Im using flex track and I need like a 18 inch radius gauge so itll be 18 in radius. Anybody know who makes 'em?
If you can locate the center of your circle and plant a nail there, you can take a 20" length of 1/4" by 1" (give or take), drill a hole to clear the nail, then drill another hole 18" away and mount a 3-point track gauge on it with the single point toward the curve center and the two points away from center. The gauge rides on the rails of the flex track and you anchor it to your roadbed. If you are using adhesive (I personally use caulk), install some track nails temporarily to hold the flex in position until the adhesive sets up.
The same system works with any radius. Just change the length of the trammel and the distance between pivot and track gauge.
Good luck with your tracklaying.
Chuck.
You’re looking for something to hold the curve in the track while you install it, right?
Try Ribbonrail’s gauges. Walthers sells them - the one you want is Walthers P/N 170-18 (that is, if you model in HO).
On my layout(N-Scale) I was unable to locate the center point of many of my curves - they were out in space or behind a wall…I taped together several pieces of poster board, used an old wooden yard stick, drilled holes every 1.25" - large enough for a pencil, drilled a hole for my anchor point. I drew half circles on the poster board and then cut them out. I used 1.25" because that was my center line for track spacing.
The “radius templates” were great for testing which radius fit the various areas. I used the templates to trace the center line (if it was a double track area I traced both sides of the template) which I used as a guide to glue cork road bed. I used the center line of the road bed as my guide for the track. It worked great. I tried to keep all my curves at 18" radius with a few down to 15". Have fun.
Hi JB74,
Google this word “Tracksetta”. I have used them and they work.
Someone must sell them in the States.
Ribbonrail gages are available I think from 15"-48" Radius, same as their pre-cut upsom board roadbed curves. Work very well, especially nice when lining up a joint between two sections of flextrack.
I drew some on masonite and cut them out on my band saw. Took an hour and they will last forever. I could also make some unsuusal designs as needed. I used them to both cut the sub bed and lay the flex.
I make my own from 1/4" or 1/2" plywood. I use the desired inside radius at the edge of the ties. I use this as a bending jig for flex track that is very stiff like Micro Engineering. Got this idea from watching old-timers bend GarGraves track in 3 rail O. Some of those guys used their hot water heater as a bending jig!
yours in bending rail
Fred W
I bought a compass 0-24" radius at a local Civil Design retail store. Cost about $37.00. Flow the pensil line to lay roadbed and/or track.
Scott
I used masonite cut out with a router. Worked like a charm for a set of 24 - 36" radii.
Make a plywood base for the router (extended very long on one end), measure radius from the bit and drill a hole for a pivot screw. You can now swing the router along a perfect radius. Be sure to use a carbide bit. Masonite will dull a conventional steel bit within a few feet. Cut largest gauge first, move the pivot in and cut the next etc.
You can even get clever and cut short of the end, then manually cut the easement right into the template. Mark it first and hold tightly.
As a bonus you get a pile of fine masonite dust that must be useful for some sort of groundcover.
If you can’t find the center of the circle, this link may help by using the chord & segment:
http://www.1728.com/circsect.htm
I use the ribbonrail gauges because they lay flat between the rails. This enables you to put a weight on top of the gauge while the glue dries.