Simple Question about scale on boards

rdutch12

New member
Hi,

I am pretty new to this, trying to figure it all out and the forum helps me a lot. But I have 1 simple question: If you use real size does the ruler show the scaled size of the board? In other words 1 board is 750 meters? So for a 10 Km route you would use about 13-14 boards?

I am thinking about building the old Central Florida Route. The one around Kissimmee running towards Okeechobee.
 
Thanks so much for the quick reply. Here is 1 more if you dont mind.
What is best practice? Build it in real size or scalled down?
 
Hi rdutch12 - there is no difference. If you build to 'scale' the only thing that changes is the markings on the rulers.

Andy :)
 
I am in the middle of building the entire Florida East Railway in the year 2020.

351 miles of mainline plus over 100 miles of branch lines means LOTs and LOTS of 720 meter squares.

I started in Hialeah yard and pushed slowly north on both the existing eastern branch, and the future western branch that starts out the west end of the Medley lead and follows US 27 north to South Bay, where it ties into FEC's K Branch to Fort Pierce.

My route arrived in Palm Bay last week, and is now pushing its way to Melbourne. It should be completed this time next year. I must be crazy!

Richard
 
Unless you are in to miles and miles of miles and miles, I sugest scale down (compress) alot. Leave the more interesting areas uncompresed.
 
I would have to agree with you when it comes to compressing the "uninteresting" miles.

To travel from Hialeah yard north to Bowden yard in Jacksonville will take eight hours or more in FEC 2020; just as it does in real life. But waiting two years for my project to be presentable was a decision that I made a couple hundred miles, and a couple thousand of work hours ago.

Even ten miles is a huge project when you look at your completed track sitting on two dozen blank boards. Then you realize that the work has only just begun.

If you want to be true to scale over your entire layout, then select your favorite spot along the route, and start there. Build a few blocks worth completely. You will gain skills on building layouts, and will get a better feel for the sacrifice that you will have to make per mile. then you can decide to move further full scale, compress some areas, or just enjoy what you have already completed.

I am moving north past Melbourne today in FEC 2020. My layout is so massive that I had to consider the curvature of the earth to calculated distances.

I am very committed! Or at least should be. 8-0

Richard
 
Sounds Great Richard. I am new and just started to build a route which existed until the 50's. The Kissimmee valley Branch from FEC.

Trying to do real scale, but yes, the boards add up fast.
 
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