Hello, I have a question about the curve diameter. Can I fit O-54 curves on a 5x8 layout, and if not what is the maximum curvature I can have on that size board
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Since five feet is 60 inches, you should be able to get O-54 on it, if you plan well.
It is a good idea to put a clear plastic fence by any tracks that get close to the table edge. I learned that lesson at eleven after running my Frontiersman into a closed switch and having it hit the basement floor.
You need to define your priorities and consider what compromises you must make. I got the impression from your question that you were worried about the 5 foot width of your layout, but I suspect that the 8 foot length is even more confining! Allow 3 inches from the edge to the center line of the O-54 track and one half of a curve fills the entire width of your layout, but length wise you only have room for 36 inches of straight track. You will have to fit any switches into that 36 inches. I am working with a 6X12 layout size and I use O-48 as my minimum diameter, but I use O-72 switches and a few curved tracks up to O-96. By using various diameter curved track I approximate easement on the curves. Obviously you cannot do that on a smaller layout and you don't need to do that on a larger layout. So, what are your priorities? Are you going to run 21" passenger cars pulled by a Big Boy steam engine on a layout that is 8 feet long? You need to make compromises. Plan on 15" passenger cars pulled by a Pacific steam engine. Then you could easily go down to a minimum of O-42.
@John in California posted:Plan on 15" passenger cars pulled by a Pacific steam engine. Then you could easily go down to a minimum of O-42.
At 5' x 8', I'd consider going down to the 11-13" O27 passenger cars. MTH's compressed Madison cars are really nice.
My priorities are to run either a Hudson or a 4-8-4 with a rake of 4 to 5 coaches. I'm not looking at anything crazy like a Big Boy as my dad already has an exclusive O-72 layout for my MTH PS3 Big Boy in my attic.
If the O54 diameter measurement is from center rail to center rail across a half circle, taking into account the outside half of the track (not measured in the diameter), you will have just about 2" of wood outside your track. Best heed the advice about some sort of raised edging to prevent derailments from hitting the floor.
Chuck
