I am looking for any advice on superelevating HO track. Presently I am using leftover ties under the outside rail of code 100 track. I also made approach ramps from sanded down strips of wood to provide a smoother contour.
My problem is at any speed slower than warp factor 6 the engines looks fine but all the cars seem to roll and tilt A LOT. I know the whole purpose is to make the train “lean” into the curve, but it just doesn’t look right.
I am thinking it is to high? or is this not effective for smaller radius curves.
my min radius is 27"
Also tried tightening the screws that hold trucks on till they barely move, but that doesn’t seem to help either.
.02" will give you 1.8% bank and .04" will give you nearly 3.6% bank.
This is a rail to rail estimate, If the length. If you raise one end of the tie and the other end is setting on the roadbed, then the the grades will be less for the given values. To get the prototypical superelevation of 2-4% in this configuration, you will need approximently .03 - .05" difference in the ends of the ties.
I bought some scale 2x4 lumber (HO scale) and cut this into short pieces that I used for superelevation. A scale 2" superelevation may not be exactly accurate, but it give the appearance I am looking for without causing any operation problems - I can jackrabbit start a 20+ car train forwards and backward wrapped around my curves with no problems.
–Randy
tigerstripe,
I used 1/4" strips of masking tape under the outside rail when I put in superelevation on our club layout. It ended up being 2 layers of tape from the tangent track 12 " before the spiral, 4 layers of tape from the beginning of the transition spiral, and 7 layers of tape from the beginning of the arc of the curve to the same location at the other end of the curve. The effect is subtle but noticable. Cut the tape with a steel rule guide on a piece of plate glass. Its quick, easy, and effective.
Mark C.
I seem to recall recommendations for replacing the .025" throw rods on the Tortoise switch machines with .035" wire rods. Buying this wire in bulk to place under the outside rail should give just about the right elevation if you want between .03 and .05". This should be equivalent to 15 gauge music wire or about 20 gauge steel wire guage.