Just bent some plastic tie GG for a tight return loop. I was surprised how easy is went. Lays flat, even, consistent.
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That's impressive Tom, I wouldn't have thought that would work!
Wow....I didn't know the GG plastic tie flex track could be bent into that small of a diameter. What method did you use to form the bend?
That is remarkable. Nice job.
One wonders what you'll do with that now.
I had one curve that was just under 12" radius with GarGraves wood tie track for several years until I just couldn't stand it any longer and rearranged the approaches into the turn for a better alignment. I might still have that piece around here somewhere.
John, There are two deep valleys on my 2 rail RR that just needed some action.
So I am threading a three rail meandering route 20" off the floor for a Galloping Goose to waddle through the gorges. The lower world has broad curves along the visible r-o-w but the Goose needs to reverse movement within the width of my around the room bench work. So I fabricated loops to achieve that goal. The donut hole of the loop became the mandrel around which I formed the 270 degree curve.
The plywood loop is 37" across, just enough to fit under the bench work. I was not going to work on this right now except that the loop base was scrap off of the new industrial peninsula and the saber saw was all warmed up.
So now there will be 3 rail at 20" and 60" with the majority 2 rail at 36", 42",48" and 54" above the floor. There are only three basic levels of two rail but the basement floor has a 6" pitch over 70'. Being most track is in constant grade it depends where one stands as to it's effective height. I work elevations off a horizontal datum laser line around the wall. I know TMI.
FWIW, at Justrains I rolled a section of MTH Scale Tracks down to about an 8" radius.
Attachments
I do have to get down there and check out the TT railroad empire soon, you are a busy bee.
I actually bent some Gargraves down to 016. I was hoping to run a trolley in a city street. It was a Western Hobbycraft and wouldn't handle the curve. I would have bought some K-Line streets track had it worked.
Pete
Empire......nah, a more appropriate term might be model railroad sprawl, an unrestricted growth of spontaneous benchwork then standing back and throwing track at it. Just listening to the voices in my head. AKA just plain fun!
Man, what a tidy job. I can't even bend that stuff to 072 without at least a wee kink or two and lots of "GOT to be a better way!" - it's called "sectional curves" - I adapted my track plan to the track, not the other way around.
Anyway, great work.
It's a little-known fact that if you bend flexible model RR track below a certain radius it will enter another dimension. Kind of an Event Horizon sort of thing.
To bend GG flex go onto the GG web site and click on the video demonstrating how to bend their track. It is rather simple.
Just cut a piece of what ever scrap 1/2" to 3/4" thick sheet goods about 18" x 3', cut an arc several inches less than the curvature you desire, clamp or fasten the template onto a working surface, place a piece of GG along side the edge of circular cut sheet goods, then take a short piece of 2 x 4 scrap, and rub it along the outside radius of the track while firmly holding it along the panels edge.
On the 16'" radius I formed I did use my one elbows to hold the beginning end to make it stay down. I could have clamped it down or called for reinforcements to hold it for me. What you are looking at is my first attempt at making an 032 piece of GG curve track.
Disregard the fear mongering and purveyors of sectional track. The cost of bending your own becomes a small fraction of the cost of sectional track.
Once you see it done or once you do it your self you will laugh at your reticence.
Disregard the beer belly bending or water heater bending. It can be done that way but it is also easy to kink it that way. When in doubt follow the mfg instructions.