Do you run your 400e on 042 curves? A friend told me that it looks ridiculous on 042 and I shouldn't bother. If you run it 042 curves, what are your thoughts?
Thanks,
Sunrise
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It can run on 42" curves. If that's all you have room for go for it. We're talking tinplate here no such word as "Correct" in tinplate! Thank goodness!
Depends what you mean by "ridiculous". The sharper the curve, the more pronounced the "articulation" effect, when the front pilot truck changes direction before the drive wheels do. Depending on the view angle, it can be kinda cool. The Ives 3245 Short hood version looks really wild snaking over some 42 S-curves, different parts of the loco going in different directions. I'm with Chris: functionally, it works fine, so go with it. It can make for some unpredictable clearance issues, so make sure stuff on your layout is back far enough from the track.
Absolutely no problems with 42 inch curves, however, an S curve in 42 does not work with the 400e.
The 400E was born to run on 42" radius track, so yes, it will work but it does have a lot of overhang - but so do a LOT of standard gauge locos and cars on 42" track. If you have the room, try a 54" loop, or better still, a 72" loop. You will not believe how much smoother and faster all standard gauge locos run on wider curves. The wider the curve, the better that loco will run and it looks better too. Regardless of what you do, have fun and run that loco rather than keep it on the shelf - that's what they were made for!
Originally Posted by Nachtjager:
The 400E was born to run on 42" radius track, so yes, it will work but it does have a lot of overhang - <SNIP>
Lionel Standard gauge curve were manufactured in two different DIAMETERS - 36" (1906 only) and 42" from 1907-1942. 84" diameter (42" radius) curve was just introduced in the last few years.
Ron M
The only curvature available for Standard Gauge trains until the 1980s was 42". That would be 40+ years after it left the catalogs of Flyer and Lionel.
The Commodore also was born to run on 42" radius track. No more ridiculous than a 773 Hudson on 31" 0 gauge -- and that's all that was available in 1950.
Sure would be nice to have some 36" radius for the trolleys. Does anybody make?
Originally Posted by Gilbert Ives:
Sure would be nice to have some 36" radius for the trolleys. Does anybody make?
You can make it. I have STG on a 31 loop in 5 rail. There is no reason one can not disassemble 31 O-gauge track and put STG ties on it. Some track lengths have to be adjusted because of the gauge differences.
The solution is put the inside rail on the outside of the STG track and trim the lengths of the middle and outer when you put these rails on the middle and inside. The result will be a diameter slightly smaller than 31.
Originally Posted by Gilbert Ives:
Sure would be nice to have some 36" radius for the trolleys. Does anybody make?
If you want 72" Diameter track (2 x 36" Radius) go to
http://www.standardgaugetrack.com/
Ron M
Silly, me. I meant DIAMETER. The small trolleys should be fine on tight curves. Originally Posted by ron m:
Originally Posted by Gilbert Ives:
Sure would be nice to have some 36" radius for the trolleys. Does anybody make?
If you want 72" Diameter track (2 x 36" Radius) go to
http://www.standardgaugetrack.com/
Ron M
Thanks for the tip, but while I'm quite "artsy" I'm not very "craftsy". Originally Posted by F&G RY:
Originally Posted by Gilbert Ives:
Sure would be nice to have some 36" radius for the trolleys. Does anybody make?
You can make it. I have STG on a 31 loop in 5 rail. There is no reason one can not disassemble 31 O-gauge track and put STG ties on it. Some track lengths have to be adjusted because of the gauge differences.
The solution is put the inside rail on the outside of the STG track and trim the lengths of the middle and outer when you put these rails on the middle and inside. The result will be a diameter slightly smaller than 31.
