The only listing I can find for Peco code 83 curved turnouts is a #7 that has a really broar outside radius. Something like 60 inches!!
Do they make anything with about a 28 inch outer radius? Either frog type would do.
I haven’t invested too much in Peco at this time. Should I go back to Walthers/Shinohara and atlas flextrack?
That appears to be the only one they currently have. You may have to mix and match, no one manufacturer has every possible option in prefab turnouts.
–Randy
They have code 100 small radius turnouts.
I have used a few of the Peco curved turnouts in Code 83 but have replace most of them with custom made fast tracks ones from individual sellers on Ebay. They are much better and about the same cost. I still have most of my 30+ turnouts from Walthers/Shinohara, but not curved ones.
-Bob
Go with a Walthers/Shinohara #7.5 or a full #8 if you can find one, Bruce.
Caveat - depending on the loco, you may have to paint the frog rails outside of the black plastic insulators with clear varnish/polyurethane for another 1/2" to keep the metal tires of passing wheels from making inadvertent shorts.
-Crandell
Bruce,
Walthers Shinohara,curved T.O. CODE83 #7,is outside 28’’ and inside 24’', $27.98,when I bought them. The plastic and ties,are Dark Brown.
Cheers, [D]
Frank
The Walthers Code 83 curved turnouts are excellent, just be sure to provide a solid, sturdy base.
#7 - 28" outer, 24’ inner
#7 1/2 - 32" outer, 28’ inner
#8 - 36" outer, 32’ inner
These are the advertised radii. I have all three sizes, and the radii are fairly accurate.
However, some contend that the inner radius is actually 2" smaller than advertised.
Dante, one of our forum members, has measured all of these radii with a Ribbonrail metal track alignment gauge. Hopefully, he will join in the discussion here.
Rich
Another vote for the Walthers-Shinohara. I have one in a prominent spot at the front of my layout. It is a nice looking piece of trackwork, and the color and height match well with my Atlas Code 83 flex track. I drive mine with a Tortoise, and I found that powering the frog is a good idea.
I agree with Mr. B. I, too, have matched the Walthers Shinohara curved turnouts with Atlas Code 83 flex track and drive the turnouts with Tortoises. I have not found a need to power the frogs even on the #8 curved turnouts.
Rich
This particular turnout was seldom a problem, but as long as I already was using Tortoises, I powered all of the frogs. It’s easier to do that during construction than retrofitting it later, too.
And, I think that was a good move on your part. I never power frogs and often wish that I would.
What do you do to power your frogs?
Rich
The Tortoise has two sets of single-pole, double-throw contacts. Run a green wire from the frog (because frogs are green) to the center contact, and red and black wires from the other two contacts to the stock rails or track bus. Use a meter to get the polarity right before you solder. And, be sure to consult the wiring diagram for the Tortoises. The “center” contact, electrically, is not the one in the physical center of the set. 4 and 5 are the centers in this picture.
I was in a hurry when I put down the first of these, so I had to do the frog wiring later. Soldering that green wire to the side of the frog is not much of problem. Once the job was done, I was surprised at how much better the trains ran. It eliminated a lot of little stalls and hiccups.
Not always.
Hmm, have to get some blue wire for my frogs going forward.
–Randy
Another vote for Walthers/Shinohara code 83 curved turnouts. They work and look good. I found that some locos would stall at the frogs, so I installed Tam Valley Frog Juicers. The install is easy even on a turnout that is already in place in the trackwork.
Wilton.
There are two instances where unpowered frogs give me a problem
One is the short wheelbased switchers like the S1 and S3 moving at very slow speeds.
The other is the unfortunate instance where one of the trucks has lost power for whatever the reason.
But, generally, unpowered frogs have not been a problem for me.
Rich
“Curved turnout” ? ? isn’t that an oxymoron? what is a straight turnout? isn’t the concept of a switch (turnout) to move the direction of a train to another track by a set of curved tracks called a switch??? be hard to do using straight sections of track in the turnout.
Whether or not it is an oxymoron is irrelevant. All of the manufacturers calls this speciality track a curved turnout.
Rich
Tatans, it is curved because its main axis follows a curve. BOTH routes forward of the points rails are curved, but also both routes beyond the frog are curved, whereas a straight turnout has a straight through route and a curved diverging route up to the frog. Beyond the frog, a straight turnout is…straight in both exits, at least in N. American nomenclature and form.