RDC minimum diameter curves

[emipapa]

Hello Ian,
I don't want to be a stick in the mud but a "RDC" or Budd Car is made by Aristo Craft. My RDC runs fine on 8' dia but I am sure it would look much better on larger curves.
Just my [2c],
Ron

[pimanjc]

I ask the question, not for the sake of debate on what looks good or not, but because my layout snakes through and around, up and down, a 65 x 25ft., 22-tree HedgeApple row. My curves are a mix of 5ft, 6.5ft, & 8ft. Usually the smaller curves are intersperced with larger curves and/or straights. Two switches are 8ft, and two sidings have R1 switches. At present, all my locos including the Pacific, LGB Mikado, FA, and the F3-ABs, can make it ok. There are several smaller diesel and steam locomotives that also have no trouble. I would like to add an RDC, but want to be sure it could negotiate the curves.
JimC.

[Capt Bob Johnson]

I took a truck (bogie) and glued a center bubble level (like they use to balance tires) to the bolster: works great for checking camber!

[Capt Bob Johnson]

I took a truck (bogie) and glued a center bubble level (like they use to balance tires) to the bolster: works great for checking camber!

[Anonymous]

Like Troy, i have a hobby horse that i am constantly worried about. Troy blames lack of weight on every problem he gets just about. But I am the same with camber and possibly your derailing problem could have been fixed with a good look at the camber on the particular curve in question?


Rgds Ian

[Capt Bob Johnson]

2 weeks ago we were running mine on a layout the club had set up as a demo at a garden center, and it kept flipping off the R-2 curves. The RS-3 could handle them, but the RDC flipped over!

Today we relaid that loop with 10' Diameter SS track for the club meeting there next weekend and my SD-45 ran nicely; It wouldn't run at all on the smaller diameter stuff!

[Anonymous]

Yes this whole thing about what curves you can take or what gradients you can climb is quite subjective.

You can do all sorts of things with LGB but it can look pretty unnatural.

Rgds Ian

[Anonymous]

Jim,
What vsmits says is correct. I can run mine on less than 8 ft but it is ugly looking. I don't have anything smaller than 8 ft (mostly 10 ft or more) but I take mine to a friends and he has some tight corners that may be as small as 4 ft ( I am not sure). The RDC will go thru those turns...most of the time. However, it sure looks ugly.
Paul D

[vsmith]

8 foot dia is what the website states as min. But others might have had luck with smaller diameters, I've heard it being OK on 6.5' dia but thats very second hand.

[pimanjc]

What is the minimum diameter curves that the Aristo RDC [Budd] can handle?
Jim C.