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[quote user="iandor"]I wish to do this over a distance say about a metre. The method i use is ok but pretty crude and not very accurate. I use a stepping block and a 1 metre long piece of wood and a spirit level. This is ok but it is just point to point and doesn't allow for the extra distance of the curve. Rgds ian [/quote] Dear Ian, Regards from our techie: To measure the grades in curves one could use a fixture as per attached.[img]http://www.easternmountainmodels.com/pics/Measure_Grades.jpg[/img] The wheelsets are 500mm apart, the hinge base for the level measures 500mm. The grade is determined by measuring the gap between the wheelframe base and the free end of the hinge base.One could use a metric ruler, a set of feeler gauges, a depth micrometer or joe blocks. Divide the amount by five and one has the precise grade of the [b]straight[/b]. Since an accurate measurement is required, here are the factors by which to divide for given curves:LGB R1 = 1.103462 LGB R2 = 1.018714LGB R3 = 1.007702Keeping the wheelbase shorter than 1000mm makes it easier the construct and  results in measurements which are large enough to be accurate and small enough to use ordinary measuring instruments.An even simpler method would be using an electronic digital level which reads directly to percentage. By the time one divides 1.7% by the radius factor the number will grow to four or more digits after the decimal point. For R1 that would be 1.5406058%  Hope that helps, best regards ER
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