Track layout size

[Anonymous]

I have an LGB Christmas starter set with an approximate 4ft. diameter.I have moved and can nolonger use 4ft. I must reduce it. I can use an oval shape approx. 5 1/2 to 6 ft. long But the width must be under 4 ft. Can anyone help?

[ttrigg]

I don't know of anyone who makes track with less than a 4 ft dia. You could use "flex track" and a track bender to make your own. Once you get under 3.5 ft dia about the only thing you will be able to run is a speeder, maybe a SMALL 0-4-0, with one or two, two axle short cars. Something like LGB 21761 Spremberger Stadtbahn Steam Loco and a couple of LGB 42413 Silberhütte Hopper Cars.

Might make for a nice "mining operations" track plan.

You might want to consider doing some "point to point" operations.

[vsmith]

EXACTLY how wide do you have to work with?

I used a home made track bender and bent a loop of track down to 36" diameter for a Xmas tree circle, but that was about as short as I would recommend going with your LGB equipment, my Toytrain Porter makes the turn but grumpily.

I also did a suggested layout idea for a 38-39" area using bent rail but that was for a longer stretch along side a house. Please give me EXACT dimension of your possible area. thanks Vic

[vsmith]

Here are some examples of layouts that might be usefull

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/37inchx18foot%20Mock%20up%20Model.pdf
This is a layout suggested for a very narrow sideyard, its using 36" diameter hand bent curves at each end.

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/4x6%20firstlayout%20Model.pdf
this is a 4 1/2 x6 1/2 layout I started that eventually became the core of my indoor layout.

http://www.mylargescale.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26410
Heres the link to the homemade rail bender, i think i might have deleted some of the pics therein, but hopefully you can get the idea. [:D]

[John Busby]

Hi no1tophat
I wish I could remember who it is but there is a German manufacturer that makes
feldbahn track (Field railway) in 45mm gauge
It goes down too some very tight radius curves with curves less than the normal manufacturers make.
The down side is that you will be restricted to only LGB& Regner (i think) field railway stock and the Bachmann industrial cars this in its self is not as bad as it sounds as freight and passanger stock are avalable in both the LGB & Regner field ralway ranges.
regards John

[John Busby]

QUOTE: Originally posted by John Busby

Hi no1tophat
I wish I could remember who it is but there is a German manufacturer that makes
feldbahn track (Field railway) in 45mm gauge
It goes down too some very tight radius curves with curves less than the normal manufacturers make.
The down side is that you will be restricted to only LGB& Regner (i think) field railway stock and the Bachmann industrial cars this in its self is not as bad as it sounds as freight and passanger stock are avalable in both the LGB & Regner field ralway ranges.
regards John

OOPS! sorry Regner is out there track gauge is 30mm
Managed to find a German site for the track I mensioned but could not get the link
to transfer My computoor is playing silly games at the moment.
LGB track is 600mm radius the stuff I mentioned is 400mm that is about 16" radius
making it a 32" circle which is geting very tight I would say definatly nothing bigger than 4wh industrial stuff on that.
regards John

[John Busby]

hi no1tophat
here is the link
http://www.modell-werkstatt.de/
hope you understand german or have a translator
regards John

[Chompers]

V smith,
how do you create the track drawings... and then converte them to PDF's?

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Chompers

V smith,
how do you create the track drawings... and then converte them to PDF's?

Chompers

I used Autocadd2000i to do the drawings, then converted them to PDF using a program called Bluebeam which works thru the print command prompts, so I can "print" a PDF file at scale and to specific paper sheet sizes. Very usefull.