Hello
This is my second time I layed a new track down and I have alot of trouble makeing the ends meet!
I’m trying to do a simple oval and it comes out looking bad! I start out strieght , but it doesn’t end up that way.
I have a 13ftX23ft table and I am using 3rail altlas O track.
I need to be able to make a perfect oval before I can build my model railroad!
Is there any Ideas out there that could help me?
Gary
Gary,
Have you tried drawing the centerline of your track on your table to assist you in getting your track straight and where you want it to be located? To draw your curves, take an old yardstick and drill a hole for a pencil at the inch mark that is 1" longer than your radius, then put a finish nail through the 1" mark. You now have a tool that will allow you to draw smooth curves for the ends of your oval. Then use the yardstick as a straight edge to draw the straight track between the ends of your curved track.
I hope this helps.
Don Z.
At what point are you having difficulty getting the ends to meet? Your problem may lie in using curved pieces that are not uniform in either length or in curvature, or some of your straight pieces are not of the same length…is that possible. Also, have you mated all the joins so that they are nearly uniform? If the gaps between segments are highly varied in terms of their size, you may end up with quite a problem over the distance you are describing.
I would check all the curved sections to make sure they are the same radius and length. Start by connecting the curved sections to make 90 degree/ 1/4 circle. As long as you assemble the opposite side straight sections of equal numbers and lengths you can adjust to any size oval required.