Choosing the correct radius for a permanent layout

Joe,

   As long as one Track fits inside the other, run the largest Radius Track your Layout Platform will accommodate, you will not be sorry in the long run.   Bigger Engines take larger curved Track, go as large as you can to accommodate all your future Engine purchases.

PCRR/Dave

I'd say go with the 072. Depending on what equipment you are running, you can get some pretty substantial overhangs on the curves. 0-63 and STD-57 only gives you 3" between tracks on a concentric curve - that's not enough. The larger gap between the two different size tracks will be better visually - having the large and small trains cramped together won't look good. And finally, 0-72 gives you more flexibility in what you can run on the 0 gauge loop. Bigger is always better when it comes to curve diameter.

I am running STD-87 (also from USA Track) on the outside of an 0 gauge layout with 0-72 curves. There's enough distance between the tracks, and I wouldn't want them any closer. Here's  my layout. The curve sizes are STD-87, 0-72, 0-63, and 0-42. As you can see, there's not a lot of room between the 87" and 72" lines. If I pulled up the 0-42 and tried to lay STD-57 inside the 0-63, it wouldn't work. 

And finally, here's a reference shot of all the 0 gauge tubular sizes from 0-31 to 0-72. From inside to outside: 0-31, 0-42, 0-54. 0-63, 0-72. I made this photo when I was laying out my track, to help me decide on my curve diameters. I think you will see from the relationship between 0-54 and 0-63 that STD-57 and 0-63 wouldn't work well with concentric (parallel) curves. Click on the photos for a larger image.

Depending on how much room you have, I suggest keep the radius at least 6-7 inches center to center.  On my layout I have a Big Boy & I can only run it on the center of a 3 track layout because it has such a because wide articulating front end it will hit other cars when traversing the radius.  My layout has mim of O72, O82, O89 & if there was room I installed O96, O106 or O120 curves. 

Thanks for all the input guys. I like the card stock idea too, if I cannot figure things out.

Southwest, where can I get the o-63 in tubular. I thought Gargraves was the only only one who had that?

Thanks again everyone!

Joeg.

Trainlover160 posted:

Thanks for all the input guys. I like the card stock idea too, if I cannot figure things out.

Southwest, where can I get the o-63 in tubular. I thought Gargraves was the only only one who had that?

Thanks again everyone!

Joeg.

As far as I know K-Line was the only manufacturer of 063 tubular track. It was sold by the piece or by the box, a box being a full circle (16 pieces). I got lucky a few years ago and snagged an unopened box of K-Line 063 for a reasonable price on eBay. If you want 063 tubular track, you will have to check the secondary market - eBay, train shows, the Forum Buy/Sell board, etc.