Stan’s Handy Converter for Model Railroaders, Version 16 1. Temperature and Weight – convert Celsius to Fahrenheit and vice versa, as well as Pounds/Ounces to Kilograms/Grams and back; 2. US to Metric Units/Metric Units to US – convert meters, centimeters and millimeters to feet & inches and back;
– by Jeff Shultz
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he website for Stan’s Handy Converter program describes it as “Swiss Army Knife Software for Railroaders Modeling in Any Scale” - and that might be the most concise review of this program possible. With 23 separate pages of conversions and calculations as well as a separate calculator that handles decimal feet and inches and fractions, it would be difficult to find a model railroader who couldn’t use at least some of the features of this program. For those calculations involving scales, common scales from Z to Large (1:20.3, 1:22.5, 1:24, 1:29, 1:32) are selectable, with a user defined scale on many tools. As can be seen in the figures, each of the tools is on its own easily viewable and selectable tab. Conversions, Calculations, Tools and Aids included are: Page 96 • Apr 2012 MRH
First Look, page 1
3. Scale Figures (figure 1) – given a height in inches, the program will output the various lengths that assorted body parts should be. Includes an Assumptions button for changing the ratios for body variations; 4. Helix Calculator (figure 2) – given the size of the circle, loop spacing, total rise, and maximum grade, the program calculates (figure 3 next page) the number of loops needed, total track length, and the grade inside the helix of the desired size and spacing. It is also capable of working with oval helices and circular ones where the entry and exit points are not above each other;
Figure 1: Scale Figures.
5. Thermal Rail Expansion (figure 4 next page) – primarily for outdoor layouts, this tool is also useful for indoor modelers whose layouts are less than perfectly climate controlled. Calculations can be set for different lengths of Aluminum, Brass, Nickel Silver and Stainless Steel track between modeler set high and low temperatures; 6. Ohm’s Law – the classic electrical law for determining how changes in Voltage, Current, Resistance, and Power affect each other; Text continues on page 90.
Figure 2: Helix Calculator. Tell a friend ...
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