Mile High Navy

Today marks the 50th anniversary of when I first started modeling a collection of miniature buildings with scale trains, roads and topographic scenery better known as a model railroad layout. It was HO scale (1/87) and built on a 4-foot by 8-foot sheet of 3/4-inch plywood. It was track plan number 29 of 101. Back on July 27th, 1974 my dad and I spent one summer Saturday morning visiting our local hobby shop located in the neighborhood strip mall three miles from our house. Although the name of the store is lost, I vividly remember the amazing miniature world that was directly behind the two large full-height glass and aluminum storefront windows. It captured your imagination outside on the sidewalk before you entered the glass door to the left. It was a wonderfully landscaped and detailed HO scale model railroad. We previously visited the store, but on this occasion my dad bought three hobby books written by Linn H. Westcott and published by Kalmbach. All three of which I still own tod

 As I return to wargaming after 26 years my yearning to scratch build or kitbash custom scale structures and vehicles for my 28mm and 15mm figures led me to search for scale rulers to aid my measurement of materials and kits. I was not able to find either of the two from wargame miniature manufacturers, at specialty hobby stores, or online. It appears there was someone who once made custom scale rulers online but they no longer appear active, or at least it seems their weblink may not be secure based on the warnings that popped up. So I printed two custom scales on paper with the tools I discovered online. I attached them to two acrylic triangles along their hypotenuse. The other edges of both triangles already have both metric and US customary units which nicely compliment the custom scales 1/56 and 1/117. These will get me started.