I just recently decided to try out HO trains after being in O, and to get started track-wise I got a loop of ez track (Nickel Silver), based on the fact that I liked its style and snap capability.
I read in several posts that 15" and 18" curves are a little too tight, so (for now) I got 22" curves.
But now the problem, I want to add switches, but Bachmann offers 2 types, the main remote switch seems to be based on an 18" curve, and I can’t tell what the other is. How do I incorporate one of these switches into a 22" curve, or use them for sidings? I don’t want to have anything smaller than 22" radius, so what should I do?
Welcome to HO. Bachmann also makes No.5 turnouts, which are much more gradual than the left and right turnouts offered. The No.5’s incorporate a turn with approximately a 27" radius vs the 18" radii of the regular turnouts. A bit more expensive, but if you have the room they are definately worth it.
I use EZ track almost exclusively.Let me know if you have ay more questions.[:)]
Allan B. Did you used to use Flex Track? If so, what made you switch? If not, why not? Just curious. I’m going to start a new project soon, and am trying to get varied input.
Ok, so on the #5 switch, if it’s about 27" radius, how do you put it into a circle with 22" curves? Would I need to mix the curve radii from 22" to something larger to get it to make a fitting circle?
I have used flex track, still do in certain situations. I like the built in road bed and the powered turnouts. I use a lot of switches and not many long runs of track, so theEZ Track works great for me.
As far as as fitting the #5 into a 22" circle, the #5 won’t help you, as the 22" curve deflects at a rate of 22.5 degrees per piece, and the #5 deflects at a rate of 12 degrees. You will need to cut the pieces to fit this specific combination.
Preceng, I’ve seen your posts elsewhere offering your AutoCAD EZ-track components. Would you mind e-mailing them to me? Thanks! I’'m trying to do a Christmas tree layout for my autistic son.
Bachmann EZ track is pure JUNK! Anything else out there is much better.
Kato Unitrack is bullet-proof but is a tad expensive. But you get what you pay for.
Atlas has been making track for a long time and it is hard to beat for the price.
They also have several books with a bunch of layout plans that can be built using their track.
Bachmann EZ Junk is OK for once around the X-mas tree, but after 1 use you might as well throw it away…
Good luck,
gtirr
I just helped a friend build a very large layout with Bachmann EZ Track and have to say that you are dead wrong. It was a joy to build and works flawlessly ( all 10 switches) and even the 18" curves and 90 degree crossing. I will likely use it on my next layout.
Allen B. , I am just getting started in HO and I was wondering if I could get a copy of your Bachmann EZ Track drawings, I use AutoCad 2005. I am trying to build a layout with Carrera 1:32 Slotcar track, HO slotcar track & a HO train layout running around the whole thing. I know some people would bark at me for having the Carrera track, but I have a lot of slot cars from the 60’s and I want to bring back some of the old memories. Plus I have always want to have a train layout. You can e-mail me at blpogue@ctlnet.com, Thanks for all your help. Billy
HO E-Z track has no. 4, no. 5 and no. 6 turnouts, and no. 5 and no. 6 wye turnouts. The 2006 Bachmann catalogue is out now, I’d suggest picking one up as they offer a pretty big assortment of HO track in their EZ track line, much bigger than Atlas or Kato.
Hi All, Thanks for everyones input. I will checkout the catalogs & also different types of track. My wife had bought me a large Bachmann Train set for Christmas and I was trying to make the best of it. [:)]
Trainset for Christmas? That’s how my current layout got started. She jokes, “If I had known that was gonna grow into this (from 65"x38” to 14’ x 27 bent dogbone), she would have… I just remind her, “Hey, I could go hang at the bar…”, and that’s usually all it takes. I’ve use nothing but Atlas flextrack for both of my layouts, and you can beat the price, ease of installation, etc. Only, this time I used the code 83 instead of code 100.
Heh Medina1128, thanks for input
I bet you got a chuckle out of the “Christmas Present” [:)]
She also bought me the Bachmann Niagra Locomotive
I can see it will never end
I will send a couple of pictures of my tracks but have yet to figure out how you did it.[:D]
Is there any way to find out what the radius of the turnouts are. I am on somewhat of a budget for this layout and don’t want to have to buy any unnecessary track that I can never use. I can’t seem to find a BACHMANN EZ TRACK website to acquire this info myself. thanks for any help.
Go to Bachmann trains and navigate into their track and accessories. Their turnouts are listed there. Note that the N. American turnouts are not meant to fit on a curve most often. So, their diverging routes are actually straight, unlike British ones that are curved. I used the longest angled frog turnouts that Bachmann offered a year ago, and they work out to about a #5.5ish, maybe a bit more. However, they cannot be substituted into a curve at any point and maintain the original radius. The curve will run straight for 5", and then you can commence adding more curved pieces.
Shinohara makes a Code 83 #7.5 curved turnout where all possible exits are on a radius. I have several of those, and they are nice turnouts. However, I had to bash mine a bit, cutting up the tie joiners so that I could increase the radii by about 2" to get them to fit with my broader curves.
Bachmann now offers higher numbered turnouts, and curved pieces that will allow at least 30" curves. Previously, all I could manage was 22".
I had some odd bits of Bachmann EZ Track but decided to use Peco Code 80 flex track on my N Scale Layout, I was warned off Atlas by my local hobby shop, cant speak for HO but it seems the Atlas switches cause derailments with N Scale, I have 14 switches on my layout all Peco and they work A1, I guess we are all different but the EZ Track looked very toyish to me.
Numbered turnouts, based on North American prototype, do not have a “radius”. The number is the departure rate. A number six means that (measured at the frog) the departing track goes six units out along the rail for every one unit of separation between the rails.
This can be calculated since it forms a right triangle. A number six has an opposite side length = 1, adjacent side length = 6. To get an angle we know tangent = opposite/adjacent or 1/6. So the angle with that tangent is 0.165. Convert to degrees and we get 9.4.
So turnouts that are true to their numbers are: #6 = 9.4 degrees. #4 = 14 degrees #5 = 11.3 degrees
As you can see from these Altas #4 and #6 aren’t accurate! I am guessing that Bachmann’s aren’t either.
If a turnout is placed into a curve, the curve should be measured from two different “centers”. One leading up to the points, and another from just beyond the frog.
You have to go to their main site, choose product search, in HO scale selecte EZ-track. http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/index.html
Unfortunately, I don’t see any technical information on the track.