O Scale Flex Track Questions

Hi Jack. I'm a strong proponent of Scaletrax and have used it extensively on a fairly large layout several years ago with great success.  Their flex track is very easy to work with, very similar in flexibility to HO flex track. Their sectional track as you probably know jumps from 054 to 072 & 080 (or 081). It would be easy to use the flex to fill in any radii in between or greater.

Atlas, on the other hand has a greater selection of sectional track but their 'flex' is almost unworkable, especially for anything less than 080 or so! Atlas has the advantage of having a greater switch selection than Scaletrax but Ross switches can be used with either track system effectively.

Both are excellent choices for greater realism and it really comes down to your personal preference. I like Scaletrax as it has a lower over profile and helps my locomotives and equipment appear more massive by comparison. The middle 'blade' of Scaletrax greatly helps with this illusion by being much less visually intrusive than Atlas which to me appears too 'bulky' with it's much larger rails. 

Tie spacing would have to go to Atlas however so it's really a toss-up!  

I have never used flex track though.  What tools do I need?  How do I get the right curve radius? 

The most complex tools that you need to set a radius are a nail & and a hammer, piece of string, and a pencil.  Place the nail at the center of the radius circle using the hammer, tie the string to the nail and 63" at the other end of the string tie the pencil; scribe the arc of 63" radius.  It's rare that you need to be much more sophisticated than that other than to insert a bit of an easement into the lead into the curve.  I'm sure that others will provide far more complex means with which to set a curve of set radius.

Thank you for the replies and info.  MTH ScaleTrax it is then!! 

Would not an 0-63 curve arc be a radius of 31-1/2" from the pivot point of the nail? [63"diameter circle]

Jack-

in addition to the tools mentioned above, a Dremel tool to cut the end of the rails will be required.  After you bend the flex track the rails will need to be "squared" before you can connect the next piece. 

Well I know a lot of you guys go out and buy Dremel tools with all the attachments and such... But an angle grinder with a standard 4 1/2 inch cut off wheel works just as good.Just sayin Nick

Yes but using a 4 1/2" grinder is like using a 5 pound sledge hammer on a 1" finish nail.

Dick

I follow Rich Battista's method from his videos and offset the outer rails by 10 inches on my scaletrax flex. Bend into the curve and nail as you go. I do predrill the nail holes in the ties to make it easier though. Very simple to work with and I actually enjoy laying the scaletrax flex.

I also use the 4 1/2" right angle grinder works great on Gargraves track, they have thin cutoff wheels for these.

And one or two small hand files to square cut rail.

Another option to the string and nail is a piece of wood about 1 inch by 1/4 or less and 40-60 inches long.    Basically a the wood should be like the old wooden yard sticks.     Drill a hole 1 inch from one end the size of your nail.     Then at the other end drill holes the size of a pencil.    Measure from the nail hole to the smallest radius curve and drill the first hole, say 31 inches.     Then drill other holes at the radius for other curves you want to use.     You can always add more holes later as needed.     You could put them at 1 inch intervals if you want.

The wood stick is a little easier to work with than the string.     A friend in HO taught me this trick and I tried it.    I have my "radius" stick hanging on the wall in the garage.

It's been quite awhile ago that I bent track.  I've only bent Gargraves and I had a large number of bends to make.  I took a few minutes to make a jig from 3/4 plywood.  It was easy to hold the track in place and make consistent repetitive bends and cut off the mating ends.  The Gargraves had a bit of spring back. If it's used and sits around awhile the wooden ties "grab" the rails.  

Bottom line is the jig is worth it if you have many bends.