there was some discussion a little while ago, about transition curves. I’ve just re-laid my FasTrack loose-lay test track in the study, and O72-O36-O36-O36-O72 works well. It’s geometrically correct, looks quite good and certainly improves the running and stability.
I did have a similar loose-lay set-up using 4 x O72 and 3 x O48 over Xmas, that worked well but space considerations were an issue.
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if not a pain, Would like to see a picture or video of an 054 loco or long passenger car coming through.
Hope this helps - MTH Scale K4 plus two 15” Lionel coaches, the longest stock I have apart from a scale Hudson
To me, that looks noticeably better than just going right into an O-36 curve.
MELGAR
It doesn’t greatly increase the overall width of the curve. It definitely improves tracking and stability, too. I’ve tried this with a combination of O36 and O48 and it looked odd (the differing arc lengths mean the curve can’t be symmetrical) and didn’t really improve tracking.
I’ve also tried a combination of O54 and O42 using O27 track, that worked well but I prefer to use Fastrack for carpet lay, its wider base means it is more stable and it helps keep the fluff out of the loco.
It makes sense -interesting how the 072 facilitates the transition, similar to Melgar's previous thread and analysis. Thanks for the video.
Math and geometry in a model that mimics real life math and geometry.....in some ways that is what this hobby is about
I did this as a kid 50+ years ago, using O-72 sections either side of O-31, and it really improved the looks of things. On the layout I'm constructing right now, I have two spiraled horseshoe curves, where the inner main radius varies from O-104 down to O-72 at the apex of each, with easements on either end. This will be implemented using GG flex track, following a path defined by coordinate points determined mathematically using Excel. Both of these curves are hidden and lower-level, so their visible entry points will look great but I'm shaving 14" off the diameter.
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