Autobus Prime wrote:Folks:One thing i have noticed is that sharper curves look better if your layout is closer to eye level
This makes sense, and for obvious reasons. The other part of curves on layouts that I have pointed out to folks in previous discussions is that very few of us will appreciate much of a difference between how longer passenger cars look on 24" curves as opposed to 30" curves. Believe it or not, there just isn't a whole lot of difference that is truly noticeable. Since the cars are rated for 24" minimums, and if a person lays solid trackwork to that radius, they'll work just fine, time after time. It gets easier to fudge the poorer trackwork as the radius increases, but the looks over a 6" range just don't seem to register. Once you get into the 26" radius, now the advantages in looks is quite apparent.
So, between these two observations, my counsel would be to do a good job of fitting in the curves that give you the best looks and the best running in the measures that meet the individual's needs and tastes in any given space. If well-laid 24" curves do the job and the viewing angle is nice and low....great! Mission accomplished. If one's skills in laying track are still developing, and one's vantage point is going to be necessarily well above the longer rolling stock, try to get longer curves to provide you with some reliablity and pleasing appearances.
Model railroading is about trade-offs. It's a mix of materials, skills, time, and space.
Remember: the smaller the radius, the larger the track and scenic separation required to allow for horizontal clearance.
Mark
86' cars will require a wide radius, so hope you have the room. I have some 70+' cars and they look hideous on 26" curves, and merely out-of-sorts on 28-30" curves. Therefore, those 70' cars never see any action. I can only imagine what 86' cars would look like on those tighter curves. I avoid cars over 60-65' like the plague.
Autobus Prime wrote:One thing i have noticed is that sharper curves look better if your layout is closer to eye level
If you are modeling in HO and have the space, use 36 inch curves as a minimum on your mainline. All locos and rolling stock will look better. On my last layout I used 30 inch curves, which worked well, but some of the longer equipment would still have looked better on 36 inch curves.
Tilden
modelbuilder wrote:I have ... a new house. I now have the space to build an awesome layout and need some advice on curves.
Jeffrey is right on the money as usual.
On my layout's 30" and 33" curves I find that they are OK but not fantastic to look at, even though they run fine on 25". Bigger is better.
It all depends on how much space you have of course.
Karl
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pcarrell wrote: What's the scale?You can go pretty tight if it's Z scale, but if it's G, well, I hope you have A LOT of room.
What's the scale?
You can go pretty tight if it's Z scale, but if it's G, well, I hope you have A LOT of room.
It is HO scale
Hi all
I havent posted here in a while. been busy moving into a new house. I now have the space to build an awesome layout and need some advice on curves. I have several extra long box cars, I think they are scale representations of the 86' cars used now a days. What is the minium radius curve that can handle these witgh out causing derailment?