# Converting Plans from Imperial to Metric **URL:** \ **Category:** Proton Packs\ **Created:** [October 22, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/converting-plans-from-imperial-to-metric/12524 "2012-10-22T12:57:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![k1fry67](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@k1fry67](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/k1fry67)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/converting-plans-from-imperial-to-metric/12524/1 "2012-10-22T12:57:42Z")
Hey guys, just wondering a few things. Just ordered a vacuum made shell recently and been lurking on a few topics involving projects made around these. They turn out pretty well with a decent amount of work put into it. Was just wondering though what kind of paint you guys use to make it look nice and black. Saw this guy applying some “goof off” to remove the ABS and then paint over it. Is this the way to go ? Should I use a specific paint brand or anything to paint on this material ? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![undertaker6x3](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@undertaker6x3](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/undertaker6x3)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/converting-plans-from-imperial-to-metric/12524/2 "2012-10-22T19:49:14Z")
I used Rustolium fill in primer and then Rustolium flat black I think is what it was called to paint my pack looks pretty damn good. I know there’ a thread on here with the names of the paints somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![k1fry67](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@k1fry67](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/k1fry67)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 5:26am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/converting-plans-from-imperial-to-metric/12524/3 "2012-10-23T05:26:29Z")
Hi, thanks undertaker. I have a very specific problem and I hope someone around here could assist me. A lot of you guys always refer to the plans or redirect to them for measurements and scale. Problem is, teachers taught me cm (centimeters) and mm (millimeters) at school and not inches. To say the least I AM TOTALLY LOST when reading the plans, I have no idea how to interpret inches and how to transform it into cm/mm. Did anyone else have the same problem (assuming there are overseas members) ? Did someone make a sheet with the measurements in cm/mm ? It’s really a problem since I’m starting to build my own [proton pack](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/proton-pack) and I’m literally walking in the dark since I can’t verify/check my measurements. Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![lunchbox739](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/lunchbox739/32/6450_2.png) [@lunchbox739](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/lunchbox739)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 11:24am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/converting-plans-from-imperial-to-metric/12524/4 "2012-10-23T11:24:30Z")
Google is your friend here… Search for a converter on google if you dont want to take the time to familiarize yourself with that system of measurement. Or just learn the difference… Im sure you could get that info on google as well Sent from my DROID RAZR using Ghostbusters Fans on Android ---
**Author:** ![jackdoud](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/6a8cbe/32.png) [@jackdoud](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/jackdoud)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 12:35pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/converting-plans-from-imperial-to-metric/12524/5 "2012-10-23T12:35:46Z")
You don’t even need to search google for a converter. Just put the measurement you have and the units you want in and it’ll give you the answer automatically. For instance if you type “1.375 inches to centimeters” into google it gives you 3.4925cm. The plans are in Imperial measure mainly because that’s what all the plan makers so far use but also because that’s most likely the system used by the original creators so all the parts are better expressed in those units. Many things that scale out to simple numbers in the plans will be odd values in metric. ---
**Author:** ![k1fry67](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@k1fry67](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/k1fry67)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 2:15pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/converting-plans-from-imperial-to-metric/12524/6 "2012-10-23T14:15:41Z")
There are some things I just don’t understand in the measurements. For instance the x/x". What do they mean ? Do they represent the smaller units ? How do I enter them in a converter ? Yes ! I’m a sucker at maths and I hate numbers ! ---
**Author:** ![loly2kn2](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/51bf81/32.png) [@loly2kn2](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/loly2kn2)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/converting-plans-from-imperial-to-metric/12524/7 "2012-10-23T16:46:08Z")
They are fractions. You will have to re-enter them as decimals ---
**Author:** ![sbonse](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@sbonse](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/sbonse)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/converting-plans-from-imperial-to-metric/12524/8 "2012-10-23T19:36:14Z")
1" equals 25.4mm so if you take the dimension on the plan and divide it by 25.4 you will get the relevant size in metric. As for paint when I made my vacformed pack I used a plastic primar to start off with which I have the shell a couple of coats. Then I used just normal matt black paint ---
**Author:** ![aj-quick](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/aj-quick/32/188008_2.png) [@aj-quick](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/aj-quick)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/converting-plans-from-imperial-to-metric/12524/9 "2012-10-23T19:50:05Z")
FYI. Stefan’s plans are already in metric: [http://www.gbfans.com/equipment/plans/stefan-otto/](http://www.gbfans.com/equipment/plans/stefan-otto/) ---
**Author:** ![BahamaBuster](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/dc4da7/32.png) [@BahamaBuster](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/BahamaBuster)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/converting-plans-from-imperial-to-metric/12524/10 "2012-10-23T21:31:37Z")
Go to google and type the following: 2 inches in cm you should then get Google’s conversion doodad on screen. You can then change the left box to anything, even fractions like 2 1/2 It will automatically give you the metric conversion in the right box.