Our club is getting ready to lay several sections of Micro Engineering bridge track on a six foot long, double track curved trestle. As many of you may know, this stuff is not real flexible and we’re have great difficulty getting a nice smooth radius (48"). Any hints and/or tips to accomplish this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Hemifanone
When I had built a curved ME bridge, I also found the track to be tough to curve accurately w/o slight kinks. Since this bridge was to start staight and ease into a super elevated turn, a template was absolutely nec. I used this template to trace the inside tie transfered to a scrap piece of 1/4" luan ply. This gave me an accurate template for the track curve. Some overbending a
was nec the keep checking against the plywood. If this flextrack kinks, I found the easiest way to staighten by pressing against a straightedge. Good luck on your project. The ME tall Viaduct is and excellent model.
I also found that using Pliobond rubber cement excellent for attachment of the track. This was very important in my case due to the styrene shims required to match the superelevatin. The Pliobond dries to a transparent slight amber color. Slight weathering can hide this. Hope this helps.
If one takes his time and tweeks it very gently to get a slight curve, repeating a slight curve, over and over, untill you acheave your wanted results, you shouldnt have a problem. Not as quick as with flex. Weather the inside of the rail before you glue in the inner rail. The radius above is 27, Others may have a better method but this did work for me with no problems…Good Luck…John
Wow ; 27" radius ,I would guess 36+" ? looks great! dont get me wrong but 27" (lucy, yuos gots some esplainen to do) Ive got an area w/281/2" r that I gave up the Idea of a bridge cause of the radius .wow . …wait a minute ,what scale are we talkin here ? Jerry
Thanks for the prompt responses, folks. Any more ideas??
Hemifanone
Hi Jerry…The layout is HO, the left upper side is actually 25 at its tightest spot, not sure about the right side was more cosmetec to sweep past the front of the helix. hey you kow the other cool thing, were talking WP…Your CZ would be at home crossing the Keddie. Take Care John
all I can say is wow,you did a great job concealing the tite radi in the bridge ,from that angle i just cant see it…looks just like the real deal…Now you got me rethinking things …sorry if I steped on the OPs original thread .thanks Jerry
Just take your time and don’t rush it.
Gandydancer, very impressive layout, excellent, enjoyed your site…John
You might try Ribbon Rails. They make gauges in all different radii. You just slip the piece of metal between the rails and carefully work your way around.
There is no substitution for patience.
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