Experts: How do you accuratly lay out track to match your plans?
I'm replacing track on one end of my layout. I have an Xtrkcad design. A portion of the layout is basically an oval of track. What's the best way to place the track accurately so that the joints are tight, straight sections are square and parallel, and curves are symetric? I tried measuring from the edges of the layout to where the track should be, for example two ends of a quarter circle 18 inch radius should be 18 inches appart horizontally and vertically. I had some trouble, and eventually discovered that the surface of my benchwork is not actually square. Then I switched to measuring off one edge only, and seemed to have better luck. Next time, I think I'll start with a pair of reference lines which are exactly perpendicular and lay all the track in reference to them.
Jim
I flop track down starting with one specific track.
Final adjustments take time until everything looks right. I have to do it at the layout and not a computer program.
Im ignoring the fact that my train room has a tilt to one corner, all 4 walls not 90 degree corners and there is no flat horizonal surface anywhere. Things are really crooked in the Ozarks. =)
It will be more or less following the edge of the table but not particularly. I have about a foot to either side of the ROW to play with.
I finished one industry this month and determined the trackwork to serve this industry. The final placement of the entire industry, two switches and three tracks will happen near one of the corners. When I get enough tracks in and verify clearence I move on down the line.
But perfectly straight? Perfectly spaced with the table edge? Perfect in all measurements? Not happening. Now what will happen is the laser will detect and help correct flaws in sectional track alignment =)
I've printed full size, and glued it to the bechwork, or at least strips of it. I use the registration marks and a straight edge, and sometimes a square to keep things in line. The paper twists enough through my printer that I can't count on the edges being square. Other places, I've just measure to a critical spot, and let the track end up where ever it does in between.
Jeff But it's a dry heat!
I lay out my track plan, full size, on card stock, then form a tie-line template by cutting away everything that wasn't under the ties of flex track temporarily tacked to the card stock. Curves are laid out with a trammel that has been drilled to tie line radius (596mm and 624mm for 610mm Atlas HO code 100 flextrack, which has ties 28mm long. The card stock is then fixed to the foam roadbed with latex caulk.
One way to assure accurate curves where the curve is circular (i.e., between the ends of the spiral easements) is to attach a three point track gauge to a trammel and keep it riding the flex while you anchor it. The downside is that you have to have something at the exact center of the curve to which the trammel can be anchored. You also have to work around the trammel while laying track, which can get extremely awkward when the center point is in a narrow aisleway between adjacent peninsulae. Since my card stock template is laid out on a separate work surface (4 x 6 foot sheet of 1.5 inch foam) the, "Where do you anchor the trammel?" question never comes up.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)