Handy Modeling Gadgets

I've begun to build a collection of "handy gadgets" to help folks with their modeling. Granted, some of the same things these gadgets do can be accomplished with a calculator, but having gadgets wired up to perform specific operations eliminates some of the guesswork.

Have a look: whiteriverandnorthern.net/handy_1.htm

Please let me know if there are other similar gadgets that folks might find useful, and I'll look into adding them to the collection.

stonysmith wrote:

Also.. on your Dimension Calculator, you need the ability to convert back from scale to real-world dimensions.

You can. Just enter the model dimension first. Whichever you enter first, it calculates to the other (like it says in the instruction line).

Like that track calculator.

my layout has 4.39 scale miles of dual track main line and 2.93 scale miles in two yards.

that is a lot of track pieces 342 plus 40 switches

cheerz Garth

stonysmith wrote:

Two gadgets:
www.stonysmith.com/railroad/speedcalc.htm
www.stonysmith.com/railroad/MTLtrack.htm

They're both straight javascript.. please feel free to copy them. I would appreciate it if you left some kind of by-line with my name on them.

Also.. on your Dimension Calculator, you need the ability to convert back from scale to real-world dimensions.

The measurement calculator now has metric conversion built in. You can start with actual feet/inches and calculate model inches plus model mm and actual m/mm all at once. Or start with any other number: model inches to real feet/inches plus metric, or model mm to real m/mm plus English, whatever you need.

whiteriverandnorthern.net/handy_1.htm

Visor Hoods: SE / Optivisor

I bought a new visor (SE) to keep in my "show" trunks. Here a comparison of the two.
I have had an Optivisor for a good while and am happy with it. The newer SE visor has the LED light and a extra magnifing glass and is more affordable than the Optivisor. With the extra lens, the SE can enlarge the part larger than the Optivisor. The SE has a light...

The focus point of the two visors is different. The Optivisor focuses farther away from your face than the SE. While useing the SE you have to hold the part very close to your face or keep your head close to the table.

Individuals choose what is best for themselves. For me, the SE will be put in the show trunks and the Optivisor will be kept near the workbench.
B. Hargis

The SE brand is available and many electronic or hobby places. I see them as low as $5 (without LED),$8 with LED. There are 2 lenses in these: one fixed and the second a flip down (inside, behind the fixed one). The fixed one focus for me about 12" away. The flip down brings it more like 6" away. Diopter is this setting so if you look on the package, you can tell where you expect the focal distance to be. Diopter 3 or 1.75x for 75% larger magnification is 12". Diopter 4 or 2x for 100% larger magnification is 10" and Diopter 8 or 3x for 200% is 5".
www.howardelectronics.com/heiscope/illumination/diopter.html

The Velcro closure on the head strap is a bit short, barely overlapping for me. My 20 year old version of this style was wider and longer than the SE brand, similar to Donegan brand's Optivisor.

There are many suppliers out there. Here are a few links for "Magnifiers"

www.maxiaids.com/store/prodList.asp?idCategory=268&idstore=1&category=Hands-Free_Magnifiers&gclid=CImUjcmX2qMCFQIQbAod7n2i8A

www.nextag.com/headband-magnifier/search-html

Jeff
SF Bay Area Z