Starting Out - Need track info

Garden Railroading
1

Howdy!

I’ve just built a new patio and planter area with the intention of putting some G-scale track in the planter. I’m planning on using some Aristo SS track. The basic trackplan would consist of a dog-legged oval - perhaps one or two turnouts for a siding.

The questionI have is how many sections of track make up a circle? I have a circle of brass LGB track but don’t know if Aristo breaks it down the same way - and if it varies from one diameter to another.

Thanks

-slim

2

Aristo-Craft track varies from 12 to 18 pieces per full circle, depending on the diameter.

4, 5, 6.5, 9, and 10 foot: 12 pieces
8, and 20 foot: 16 pieces
11.5, 12.5, 14, 15, and 16.5 foot: 18 pieces

This information is from the Aristo-Craft catalog. A strange mixture of sizes.

3

Thanks

A little surfing found Aristo’s on-line catalog:

http://www.aristocraft.com/catalog/track/

However - they are stating that circles are broken down to 12 and 16 pieces. I’m going to need to know for sure if I’m going to lay this out on the PC first. My pockets aren’t deep enough to buy boxes of track and just start laying things out.

Also - can I buy curve sections somewhere or must I buy the whole circle?

thanks again

-slim

4

[#ditto]

5

While the number of pieces to make a circle varies, one box always equals a full circle of track.

6

I buy individual sections of Aristo track at Watt’s Train Shop (http://www.wattstrainshop.com/), but I drive there and pick it up. It gives me an opportunity to browse the rest of their large scale goodies, too!

7

Slim,

If you can find a local shop that sells G-scale items, you can buy single pieces of track instead of having to purchase an entire box full.

The Aristo Web site has a dealer search function that can lead you to a local supplier. If none of them are close enough, you may have to resort to mail order sources.

If you don’t have a subscription to Garden Railways magazine, try to find an individual copy at your local book store or supermarket and check the advertisements in it.

8

Thanks for the replies.

Aristo has only one listing for a dealer in the SW PA area. Guess I don’t have a alot of choice there

Wish I could make some templates to try out first!

-slim

9

Slim: If your from SW PA you should have Pitt down there in your area, would think there would be all kinds of Hobby shopes around, Im from NW PA and we have one in just about every small town around,

10

I made my layout from Aristo sectional track ( www.elmassian.com ) … I bought RR-Track for $99 and it really helped me fit my track to my tight back yard. It’s fun, and saved me loads of time. It has all the Aristo sections in it’s data base, and you just click on the piece you want, and drag it to another piece, where it automatically joins in perfect alignment.

Regards, Greg

11

Question from the “Newbie” Has anyone tried the new (?) narrow gauge flex track from AMS yet? I am modeling narrow gauge mountainous terrain for mining and logging operations in the (hopefully) near future and am curious to know about this track. I live in the desert Southwest of central NM and need to know about durability and etc. Thanx in advance, Lordhawke (Jeff)