Hi all, I am trying to build myself a test track using Fasttrack. It needs to be able to fit on a 4’ x 8’ piece of plywood. I assume 048 Fastrack won’t fit due to the overhang of the roadbed. Is there a means of mixing pieces of 036 and 048 to make it fit on a 4’ x 8’? If so what pieces and/or part numbers do I need to do this? Also in the middle I would like to put an elevated loop. I have a box of unused MTH elevated Fastrack piers that I would like to use. Should I use 031 or 036 for this elevated inner loop? Both loops will be entirely separate and run off of a conventional transformer. I have an unused Z4000 that I can use. I also have some left over 0 scale tin plate buildings I can put under the “el”. Who says test tracks can’t be fun. Any help, opinions and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
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Three 048 30 degree sections with two 036 45 degree sections interspersed between them would create a 180 degree U-turn that is perhaps 44" wide outer edge to outer edge. This should meet your requirements nicely.
As to your second question, the 036 curve would be a tight fit inside of the 048-036-048-036-048. Perhaps you would consider a 036-031-031-036 curve instead.
I’ll need to check the overall dimensions on SCARM, but O48-(1/2)O48-O36-O36-(1/2)O48-O48 would give you a regular semi-circle within a 48” width.
I don’t believe that any combination of O31 would fit inside that.
I’ve experimented with the 3 x O48, 2 x O36 curve - it has the significant disadvantage of not being a symmetrical curve.
There’s another current thread dealing with this in more detail
I love the idea of splitting the third O38 into two separate 15 degree pieces. That seems like a big improvement over my suggestion.
Lionel part number is 6-16834
Just use a couple of the Lionel O 6-12040 FasTrack Transition Track pieces and use O42 tubular track on the curve.
I have a box of brand new O42 tubular track curves, I'll make you a good deal on what you need.