Ross Custom question

4" center to center may be too close if you are running scale length passenger cars (21") semi scale(15-18") may just clear. Atlas uses 4.5" c-c, Lionel opted for 6" c-c. Only way to be sure is to set up the curves on a board and run your rolling stock by hand around the curves and see if they do interfere---

Use Gargraves flex and make the curves you want. Ross and Gargraves work well together.

I have used the combination of Gargraves Flextrack and Ross/Curtis turnouts on three different layouts over 24 years. Two large layouts,now dismantled,and my current teeny 9x16 "senior citizen's" operation. It has worked mighty well for me including operating Ross and Curtis switches with Tortoise stall motors.

You can create unique curve arcs with Gargraves Flex and go places that rigid track simply cannot reach as efficiently and effectively. Upon installation I have never prebent my Flextrack, I simply bend it to a marked centerline [made by swinging and marking the applicable radius], as I lay and fasten it.

I always leave the "trailing joint" in a curve unfastened on both sides of the joint,until the 37" section is fastened about every 9 ties down toward the "leading joint". Then with a block and small hammer I drive up the rails about halfway on the pins at the trailing joint, then place my hammer handle against the outer tie ends and ease the track in at the joint until the center rail is precisely over the center curve arc mark. Then I install screws two ties back each side of the joint. This will result in a perfect curve at the joints which some complain is the difficulty they have with Gargraves Flex. I cut my track with a Dremmel and 2" disc and dress the ends with small jewelers files.

I use a "holy" metal tape to swing a radius and establish the centerline of my curve arcs. It is a simple as drilling a hole in the tape at the 1" mark as a pivot point on a small finishing nail, and then drilling "Sharpie-marking" holes at the appropriate R points: 28" mark for 054[27"R],37" mark for 072[36"R], 43" mark for 083[42"R], etc, etc. Of course you establish your pivot point based on the intended curve R and maintaining necessary clearance from layout edges or a wall.

quote:

Originally posted by AR75:
Looking through the Ross Track Products, and notice they dont show any flextrack. Which is fine, I will likely use preformed curves anyway, but the question I have is, will there be any problem with track centers using 064 / 072 sectional? Messing around with some Lionel Fastrack on one of the layout software programs, they have 072 / 060. I understand with 3 rail, I'm not going to get the close track centers through curves like you would in a N or HO (my previous scales) but would the 64-72 be too tight? I plan on running mostly 40' "scale" boxcars, but would also like to run some passenger equipment as well without worrying about the cars hitting each other.

Thanks for any help.

Adam

On Hot Water's Central Connecting Railroad, I designed the track centers at 5". That allows for running articulated steam locomotives with 85' passenger cars without interference. On the curves, one of the two mainline tracks is a pre-set Atlas curve, and the other is done with flex-track.



Regards,
GNNPNUT

Thanks for the replies everyone, I think I'll also do the plan of using sectional on the outer curve, and then flex on the inner track. I wish Ross made flextrack, but I can use GarGraves as needed.

Thanks again everyone.

Adam

There is actually enough "give" in the Ross sectional track that you could make the outer track closer to 075 or 076 which would give you all the room you would need.

Good luck and Happy rairoading,
Don