I like to scratchbuild and I have HO scale rulers and reference cards which contain things such as dimensions for sizing up building materials, handy conversion charts, and even outlines of figures for quickly gauging the size of castings and whether they would work in HO scale. Some are long like 12" rulers, and some are clear plastic like index cards. Do similar things exist in O scale?
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Yes, I think Micro-mARK may sell them. I have a couple They are metal rules with scales a number of gauges. The back side has number drill sizes and common tap and drill sizes.
I use a draftsman's scale, the 3-sided ruler that has 6 different scale gradations. For O scale, there is a 1-48 scale which is 1/4" = 1 foot.
I believe I have 2 of the micromark rulers(I only bought one- must’ve been together so long they got stuck and I didn’t notice till they broke apart)
I made my own index card- mainly for scale figure height. Just a line with the scale measurements and a range within that line of acceptable heights
Thank you. I might have to make my own index card for reference... I never thought of that! I found a clear 12" O scale (1:48) ruler made by PropBlur.com that should work well.
In addition to the traditional architect's scale, they do make flat scales for 1/4" to the foot. I have several and prefer them in my architectural practice to the three-sided ones because I can find the scale I want faster! Manufacturer's reps used to give out 6" ones for free, but like a lot in the digital world, the architectural scale is not as common on a desk as it once was.
Also, the NMRA makes a great O scale gauge. I believe they are up to the Mark V version. My Mark IV is lying around somewhere.
I think I got this from Micro-Mark. Can't remember, it was a long time ago.
George
I'm no math whiz, but I find it simpler in O scale to just use a standard rule and do the conversion in my head -- basically, just the number of model inches times four to get the number of prototype feet, or divide prototype feet by four to get model inches. Just sayin' . . . 
@Steve Tyler posted:I'm no math whiz, but I find it simpler in O scale to just use a standard rule and do the conversion in my head -- basically, just the number of model inches times four to get the number of prototype feet, or divide prototype feet by four to get model inches. Just sayin' . . .
I hear you. I have rarely, if ever, used that ruler. But in building my O-scale Open Hearth, it got to be second nature to do the conversions. 1/8" = 6 s"; 1/16" = 3 s", etc.
George
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