GARGRAVES curves

You  can see the difference between radiuses by stacking two curves and comparing the rail curves.

You could also use geometry; using the length of a curve and the angle (how many pieces to make a circle? 8=45°, 12=30°) ....lengths added = circumference; then circumference ÷ π (pi) = diameter.

do you have wooden tie or plastic tie track?

measure from rail end to rail end on the outside rail to sort them - then tell me the lengths and I can provide the length match and curve diameter from track software

Edit : for example 032W is ~ 13.5"        O42W ~ 16.5"         O54~20 5/8"

One of the main reasons I stopped using Gargraves sectional curve track as they never were the advertised radius.  I'd get 0-72 or 0-42 and they would be slightly larger, you would never get a perfect circule.  I went to Ross section or bent my own curves after that.   So good luck trying to find out what you have.

Carl- thank you - I’ll get you the additional info later this evening. Some may be Ross. How can I tell which they are?

If you go to Gargraves web site they have a chart that lists the curves and the number of ties per curve. I just counted the ties and if that was not sufficient I would make a half circle and measure as the chart will give you the dimensions of each radius. 

Ross has it printed on the bottom, or at least ones I bought about a month ago do. 

Ross has spikes holding the rails to the ties.  Gargraves has no spikes.

Not all companies used the outer rail/ties to measure like Lionel tubular.

Many (likely most) measure diameter/radius from the center between rails. In other scales I've only seen this method used; not the O.D..

I'm pretty sure GG uses track center to measure.

Measuring length will get you real close though

Got it figured out. 42, 54 80 and 106 diameter.  Sure wish I was big enough to run the 106 curves. Thanks to all

Geojr posted:

Got it figured out. 42, 54 80 and 106 diameter.  Sure wish I was big enough to run the 106 curves. Thanks to all

One word................... "Easements" 

Geojr posted:

Got it figured out. 42, 54 80 and 106 diameter.  Sure wish I was big enough to run the 106 curves. Thanks to all

Sounds good - the 80 ~ 21.25" and the 106 ~ 28 on the outside rail edge to outside rail edge.

You can use the big curves- the 106 are great to replace a long straight with a "snaky" of gentle curves

Here's what is would look like using 8- 106 curves are the O54 & O42 - about a 13'6" long layout - 6" center rail to center rail spacing

Ross rail is prototypically spiked on top of the ties.

GarGraves rail has fin like appendages immersed into the ties, no spikes.

Once past O72 you can fabricate curves with Gargraves Flex track.   Smallest in this pictures is about O90  

Moonman posted:

You can use the big curves- the 106 are great to replace a long straight with a "snaky" of gentle curves

Here's what is would look like using 8- 106 curves are the O54 & O42 - about a 13'6" long layout - 6" center rail to center rail spacing

 

Excellent suggestion when using sectional curved track; and, when using flex track as well.  Most layouts, especially modes sized ones, are too linear IMO; and, the substitution of gentle curves in lieu of straights works well.

Here's the chart .

Adriatic posted:

Not all companies used the outer rail/ties to measure like Lionel tubular.

Many (likely most) measure diameter/radius from the center between rails. In other scales I've only seen this method used; not the O.D..

I'm pretty sure GG uses track center to measure.

We only needed to choose a rail and get a chord length that I could compare to a software library with specifications provided by Gargraves - GG uses a "nominal" size circle also - not exactly the stated size