Anyone notice that the 40K range ruler inches aren't actually inches?

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**Arakasi**

I have the 40K range rulers from AOBR. I thought I would chop one in two to make smaller 6 inch and 12 inch range rulers (I figured this would make things a little less unwieldy.) Anyway, whilst checking that the 6 inch mark is 6 inches from the pointed end, I noticed that 6 inches isn't actually 6 inches, its more like 5.9 inches. 12 inches is more like 11.8 inches. Am I imagining things? Or is my normal ruler I am measuring against wrong?

**The Power Cosmic**

No, you've got it right.

**MekanobSamael**

I think that was implemented to prevent overshooting shenanigans.

**Major Malfunction**

Ah, the "Baton Rouge".

They are good for smacking little hands that are reaching for our models. Chop them in short pieces and they make great paint pot stirring sticks.

Other than that... not so much.

**Samus_aran115**

Arakasi wrote:I have the 40K range rulers from AOBR. I thought I would chop one in two to make smaller 6 inch and 12 inch range rulers (I figured this would make things a little less unwieldy.) Anyway, whilst checking that the 6 inch mark is 6 inches from the pointed end, I noticed that 6 inches isn't actually 6 inches, its more like 5.9 inches. 12 inches is more like 11.8 inches. Am I imagining things? Or is my normal ruler I am measuring against wrong?

Yeah, I have the same problems. It's a result of the ends of the plastic (the pointed end) not forming right.

**Kilkrazy**

Plastic shrinks slightly as it cools in the mould. The longer the span of plastic, the worse the shrinkage will be.

**Samus_aran115**

Yes, that's what I was implying.

**Skarboy**

Measuring things accurately is considered "beardy" by Jervis and his cronies. The true hobbyist is fast and loose about how far his Flash Gits can shoot or Chaos Spawn can charge.

**insaniak**

Not really a problem so long as both players are using them, though.

**JSK-Fox**

They do have a use - smacking TFGs whenever they decide that your wonderfully painted captain would look good in their hand.

Oh, and annoying people.

**Randomonioum**

They are fun for when you play throughout the night, some people have fallen asleep, and you need something to wake them up quickly.

**Kirasu**

Those are for measurements? Whip it sticks are for whipping people as far as I know

**Arakasi**

Glad to know I'm not going mad!

**ChrisCP**

If you're beard is really long, then rub your tape measur ebetween your palms every chance you have, thermal expansion for the win.

**The Power Cosmic**

ChrisCP wrote:If you're beard is really long, then rub your tape measure between your ~~palms~~ thighs every chance you have, thermal expansion for the win.

FYT

**Dessloch**

As long as you're both using it, it shouldn't cause a problem. But it is pretty good at whipping people as well

If you really want to be devious let your opponent use the stick and you use a measuring tape

**ChrisCP**

The Power Cosmic wrote:
ChrisCP wrote:If you're beard is really long, then rub your tape measure between your ~~palms~~ thighs every chance you have, thermal expansion for the win.

FYT

But I broke my fly last time I tried that :(

**Mannahnin**

As noted, "red whippy sticks" are best used for whipping people, or dueling with, or pointing to indicate when someone's pants have fallen down. Not for measuring.

**Direhitx**

I just donated mine to the local game store lol...and now it's shut and they took 'em lol

**Scott-S6**

They fixed it for epic's blue metric ones. Never seem to have fixed the red ones.

**insaniak**

Scott-S6 wrote:They fixed it for epic's blue metric ones. Never seem to have fixed the red ones.

I suspect because it wasn't actually due to plastic shrinkage, but simply due to them marking out the 'inches' in 25mm increments.

**Samus_aran115**

Direhitx wrote:I just donated mine to the local game store lol...and now it's shut and they took 'em lol

I actually asked my local GW if I could have some of them. They were just like, oh,here,take em. Now I know why...

**darkangels_rule**

WOW !!!!!!!!!

You use the old baton rouge to measure !!!!

Our local GW store confiscated them all from us after we all decided to use them a light sabres ( only after the manager lost ) .

Dont know anyone who uses them to measure stuff with , my first thought when i saw one was " ooooh you could whack someone a good one with one of them !!!!! "

**Jackmojo**

A slightly more interesting issue is that the templates can also vary in size a good margin. The most obvious one I have is two different 5in large blasts, where the newer green plastic one is a good 3mm larger diameter then the older gray/white plastic one (from 3rd edition box set I think).

I always make sure to use my bigger templates when I play my guard

Jack

**Arakasi**

Despite the lack of accuracy, in a time limited tournament yesterday, the 5.9", 11.8" (cut from one stick) and 17.7" sticks were a time saver - getting into hard to reach places and not have to adjust ranges all of the time. Also didn't spend extra time being "exact" - if I was a mm over, I'd still be in measurement

. Didn't quite help that RPJ needed an extra inch all the time (just overlapped the 5.9" stick as appropriate...)

One of the guys had a cardboard small blast template - from 2nd Edition or Fantasy? I kindly let him use my larger green plastic template.

**insaniak**

Jackmojo wrote:A slightly more interesting issue is that the templates can also vary in size a good margin. The most obvious one I have is two different 5in large blasts, where the newer green plastic one is a good 3mm larger diameter then the older gray/white plastic one (from 3rd edition box set I think).

There have so far been 4 different plastics used for the blast markers and templates. The original 3rd ed set was orange plastic. These were later replaced with smokey grey plastic, and then again with a pale grey, softer plastic set which was markedly smaller when held up alongside. Then there's the green set currently available... which I can't say I've actually compared. I have a bunch of them in the store, but haven't actually kept a set aside for myself yet...

**Samus_aran115**

I like the green set a lot. If anyone has a regular blast template of these, I'd like it!

I left mine at a friend's house and he moved, so I'll probably never get it back...

Anyways. I just broke my red stick to be exactly 6 inches, so I'm pretty excited right now.....Blech

**Ahshran**

yeah, whip it sticks are fun, especially wen people try to pick up my metal models, such as my Wolf Guard captain. :-(

The green ones are awesome btw