senior engineering design subjects, everything was done in English units, as was most everything I later did in industry. I wonder what the engineering schools are doing today.

MELGAR

There are "scale" rules available for modelers.    They are graduated in scale feet in various scales n, HO, O.    A wonderful tool for working with scale measurementts.    Micro-Mark may sell them.

MELGAR posted:

At the engineering school I attended during the dark ages of the 1960s, science and engineering-science subjects were taught using metric units, although we certainly knew how to convert to English units (say from Joules to BTUs). When we got to the senior engineering design subjects, everything was done in English units, as was most everything I later did in industry. I wonder what the engineering schools are doing today.

MELGAR

It is still a mix with the U.S. populations reluctance to abandon the "old ways". But it's still moving  more towards metrics; and faster with more and more imports and computers molding us all into having a more decad mindset than we have had in the past.  

   I don't mind either much as long as manufacturing doesn't mix them into products as the automakers like(d) to.

(Insert image of man ripping his own hair out ;and I'm very patient and skilled with threaded fastenings.)

 Just because the math can be easier it doesn't always make metrics easier or better for use in daily life. E.g., the celsius unit isn't as accurate as fahrenheit is in telling us if we need to wear a T-shirt, long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt/sweater; or denim, leater or down jacket. 

  I simply has more points of division and that means more accuracy.

 I like machine screw divisions and metrics best because it does lend some simplicity to i.d. without doing fractional math comparisons mentally for .25 seconds.

And I can think in thousandths well enough. But drafting-4 and architectural drawing classes make me think in 64ths for years, and so common english drafting scale ratios are just as easy.... I hate decimal to English conversion math though.  I do it to remain able to, but I'm loving online calculators as well  

  But things like lettered machinist bits, etc. were purpose designed and to move away from them is a loss in a way as all you do is replace the letter with an equivalent ...using more than one character to i.d. what #A once stood for.

  Points and picas in printing is one I think we could leave behind.  I'm guessing computers do away with that kinda soon too. I never saw much reason for it. It's origin redundant to modern methods. I'm thinking it was also a "trade secret" (read as job security by withholding knowledge from anyone else the world in fear of being trumped will better skill;  the opposite of philanthropy 

Kinda like all the mechanical data about our trains lost via of apathy because somebody feared reproduction or competition might be a result of sharing it...WTH?   

  Anyhow, I'm rambling , and too lazy to scale it back right now. So I better stop before I get my knuckles whacked with a tri-sided ruler 😁

the use of the metric system in science is certainly acceptable, but for humans, imperial measurements are much more geared to ergonomics.  a millimeter is a fairly useless measurement when in the real world.  what is a mm long in real life?  on the other end, a meter is uselessly long to be of use in daily life.  my hand span is 9", not 228.6mm, my pace is 2½' long, not 76.2cm if i want to measure a length of rope, from the end of my outstretched arm to the tip on my nose is 3', a yard, not 0.9144m

sorry metrics... stay in the lab where you belong.