21" Passenger Cars on 60" Curves?

[Frank53]

This is one of the reasons I stick with more traditionally sized O and O27. The looks of this would make me crazier than I already am:

 

[Geno]

I agree that the 21" passenger cars need at least a 96" diameter curve to look correct- any smaller curve just makes the cars look too big. I recently bought an Atlas 89' flatcar to run with my Husky Stacks and MTH Autoracks- one run around the layout and I decided to sell it.

Both the MTH Premier Autoracks and Superliners are basically 75' versions of their 85'+ prototypes, but their slightly shortened bodies fit and look better on 72" and 81" curves.

The Texas Special set is a beauty, but those 21" cars are going to look ungainly going around 60" diameter curves.

Geno

[phillyreading]

I have  a set of K-line  21" passenger cars. They show considerable over hang even on 080 curves.  They'll negotiate smaller curves but they look very odd.  I'm thinking they need 096 and up.

18" (72') cars would be much better for your size curves.

Sounds like you are using Gargravse track for that large a curve, Lionel and MTH don't make curves that large that I know of.  One of the reasons I don't have 21" passenger cars is because of the overhang, which means hitting something while going around a curve like another train.  Hopefully you have enough room on your layout.

Lee F.

 

[Anonymous]

I have  a set of K-line  21" passenger cars. They show considerable over hang even on 080 curves.  They'll negotiate smaller curves but they look very odd.  I'm thinking they need 096 and up.

18" (72') cars would be much better for your size curves.

 

 

[alexweiihman]

  I think these may be re-issues of the K-line scale passeneger set.  Those were drop dead gorgeous but needed a lot of real estate to look good on the track.

 

They are reissues of then orignal Klines, if you look closley.

[chuck]

The Williams set will not only not be scale, it will not even be close to "accurate" interms of consist or paint schemes.  Nice set, but more in common with original Lionel fanatasy sets from the 50's.  Lionel E's will be first set of accurate loco's and paint schemes and cars will be accurate representations of the consists.  I think these may be re-issues of the K-line scale passeneger set.  Those were drop dead gorgeous but needed a lot of real estate to look good on the track.

In general, full length streamline cars will not look right on anything less than O-72.  The really want/need even larger diameters.  This is a photo of an 18" car on O-54.  Noticeabe overhang.  The manufacturer will post the curve based on how tight before it binds/de-rails, not on how nice it looks.

 

 

[Anonymous]

SFSC,
I have 17" MTH Streamlined Passenger cars, they state they will navigate O-31, and I run O-36 and O-48 FasTrack curves... they are a bit long for O-36 but look fine on the O-48.  They look awesome behind my MTH 491 C&O Streamline Hudson!

21" passenger cars... ouch!  I think these are the ones that are rated for O-42?  If so then O-60 should be fine for them.  One thing you could do (if the layout isn't built) is add a 1/5 straight between the curves, that will make them look even better.

[SFSC]

[If you are talking 60" diameter, they will work, not sure how they will look.

 Yes..am wondering how they look on 60" diameter curves. Pics would be great. For what it's worth, no curve is greater than 90 degrees on the layout.

[jefelectric]

Am considering the new Lionel Texas Special offering, but am wondering how 21" streamliners look on 60" curves...does anyone have any pictures of such they might refer me to? Thanks in advance!!

If you are talking 60" diameter, they will work, not sure how they will look.  I run 18" cars on 054 curves.  They look OK & since I have no choice I make do.  If I can find some pics I will post a few.  They are not on the layout just now.

[SFSC]

Have you checked out the new Williams Texas Special? Very nice and for a fraction of the price. No command or sounds though.

Jim 

 Yes, thanks. I 'm looking for scale, command, and sound...

[Jumijo]

Have you checked out the new Williams Texas Special? Very nice and for a fraction of the price. No command or sounds though.

Jim 

[SFSC]

Am considering the new Lionel Texas Special offering, but am wondering how 21" streamliners look on 60" curves...does anyone have any pictures of such they might refer me to? Thanks in advance!!