1. What is Scale Speed?

Scale speed is the equivalent speed of a model vehicle that would correspond to the real vehicle's speed when scaled down by a certain factor. It helps modelers understand how fast their scale models should move to appear realistic.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the scale speed formula:

Where:

• \( \text{real\_speed} \) — Actual speed of the full-size vehicle (mph or km/h)
• \( \text{scale\_factor} \) — The ratio of the model size to the real size (e.g., 1/87 for HO scale)

Explanation: The equation simply scales down the real speed proportionally to the size reduction of the model.

3. Importance of Scale Speed Calculation

Details: Calculating scale speed is crucial for creating realistic model railroad operations, RC vehicle movements, and other scale modeling applications where motion needs to appear proportionally correct.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the real vehicle's speed and the scale factor (e.g., 0.0115 for 1:87 scale). Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are common scale factors?
A: Common model railroad scales include 1:87 (HO), 1:160 (N), and 1:48 (O). RC cars often use 1:10 or 1:8 scales.

Q2: Does scale speed account for other factors?
A: This is a basic calculation. For more realism, you might also consider scaling acceleration and other motion characteristics.

Q3: Can I use this for any type of scale model?
A: Yes, this calculation works for any scaled-down model where you want to determine realistic movement speeds.

Q4: How precise should my scale factor be?
A: For most applications, 4 decimal places is sufficient (e.g., 0.0115 for HO scale).

Q5: What if my model moves at a different speed?
A: You may need to adjust your model's speed controller or gearing to achieve the calculated scale speed.