In a last ditch attempt to reuse my old “Big Panhandle” track plan, I was wondering if it’s possible to
replace the 22" curves (on most snap track layouts) to 24"-30" simply by adding some flex track and
some additional straight sections or flex? OR does this through out all of the math that snap track (Atlas)
uses based on their concentric circle designs? Hope that’s clear and I’ve used the right term involving the
circular theory that determines things with custom line snap track layouts…
Thanks! I’m about to pull the thumbtacks out of the “laid” tack in the flooding cellar, bring it upstairs and
see if I can use most of it OR start completely over with a new design…
As Wolfgang mentions, it is much better to just use new flex track. Otherwise you’ll be having easment- turn, easment- turn and possible derailments. You defeat any purpose for using the larger radius for equipment and will use the same space.
Both previous answers are correct and besides once you get away from snap track you will be very happy with the overall appearance of your layout. Though the snap track is a convienience it doesn’t look as good a ballasted flex.
Thank you for your kind/patient responses guys (n’ gals?)
From what I’ve been able to understand from my newer planning reading, all of what you’ve said seemed to
be the case (unfortunately) but wanted to verify before I hauled all of that older benchwork and track upstairs to try to make most of it work. Guess it’s swap meet time then, after all. It’s hard to let go
of an old(er) dream but it’s time.
For the deleted poster who was most unkind, what goes 'round comes 'round. Once I’m up and running and more experienced, I intend giving something back to the hobby by helping others. It’s the whole point of the NMRA after all. It appears that you don’t share that philosophy. Thanks moderators for keeping things civil and welcoming to newbies who just want some reassurance that they’re truly understanding what they’re researching.
Obviously you can get more radii with flex track, but you might not want to go to it right away. Snap track is great for working out bugs in a track plan. Lay it down loosely or with minimal nails, run things a bit, change things, run things a bit more. That’s what I did, and it helped me refine my track plan really quickly without major problems.
Of course, I’m still using the snap track, and still haven’t changed it to flex. Once I was having fun with trains, I didn’t feel much pressure to change things.
You can make a sort of dithered 20" radius with snap track, too, by the way, if you alternate 18" and 22" pieces. Atlas used that trick in some of their plan books. You will need to fit in some very short pieces here and there to make the concentric track spacing right, but short pieces like 1" won’t give a polygon effect. I’d say, in fact, that from normal viewing angles you’d hardly notice a 3" straight section inserted into a curve.
I’d say to use what you’ve got now, but leave the way open for upgrades. Why not?
It’s hard to let go