I have a 4 foot wide by 16 foot long layout, what would be the widest curve I could use? I'd like to use 24" radius if I can.
"HONGZ" stands for HO scale, N scale, G scale, and Z scale.
Post your non-O scale stuff here!
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24" radius equals 4-ft circle, so ain't gonna work. Maybe 22" radius, if such exists
072
rex desilets posted:24" radius equals 4-ft circle, so ain't gonna work. Maybe 22" radius, if such exists
22" does exist, I'll go with that.
Forgot to mention, this is HO scale I'm talking about.
Atlas 045 but be close to the edge
I would suggest downloading SCARM. It is really great freeware that has pretty much every track ever made and the ability to use flesh track. Watch a few you tube videos and you can use it in well under a half hour. You will be able to design your layout, before you buy track. Good luck.
Marty R posted:I would suggest downloading SCARM. It is really great freeware that has pretty much every track ever made and the ability to use flesh track. Watch a few you tube videos and you can use it in well under a half hour. You will be able to design your layout, before you buy track. Good luck.
Cool, I'll start using it.
If you have the room, adding a few inches to the sides of each end would give you a larger radii.
"072" Sorry, no.
Assuming that you mean "What is the widest curve I can use at the end of the table to form an end loop...?" The answer is simple: The board is 48" wide. You can use up to a curve of 48" diameter, or 24" radius. Of course, you would need some room at the edge of the track, so you need to make the curve smaller. But "072" (the number denotes the diameter of the circle formed by the curved sections, in toy train nomenclature) is definitely not the answer, since that curve would be 6' across. Your track will be hanging over thin air by a foot at each side of the table. In H0, you would specify something slightly less than "36" radius" since in H0 we measure curves and circles using the radius, not the diameter.
Just bump out a bulge to accommodate whatever size curve you want. I use bump outs for many purposes.
Adding passing tracks, a second curve, control centers, additional sidings or buildings, passenger stations, whatever. It can be an added on blister or something knitted one piece into the existing benchwork.
You only need to bump out enough for the track.
The top bump out was for a switcher run a round.
The above curved plywood edge makes a nice curve bump out.
The darker surface above is the additional bump out.
Bump outs can also be used for tools, power packs, widgets and snacks.