selectorI did use EZ-Track extensively for my first layout 13 years ago; it was all I knew. Within a year, though, I had to tear it down. It was fun, but I found it was limited due to its fixed geometry. It was also very expensive per unit of length. Just looking at ads, Flex was so much cheaper, and I knew intuitively that it would be so much easier to use and to customize my track arrangement.
I pretty much did the same thing. I started with EZ track. My issues: The whatever plans you made using software, were too small. I had to add 6" to the side of my 4x8 layout for it to fit. The track was too tall for structures, and the trains towered over the docks.
If a turnout failed for any reason, they were easy to fix, but you had to access them from the bottom. That means ripping out big sections of track--especially if you ballasted them.
I ripped mine out after about a year.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
- -Atlas used to make 24" radius sectional track in Code 83
Atlas still has 24 inch radius curved code 83 sectional track pieces.
This is from their website just now.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
LastspikemikeSave yourself a lot of work and buy a pair of rail cutter pliers. Remember to orient the cutter with the flat side of the blades towards the good end of the rail you're cutting.
These Xuron 2175B are probably the typical ones for HO. About $17.
https://xuron.com/index.php/main/consumer_products/3/13
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
The whole hobby is about learning new things and developing new skills. I am between my third and fourth layouts now. The first was old Lionels on plywood boards. The second was HO in my teens. The third was more of a "real" layout in my 50s, and the next will be rebuilding after moving.
I've had to learn carpentry and DCC, basically at the same time. I needed to develop scenery skills. I remember the intense satisfaction if creating Hydrocal castings for my subway stations, and mounting a train cam inside the lead subway car. Every step, I actively looked for new techniques I hadn't tried yet. Learning new skills has greatly enriched the hobby and my life.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
My first layout (60 years ago) was an Atlas snap track one, on cork roadbed. It was ok. My 2nd layout was flex track and Atlas non-snap switches on cork. I had many derailments because I did not get educated on proper track laying. I did not progress that layout for several reasons.
My current layout is Atlas flex on cork with Walthers-Shinohara (makes no particular difference) on cork. Basis my prior experience, I was more careful with track laying. An important example, avoiding kinks at rail joints. Another is ensuring that your turnouts are level (not twisted due to the cork not level) and the cork is gouged a bit under the throwbar where it moves. I first read a nice MR booklet on Reliable & Realistic track. Not in print (I think) but used on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Model-Railroader-Realistic-Reliable-November/dp/B0030I2TT4/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=reliable+realistic+track&qid=1602364722&s=books&sr=1-2
Another issue is how you plan to operate your turnouts. If reachable & manual, no issue (several options). I chose adding undertable Tortoise switch machines. To ensure success with that, I first laid some track, a turnout and a Tortoise on a small scrap piece of plywood to make it easier to address the real items on the layout.
I think you can be quite successful with a little research on effectively laying manufactured track.
It's hard to answer you without knowing 'who' you are. We're all quite different. Some of us are bold and willing to try new things, even when the risk of failure or disappointment is somewhat high. But, what does 'high' mean for different people, and that's where the difficulty in response comes in.
I did use EZ-Track extensively for my first layout 13 years ago, but that was because my wife and MIL had gifted me an On30 Christmas train set that came with lengths of EZ-Track; it was all I knew. Within a year, though, I had to tear it down. It was fun, but I found it was limited due to its fixed geometry. It was also very expensive per unit of length. Just looking at ads, Flex was so much cheaper, and I knew intuitively that it would be so much easier to use and to customize my track arrangement.
I even built my replacement layout with spline roadbed. Looking back, that was pretty courageous. But, wow,.....was it ever nice to run on, and WITH flex track. I even made a bunch of my own turnouts. I was going for broke.
If you are still new, still doing some learning, and you tend to be 'conservative/slower' about development and evolution, I would fall on the side of continuing to learn how to make up a track system...using what you have. Find out also what you don't like about the EZ-Track way of fitting tracks in a space. Once you decide you've had quite enough of that, then branch into flex track, maybe using it temprarily on a slab of plywood to get the hang of it.
If you're adventurous, though, maybe now is the time to take it up a step. Just make sure you know, concretely, why you feel you must abandon the EZ-Track. Don't do this on a whim; do it because EZ-Track is too limited in a way that almost annoys you. You'll feel better about the expense.
Unload the EZ-Track on line to recover some cost.
I'm building my second model railroad, my first one used Bachmann EZ-Track but I'm considering using felx track and Atlas track segments instead. My first model railroad had no scenery (if that means anything).
As a new modeler would it be smarter to use EZ-Track or should I try flex track and segmented Atlas track?