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What's the smallest diameter circular track I can build

1.7K views 2 replies 2 participants last post by  murphaph  
#1 ·
hi all,
as I've finished building the openDCC decoder and have started writing software for a web app to interface with it, I'll need 2 things:
track and a decoder

As we are still in our flat and space is at a premium, I want to keep the test track as small as possible. I'll mout it to 10mm ply or mdf so I can stick it in the cupboard when not in use. What is the minimum functioning radius I can get away with. It will just be a circle at first as I don't want anything to hit the buffer stops should me code screw up. I will retrofit one of the locos from my childhood with a decoder for this task.

Cheers for the advice!
 
#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
Commercially produced set-track radius 1 has a radius of 371mm. I don't know if that is centre of the two rails. If it is then you would need a circular board of about 780 to 800mm diameter to hold it. However, not all engines will go round radius 1 so you may need to use radius 2 which is 438mm so requiring a board of diameter about 910 to 930mm. I would use the ready made curves as getting flexitrack to a circle that small is not easy.