I spend far too much time trying to figure out why things that should be, aren't. For instance, it seems crazy that 70 degree air feels warm but 70 degree water is cold. Or how a small fire can be blown out, but blow on only a slightly larger fire and it gets bigger. Well, I'm asking myself that kind of question about slot car scales.

I'm an HO'er since a child in the 60's and have recently gotten into 1/32. Most modern HO cars are about 1/64 scale. So wouldn't a 1/32 car be exactly twice as large as a 1/64? I know twice as large in all three directions; length, width, and height. But the difference between the two scales is much more than twice in each direction. How's this possible? Am I not thinking about this correctly?

If HO cars were at 1/64 scale, then yes, you could assume that they should be close to twice the length and width... However, most HO is actually 1/87 - 1/72 scale and as such, will appear significantly smaller. Also, a lot of manufacturers use the TLAR method of scaling (that looks about right).

Honestly I think most of the "HO" scales are messed up. Start with the Trains at 1/87. The early aurora vibrator/ tJet and newer AW tjet is HO 1/72. The AFX is 1/64, the Tycos are slightly larger. I also grew up in the matchbox/ hotwheels afx era and always thought they were the right size for trains. I even threw out the "true HO scale" cars because they looked too small. I know what you are talking about with the 1/64 to 1/32 jump. It doesn't add up... But then what does??? When I look at a train, I'm usually in a car..the train looks smaller. I guess the only sure way would be to get a 1/1 car and the comperable scale cars and do the math. I'm almost willing to put money on them being all out of whack!! As far as your quest for understanding the difference of air/water temps feeling different, I can't help you, but add another.. why does a pound of frozen ground beef thaw 3 times as fast in cool water than sitting on the counter??? Sorry if I made your ponderings worse!! :confused: I just know they're fun to run!!!


Joe

I think slot car scale is 3 inches. In that the car is gonna be 3 inches long, no matter what.

That's how we get Superbirds the same length as Roadrunners.

We could make this really interesting and do some online math, actually, but I don't feel like changing everything to metric system just so Deane can understand too. :freak:

(OK that was a total razz on Deane but he's a pretty good sport, so . . .)



:tongue:

Very true Doba!! I've come to the realization that scale, at least in the HO spectrum revolves completely around the chassis, and 2, maybe 3 wheelbases.. Then they work the body around it. Of course, your personal favorite body style will always be the "correct one"" and the rest will always be way off!!!!


Joe

T-LAR!

HAR! Marty! I blew soda out my nose.

I would think part of the problem are the numbers. It's easy to think that 1/32 is twice the size of 1/64. But really, it is not. If you're doubling both the length and width, it's really a quadruple jump in size. For example, a 4x8 track table is 32 square feet of surface. If you wanted to convert the configuration of your HO track that is on the table to 1/32 scale, then it would mean doubling both directions into an 8x16 table.........128 square feet. The conversion of the cars' footprint works the same.

Can't help with the air/water comparisons. I'm mystified there too.

[QUOTE=1976Cordoba;2555379]I think slot car scale is 3 inches. In that the car is gonna be 3 inches long, no matter what.



Unless it is a certain aftermarket A/FX Cobra !

HAR! Marty! I blew soda out my nose.

Was it a small amount of soda that could be blown out, or was it only a slightly larger amount of soda that got bigger the more you exhaled nasally and caused a full facial soda blast? Well, I'm asking myself that kind of question about slot car scales... or soda ... or flaming soda, or something like a soda powered SuperBird that's 3" long and looks smaller the further away from it that I stand. By God. They all have the same footprint, four little rectangles, and the revolving spectrum of a wet beef patty sitting in puddle of tepid water surrounded by air. Scale length and width I can deal with, it's the scale thickness that really troubles me.

... and so I ponder, in vain, and in disproportionally scaled disillusionment.

Was it a small amount of soda that could be blown out, or was it only a slightly larger amount of soda that got bigger the more you exhaled nasally and caused a full facial soda blast? Well, I'm asking myself that kind of question about slot car scales... or soda ... or flaming soda, or something like a soda powered SuperBird that's 3" long and looks smaller the further away from it that I stand. By God. They all have the same footprint, four little rectangles, and the revolving spectrum of a wet beef patty sitting in puddle of tepid water surrounded by air. Scale length and width I can deal with, it's the scale thickness that really troubles me.

... and so I ponder, in vain, and in disproportionally scaled disillusionment.

:lol::lol::lol::lol: quadrupled

your personal favorite body style will always be the "correct one"" and the rest will always be way off!!!!

This does have a lot to do with it. If you're a general collector of all types of slotted cars, like to mix and match brands, and run them with eachother, then scale worlds will always collide. It's a given that each Mfg applies the TLAR standards to suit their own chassis. I myself, tend to gravitate towards the smaller end of the HO scale, so it used to bother me a little too. I likes 'em tiny, so that's what I collect now.... period. Decided a few years ago that I don't have to have it all, so now I have only what I really like. nd

T-LAR!

HAR! Marty! I blew soda out my nose.

Apologies to your nose Bill! :) Feel free to use that anytime you like buddy! ;)

[QUOTE=1976Cordoba;2555379]I think slot car scale is 3 inches. In that the car is gonna be 3 inches long, no matter what.



Unless it is a certain aftermarket A/FX Cobra !

That one uses the Wag method....wild a@@ guess