24" + Curve Radii...

[Anonymous]

... quick question because I think I'm turned around on this one..

Seems I will be needing 32" curves on my layout, at least from all I have read, is there anyway to get such curve radii other than using flextrack?


Peace.

Coyote

[Anonymous]

As far as I know there isn't a way. May i ask why you are against using flex track?
Andrew

[Anonymous]

Kato unitrack is available in 31 1/8" radius, and 34 1/8" radius. Although the latter is for use with some of their turnouts. The 31 1/8" would be close.

QUOTE: Originally posted by grandpacoyote

... quick question because I think I'm turned around on this one..

Seems I will be needing 32" curves on my layout, at least from all I have read, is there anyway to get such curve radii other than using flextrack?


Peace.

Coyote

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by george745

As far as I know there isn't a way. May i ask why you are against using flex track?
Andrew

Andrew,

Not against using it as much as I am hesitant in using it because of my total inexperiance at laying -any- track at all. I'm a complete greenhorn still. [:)]

Coyote

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BigRedneckRob

Kato unitrack is available in 31 1/8" radius, and 34 1/8" radius. Although the latter is for use with some of their turnouts. The 31 1/8" would be close.
[

Hey Ya'll,
Thank ya pardner, I'll check that out... we good ol' boys gotta stick together [;)]

I'll take a run by look at Kato's Unitrack it was on my list when I started my druthers and wish list at the begining of all this.

Thanks again for the info.

Coyote

[Anonymous]

Anytime. If nuthin else, I'm good at findin stuff.

QUOTE: Originally posted by grandpacoyote

QUOTE: Originally posted by BigRedneckRob

Kato unitrack is available in 31 1/8" radius, and 34 1/8" radius. Although the latter is for use with some of their turnouts. The 31 1/8" would be close.
[

Hey Ya'll,
Thank ya pardner, I'll check that out... we good ol' boys gotta stick together [;)]

I'll take a run by look at Kato's Unitrack it was on my list when I started my druthers and wish list at the begining of all this.

Thanks again for the info.

Coyote

[orsonroy]

Bachmann's EZ Track comes in 33-1/4" radius sections.

[MidlandPacific]

Pelle Soeberg's article on laying flextrack in the July 04 MR is really useful; I used curve templates (available from Walthers) for my yard and a passing track, and I've been pretty pleased with the results. Once you get used to it, flex track is in some ways much easier to use than sectional track - fewer kinks, and fewer cuts, particularly if you're laying out a continuous-run track plan that isn't just a simple loop (the ability to vary the radius makes it a lot simpler that trying to get the geometrically perfect plan you need to have with track of a single radius).

[Pruitt]

There is one more option - handlaying your track. I get the impression that you are not considering that at this point, though...

[selector]

I'm with rripperger; I used a combination, and do not regret my decision to have a go at both ways of laying track. It was good experience with making the curves, cutting to the length I needed, soldering, and it was also good for confidence. May I previal upon you to give it a go? For one thing, you'll get the exact curve you need, not a see-if-I-can-squeeze-it-in curve.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by orsonroy

Bachmann's EZ Track comes in 33-1/4" radius sections.

Orson,

Thank you for the Info. I'll check that out as well.

Coyote

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rripperger

Pelle Soeberg's article on laying flextrack in the July 04 MR is really useful; I used curve templates (available from Walthers) for my yard and a passing track, and I've been pretty pleased with the results. Once you get used to it, flex track is in some ways much easier to use than sectional track - fewer kinks, and fewer cuts, particularly if you're laying out a continuous-run track plan that isn't just a simple loop (the ability to vary the radius makes it a lot simpler that trying to get the geometrically perfect plan you need to have with track of a single radius).

Rripperger,

You do make it sound very tempting and I must admit the mention of curve templates does lesson some of my trepidation. Thank you for the advice I'll check out some of what you mentioned and take a second look at Flextrack.

Coyote

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Brunton

There is one more option - handlaying your track. I get the impression that you are not considering that at this point, though...

*chuckles* Well between you. me and the wall... I looked hard at handlaying for about a week and then parted ways with it; although I -love- the idea of doing handlayed track, it will have to be something for a back burner untill my ability, skill and education in MRR has grown more [:)]... But thank you for pointing it out as an option, it had slipped my mind.

Peace.

Coyote

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

I'm with rripperger; I used a combination, and do not regret my decision to have a go at both ways of laying track. It was good experience with making the curves, cutting to the length I needed, soldering, and it was also good for confidence. May I previal upon you to give it a go? For one thing, you'll get the exact curve you need, not a see-if-I-can-squeeze-it-in curve.

Selector,

Well in my short time around here I have come to respect your opinions and advice as well as that of many others.... I'll take another hard look at Flextrack, I can see some of the benifits I just worry that my skill level is not up to it.. but.. I suppose that could be said of the whole darned affair *chuckles* [;)] So what the hey, no skin off my nose to go back and do some more reading...

Peace.

Coyote

[UNIONPACIFIC4018]

You can get sectional track from Shinohara its code 100
http://www.internettrains.com/shincod100ni40.html

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by UNIONPACIFIC4018

You can get sectional track from Shinohara its code 100
http://www.internettrains.com/shincod100ni40.html

Unionpacific4018,

Thanks! Great help!

Coyote

[Grubby]

Laying flex track is not difficult at all, a little bit of practice and it is a very easy skill to master to at least a basic standard (ie trains run on it happily. The building of a first layout will bring a whole range of new skills to be explored, laying flextrack will be only one of many of them that you master after some perserverance... gogogo GL HF with it, the worst thing that can happen is you waste a few lengths of very cheap track

[selector]

Grandpa C, I was there, believe me. I had never soldered, and if there is anyone who hates to fail...[V] that's me! I can now say, with conviction, that my first flextrack solder was an unmitigated disaster. Worse, I still run engines over it every day just to rub it in....[:D] I also thought an 's' curve would be neat right below it on my mine grade. Guess what I'll be doing this winter.....go on, guess.

[pedromorgan]

over here there is a set of templates called TRACKSETTA's i dont know if they are available on your side of the pond but i find them invaluable when laying flexitrack. i prefer flexitrack as there are fewer joints and thus fewer derailments.

Peter

[Anonymous]

Lots of great tips and advice here, I just want to add one more: if you decide to try your hand at using flex track for curves that require more than 1 36-inch section, solder the multiple sections together while they are still straight - this way you avoid kinks in the middle of the curve. [Wish I had learned this before I built my previous layout...]

[m.reeser]

Just a short aside for anyone interested.

When building with fixed track, you don't have the interesting thermal expansion problems you do with flex track. However, in defense of flex, it makes for a more realistic looking run when the rails are a bit wavy. IMHO
After all, how often do you see laser straight trackwork ?

[Anonymous]

I've found the following tools very helpful to lay nice and smooth flextrack. It'll in fact make it MUCH better tan what you can do with sectional track.

1. Make yourself a bunch of templates. Poster board works best. You can lay out the curves using a nail, string, and a pencil. Want a 31 1/2" radius curve? No problem. A 28" curve? Again, no problem. The templates are used both in drawing out the track pattern and in checking the smoothness of your curves. Use a straight edge for reference on your straight sections, both when laying it out and checking your track when you've laid it down.

2. Use cork roadbed. Sure there are other and sometime better roadbeds, but cork has one characteristic that's great for a beginner - it splits in half. Glue one half down along the outside of your layout line, and the other half right next to it along the inside. This will give you a nice seam right down the middle of the track for lining up the track.

If you want a full tutorial on how to lay flex track without tying yourself up in knots, let me know. It's not that hard, and I think looks a LOT better than sectional track.

Mark in Utah