[R E Faust]

Hi

I'm new to the forum and have been very impressed with the knowledge displayed by members. Perhaps someone can help with a small inquiry.

I have been out of modelling for a number of years but want to get back in and I think n scale would suit me best as I have a smallish flat. I have identified a 75" x 36" area for the layout. At the moment I am thinking of using Peco code 55 track and perhaps going DCC.

I've been using AnyRail to design the layout (great free version btw, I found it much quicker and intuitive than XTrak) and have found that it won't allow me to bend a piece of SL-300F track tighter than a radius of 15 inches (well you can but it starts to go red as a warning you are exceeding the limits of the track). This has caused some issues with my design when using a curved turnout on the entrance to my goods yard as this is a wider radius and is causing a problem with double tracking my express line.

So, what is the minimum radius for this flex track? I see tracksetta do guides for much tighter radii in n scale than 15 inches. I would only need to go to maybe a radius of 14". Is this feasible?

I should mention I will only be running mostly local goods traffic on the line in question, or slower moving local passenegr traffic of maybe 3 carriages. I'm planning on setting my layout on LMS controlled SW Scotland (Portpatrick and Wigtonshire) branch lines circa 1925-30 (although most of that was single track but thats the beauty of medelling - you can imagine lol)

I'll post a track plan soon.

thanks in advance for any help,

R E Faust

 

[Brian Considine]

Hi & welcome to MRF.

When I had an N Gauge layout some years ago I did go down to 12" radius with Peco flexytrack without problems.

Hope this helps.

 

[chrismac]

Welcome from another N Gauger

Code 55 with a Tracksetta will bend down to 9" comfortably.
The tightest curve recommended by Backmann Farish for either N or 00 locos is second radius, in N the Peco Setrack ones are 10 3/8".
The important thing when putting bends in track by hand is not to introduce a dogleg so I would advise try and work the plan to allow you to use a 15" Tracksetta.
Alternatively if it is in the yard you could have a section using a 12" Tracksetta.

If you may go DCC in the future, if not to start with, I would advise looking at the posts in the DCC section on wiring and adapting the turnouts.
This is a good topic to begin with DCC for Novices

Chris

 

[R E Faust]

QUOTE (chrismac @ 3 Dec 2009, 11:29) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Welcome from another N Gauger

Code 55 with a Tracksetta will bend down to 9" comfortably.
The tightest curve recommended by Backmann Farish for either N or 00 locos is second radius, in N the Peco Setrack ones are 10 3/8".
The important thing when putting bends in track by hand is not to introduce a dogleg so I would advise try and work the plan to allow you to use a 15" Tracksetta.
Alternatively if it is in the yard you could have a section using a 12" Tracksetta.

If you may go DCC in the future, if not to start with, I would advise looking at the posts in the DCC section on wiring and adapting the turnouts.
This is a good topic to begin with DCC for Novices

Chris

9 inches radius?? that's much tighter than I need. Odd then that AnyRail will only allow a 15 inch radius. I've had another look at my developing track layout and I've moved the spur to the yard onto a straight piece of track, which solves the problem there. But the info that I can go down to 12" is useful for the yard area, thanks very much. By dogleg I assume you mean an s bend?

Thanks also for the link on DCC. I know it's a fiddly job in n gauge but I'm sure things will improve in the future, so maybe going DCC now will be a sensible idea?

Thnaks also to Brian C for confirmation - knowledgable AND quick, very impressive

R E Faust

 

[chrismac]

QUOTE (R E Faust @ 3 Dec 2009, 12:59) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>9 inches radius??

By dogleg I assume you mean an s bend?

Thanks also for the link on DCC. I know it's a fiddly job in n gauge but I'm sure things will improve in the future, so maybe going DCC now will be a sensible idea?

R E Faust

9" has been the accepted minimum since the late 60's early 70's but I have photo and drawing of of a working layout called Indian Head Loop Line by Chris Atherton built before 1972 in a showcase measuring 32" x 16" and the curves are about 7" - 7.5". I do not recommend you try that small though as for the most part modern built locos are a finer standard and demand the bigger radius.

A dogleg is like the like the back leg of a dog, a kink in the track as opposed to a smooth curve.

DCC in N Gauge is no more difficult than in 00 but if you don't fancy fitting chips in loco's then this is a guide price for the fitting, chip is on top of this.
chip fitting prices

Read the posts on DCC and go to a dealer who has a selection of systems you can try.

Chris

 

[R E Faust]

QUOTE (chrismac @ 3 Dec 2009, 13:46) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>9" has been the accepted minimum since the late 60's early 70's but I have photo and drawing of of a working layout called Indian Head Loop Line by Chris Atherton built before 1972 in a showcase measuring 32" x 16" and the curves are about 7" - 7.5". I do not recommend you try that small though as for the most part modern built locos are a finer standard and demand the bigger radius.

A dogleg is like the like the back leg of a dog, a kink in the track as opposed to a smooth curve.

DCC in N Gauge is no more difficult than in 00 but if you don't fancy fitting chips in loco's then this is a guide price for the fitting, chip is on top of this.
chip fitting prices

Read the posts on DCC and go to a dealer who has a selection of systems you can try.

Chris

Thanks again for your sage advice, I'll certainly check that out. I'll be finalising my track plan soon (no doubt with some helpful suggestions from forum members) then ordering some track and laying it out to test if the plan works. Will probably start a new thread for it if that's OK,

cheers

R E Faust

 

[Edwin]

Some Farish models recommend a minimum radius of 12". My minimum is 15", mainly so I can use closer couplings. Code 55 flexi is no problem at that radius provided you pay attention to joints. It's a good idea to avoid rail joints on tight curves, as they can all too easily turn into kinks which look unsightly and can cause derailments.

If your curve is short then one piece of flexi can be used to form the entire curve so the joints are on straights at either end. For a longer curve I have joined two pieces with rail joiners and soldered all four rails into the joiners before bending to shape. This should be enough for the longest tight curve you are likely to need - but remember to leave gaps either end for the rails to expand. If you have to have a rail joint, for example if you need an insulated one, then it helps to pre-curve the rails to the correct shape with pliers before laying. This is a bit tricky with code 55 as the rails can't easily be removed from the sleeper web (and it's certainly not easy to put them back!).

Even a standard bogie coach will look unrealistic on a small radius, so many modellers hide these curves on non-visible sections. Then you can just use Setrack - the code 80 rail joins to code 55 but you need a bit of packing underneath the sleepers.

 

[Putzi]

QUOTE (R E Faust @ 3 Dec 2009, 10:30) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I've been using AnyRail to design the layout (great free version btw, I found it much quicker and intuitive than XTrak) and have found that it won't allow me to bend a piece of SL-300F track tighter than a radius of 15 inches (well you can but it starts to go red as a warning you are exceeding the limits of the track).

QUOTE (R E Faust @ 3 Dec 2009, 12:59) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Odd then that AnyRail will only allow a 15 inch radius.
Hello Mr Faust

You can change the curvature limit from the AnyRail menu and set it to anything that you like. Of course this doesn't stop you from using tighter curves, only it stops them turning red. This is then useful if you want to impose a different limit during the design stages for laying track in the scenic areas with sweeping curves. AnyRail is super.

Tools > Options > Flex (tab) > Minimum radius: and then set it in centimetres

 

[Grahame HHC]

QUOTE (R E Faust @ 3 Dec 2009, 10:30) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>So, what is the minimum radius for this flex track? I see tracksetta do guides for much tighter radii in n scale than 15 inches. I would only need to go to maybe a radius of 14". Is this feasible?

It is feasible to bend flexi-track in to tight bends but it is not advisable due to gauge tightening/restrictions and forming joints on bends. It is always best to have the largest radius bends possible for your layout - they'll work better and look more realistic. If you need to go down to tight radius curves then I'd suggest using set-track for those bends. Peco now produce four different radii of set-track bends; roughly 9, 10.5, 11.75 and 13.25 inch radii. And although it is code 80 it can be joined to code 55 without problems.

G.

 

[mojo]

"Some Farish models recommend a minimum radius of 12".

As an experiment I bought a full circle of Arnold track which is 7.5" radius in order to test run some locos and stock.
An older Farish A4 (fitted with side valances) produced sparks by the wheels touching the valances but did continue to circle the track! Farish quoted 9" minimum radius for this model.

Two of the new Bachmann V2's sailed around with no trouble although Bachmann recommend 12" minimum radius for this model.

 

[R E Faust]

QUOTE (Putzi @ 4 Dec 2009, 19:06) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hello Mr Faust

You can change the curvature limit from the AnyRail menu and set it to anything that you like. Of course this doesn't stop you from using tighter curves, only it stops them turning red. This is then useful if you want to impose a different limit during the design stages for laying track in the scenic areas with sweeping curves. AnyRail is super.

Tools > Options > Flex (tab) > Minimum radius: and then set it in centimetres

Excellent, thanks for that. Though my minimum radius on the long curves will be 15 inches I can set it just a little tighter if I need to in the goods area.

And yes, I am finding AnyRail very useful. It might be limited compared to some cadrail software in terms of adding structures but it's quick and using the colour coding for seperate sections, easy to see how the layout is developing.

cheers

R E Faust

 

[lugworm lugworm]

Sorry to revive such an ols post, but my small Christmas layout, in 00 gauge, is a circle of flexible track with a diameter of 16 inches. The small tank engine runs well on it.

 

[Peter Armond]

Are you sure that you don't mean that the circle has a radius of 16 inches rather than diameter of 16 inches? I find that using flexible track getting less than a 24 inch radius in 00 Gauge is not easy, I don't even try. A circle with a diameter of 16 inches is not much bigger than an 00 gauge turntable!

 

[madon37s]

QUOTE (Peter Armond @ 19 Feb 2021, 19:25) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I find that using flexible track getting less than a 24 inch radius in 00 Gauge is not easy, I don't even try. A circle with a diameter of 16 inches is not much bigger than an 00 gauge turntable!

I think your'e right Peter TBH, I normally use set track for curves less than 24" that are normally hidden in tunnels.