My Next Display Can This be Done w/GG Flex Track?

that's awesome, how tall do you think it will end up being?

Matthew, that looks great!  Look forward to seeing it!

If I deside to do it I believe from the baseboard to the top rail would be 40" on top of a 20" high bench so over all about 5' not including the mountain peaks and Beacon towers which would take it up to about 6 1/2 '.
 Because this is a bedroom display I'd probably have to downsize from a Queen to Double in order for it to fit comfortably. I'm not sure if the dog will go for that though.

Since I wouldn't have time to start construction until March, I'm continuing to refine my plans. The original idea only allowed for the operation of 7 trains which would be a downgrade from the 9 I'm currently running on the 8 x 5 display. I've overcome that obstacle by designing it with all Atlas track except for two circles of O31 Ross. So what I'm thinking now is...

Two double spirals stacked on top of each other with three more tiers above that. On the next tier would be two O36 circles, above that two O31 circles with a O 27 Oval crowning the display so the Mighty Sound of Steam Milwaukee Special could continue to pimp around as the pinnacle of my collection. Adding the Mountain Peaks and Beacon towers would bring it all the way to the ceiling with maybe an inch to spare.

From the base line to the top rail measures 53"

 

 

So now I'm at the point of considering what building material to use. As always weight is a big issue as the display will have to be moved for access to the bedroom closets on a daily basis.

Would I want to introduce a full feature control system to our display; Legacy or DCS? Currently we've never had a use for it except to operate a single Railking Imperial with the Remote Commander and a LionChief Hudson.

 

Researching materials for the first phase of this display I've come to the decision I'd like to use Gargraves track. I was originally thinking of using Atlas. but because of availability issues and the need to build in several phases using just in time delivery for materials, GarGraves work out better.

I'm wondering if its feasible to build the majority of the display with Flex Track over Flexxbed.

Here are some samples of how the design process is going for the first phase with GarGraves Flex Track and the scarm file attached

 

 

Somewhere there's a "how to" for making templates to bend the track, perhaps on the GG site or the forum. Holes in a piece of ply with pegs around another piece of curved ply using the edge for a guide with the ties butting to it.

 

I would say try and use sectional for the tight radius curves where you can and fit with flex.

Matt, I see absolutely no reason why you should not use GG flextrack with this design. 

But having said that, let me give one word of caution. At the middle of the layout where you have the 2 track parallel to each other: watch out for side swiping of trains going into and out of the curves.  Spreading things a little apart here will be beneficial.

 

Chris

LVHR