I am designing another layout in N scale and am going through all my old MR’s and plan books putting together all the great ideas from you guys. When articles on great RR’s talk about a 30" radius on an HO layout and since N is approximately 1/2 scale, that would seem to mean that a 15" radius would be a big sweeping curve in N but if I have the room I would still like to get the biggest curves possible. Am I correct in this?
Thank you all for your continued great input![8D]
If you check out the NMRA’s recommended practice http://www.nmra.org/standards/rp-11.html you’ll find that 21.5" is recommended for the longest locomotives and cars. So if you have room for it I would do at least that much. Larger curves will of course improve appearance, but make sure you leave enough room for whatever else you want on the layout. You’ll want to use larger turnouts also - #8’s or #10’s.
Enjoy
Paul
Thanks Paul. I don’t intend to run any steamers but I know the ABBA and 13 car passenger train will look much nicer on big curves. I have never seen 8’s or 10’s in N scale turnouts. Where would I possibly get those?
Actually N scale is 54% of HO. When reducing a HO plan to N scale I recommend multiplying the HO dimensions by 2/3 or even better 3/4 instead of 1/2. This makes a much less cramped layout.
Try the Model Railroader
The newer editions
BK Enterprises http://www.troutcreekeng.com/bkn.html makes them although you have to handlay them. Don’t know if anyone else make them or not.
Enjoy
Paul