A few years ago I saw an ad for a tool to help lay curved flextrack. The tool was basically a curved piece of aluminum or steel approx 12" long bent to a particular radius. Ie 24". The trick was to lay the tool in between the rails and slide it around the curve nailing the track as you go. It gives a nice consistant curve. But now I can’t remember where I saw it. I’ve tried Micromark and either they don’t have it or have discontinued carrying it. Does anyone have any suggestions? Please help. Thank you
Walther’s lists such a tool in their 2006 HO catalog, on page 317. It’s made by Ribbonrail, in all radii between 15 and 48 inches ( 1 inch increments.)
Just checked the Walthers website: www.walthers.com. N scale (and others) as well. Looks like they make all radii between 15 and 48 inches ( 1 inch increments ) in N scale also. Price tends to be $3.80US for curved templates. Not all of the radii are currently in stock at Walthers.
that’s some tool…but wouldn’t that take the fun out of model railroading…i can save myself a lot of money by using a nail in a board at one end and drill a hole in the other end with a marked out radius and draw my own curves…chuck
A neat tool indeed…if you want all your curves to share the same radius,which isn’t likely on most layouts.And having a collection of these is too expensive for something that is easy to do without,as cwclark wisely stated.
A cheap reliable way to achieve constant curves is to lay out a curve with a radius proper for the inside rail, on heavy cardboard. Make a template by cutting the cardoard along the layout line. Tack the cardboard in place on your layout with push-pins. Hold the flex track against the cardboard template and nail away. I used several of differing radius with 180 degrees of curve to make the turn-around loops on my layout. Used the stick and pencil device to lay out the curves.
I made my self a set from some masonite. Drew the radii with a home made compass and cut them on my bandsaw. They work fine and I could cut the shapes I wanted. Cost nothing because I had the scrap masonite. 1/8 plywood would work as well. If you don’t have a band saw, probably a neighbor does.
I think there is some confusion about the use of the tool. It is not for laying out curves. As was pointed out above a beam compass will do this nicely. Or you can make your own templates. The ribbonrail is used to ensure that your track is correctly to gauge and smooth through the joints - no kinks. It is available for straight as well as curve track. Whether you need it or not is up to you - I have always been able to achieve good results without it.
Enjoy
Paul
I layout out the curve, and use a ribbon-rail tool. After laying the track exactly on the centerline, many time you will find that there is ‘shift’ in those center holes in the ties. Running a couple of the Ribbon-Rail gauges along the curve will find thise spots(a potential ‘bind’ spot for large wheelbase engines/cars). That and ‘sighting’ the curve all add to better trackwork. I have multiple curve gauges and about 3-4 of the 5" and 10" straight gauges.