looking for some advice here. i am currently trying to lay some track and getting a feel for what i want. i have two 18 inch shelves on opposite sides of the room. another one is 16 inches wide going thru two closets. the last one is 14 inches wide in the front as you walk in the room. it is really an 8 ft. removable duckunder. im using 20 in. radius now. my question is if i go with wider curves, the track ends up on the wall side of the shelf. i think we want the track closer to the front for better scenery? i have a J on the way, and i also want it to look good on curves. how would you handle this? i can go as big as 30 in. if necessary. 10 x 12 size…thanks…
It’s refreshing to finally see somebody looking for the widest radius that they can use rather than the smallest. [swg]
You could probably achieve a 40" radius between the 14" and 18" shelves. As you note, this will put the ends of the curve near the back of the layout. However, there’s no reason for the curve to end at that point: continue it on, bringing the track back towards the front of the layout and into a reverse curve, then gradually straighten it out at the point where you want it to end up.
Putting some scenery between the train and the viewer will give a more realistic view of the train, and tracks running at an angle to the front of the layout generally look better than those running parallel to the front. One of the advantages of an around-the-room layout is that the trains are usually viewed from the inside of the curves, where the distance between cars is de-emphasised by the curve. On a island-style layout, the normal viewing position shows that space when it’s at its widest.
Since you’re working in N scale, 30" should be sufficient, and your J (I’m guessing N&W) should look great with a string of passenger cars trailing.
Wayne
I’m in HO using 16" wide shelfs, and find Kato Unitrack 31"R curves fit very well, in fact you can just squeeze that curve onto two 12" wide shelves. I’m sure I could go even higher.
As you note, with a very large radius curve you may have to have the track very near the back edge at some point. You can continue the curve a little beyond that point and then straighten it out in a gradual S-curve to get it back more towards the middle of the shelf. You may need to test out some curves and see how they look. Since you’re using super-super-broad N scale curves (where 15-18"R is considered “broad curves”), it wouldn’t be an issue to use say 30"R instead of 36"R if it fits better and allows more room for scenery.
i like what im hearing ! i just have an" issue" with sharp curves. (cant think of the proper word). another thing i may do is add a piece in each corner that would allow me to pull the track closer to the inside. that will shorten the run a little, i’ll just expeirment with that. i can buy 30 in. radius sectional track also since im using atlas code 55. that will allow me to easier remove that front 8 ft. duckunder as well. thanks for your help…
Indeed!
Another approach, assuming its permissible given your space plan and needs, is to put a triangular piece in your corners such as the one in this picture (yeah, I know its HO-scale, but same concept):
This will allow you to have a wide radius curve further forward.
If you’re using Atlas c55, you may consider using flex track. It’s a bit more economical, although you’ll need to learn a few tricks to lay it around the curves. It would be great if you can post some photos of your efforts…
And I agree… avoid straight lines and right angles at all costs! The N&W followed some pretty jagged streambeds, there’s nothing wrong with it being a little curvey!
Lee
i like the way the triangle piece looks. that will definately help. i can do that on two corners out in the open where i want it to look better anyway. the back side of this room is 2 closets with double doors on each one. i just went thru the walls there and thru the wall where the closets meet inside. Lee, i will try to figure out how to load some pictures. i have about 30 sticks of atlas 55 flex. i just thought it would be easier to slide out the front section using sectional track there. where the track would need to come apart is on these curves. flex everywhere else…thanks…
I dig…The sectional does give you a stronger piece of track at a joint like that. Good thinking!
Lee