Father needs help!

[dlgillen]

First off, Hello to everyone! Looking to build a 3 x 10 Layout for HO trains( Thats as much room as I have) Does any know if I can get an 18 inch radius curve in that space? I am looking to build a dog bone layout in my son's room.

I have some 15 that will work but Iam afraid some of the cars and engines I have will not run well on 15 inch curves. Something like this


Your suggestions Please and Thanks...

[Anonymous]

I edited this for clarification.

Radius is to the center of the track, so no you will not get 18" in your case. Do you have room so you can add a stub board to the lower portion of your table (would on need to add at the arc) so you can get the full 18?


---------^STUB^----------------------------------------------^STUB^--------------

[oleirish]

My temp layout is 42"X10' 18" fit it! I don't think you can get an 18"curve in a 30" wide space,Allways remember 18 and 18 are 36" for the curve.
JIM

[cwclark]

you're going to need an extra foot somehow...18" radius won't fit in a 3' section of sq. ft. space ..have you considered raising it above the walk area so it will fit and your son could possibly walk under it and step up on a stool to get to the layout?...chuck

[canazar]

You maybe a good canidate for the "fold down layout" Attatch to the wall and hinge it. Then you can get away with awider width. When you are done working on it, fold it up to the wall and out of the way completly. to get away with a dectn selction of HO stuff, you will need a minimun 18" curves. And for that, you will need ATLEAST 38" to 39" wide surface. On the curves, the track will be right on the edge. At 40"


Either way, good luck

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dlgillen
Looking to build a 3 x 10 Layout for HO trains... Does any know if I can get an 18 inch radius curve in that space?

Track radius is measured from the center of the ties - so 18" radius + 18" radius = 36" so you will be short 2 inches at the widest point.

QUOTE: I have some 15 that will work but Iam afraid some of the cars and engines I have will not

Nothing says you have to use consistant radius. If you can't squeeze a couple more inches as "shortlong" suggests, then start the curve with 18" and switch to 15". I would also suggest a short straight piece between the big long curve at either end and the reverse curve.

Edit - I couldn't resist. This one fits in 3' x 10'. As you stated I would not run any cars bigger than 40'. On my daughters layout where I used this method we had a max car size of 36' except the 45' passenger cars which had truck mounted couplers.

The two center curve tracks are 15". The big curves in the center reverse curve are 22" radius.

[dlgillen]

Texas Zepher... Thanks That will work fine for me...I'll post some pics as the project gets going...