I’m considering a track plan where two reversing loops share a common circle of track. The loop/circle is about 24’ radius, but the radius isn’t too critical, nor does the loop have to be perfectly round.
Curved turnouts, even straight #4 or #6 turnouts can work, but it would be very convenient and space-saving if the turnouts coming off the loop had a similar radius as the circle with a straight tangent track.
Is there such an animal? I sort-of recall hearing that Peco offered something like this but I’m not sure. Any suggestions?
Look in Walthers, I think they list the radii specs on several curved turnouts, and in my limited experience the work well.
I’m using a few of the Peco curved turnouts. In my case, they are pretty close to 18-inch for the inner track and 22-inch for the outer track. They are actually slightly tighter than that, but that’s why there is flex-track, right?
I really like these. They work flawlessly, and mate perfectly with the Peco switch motors. (These are twin-coil, just so you know, and they take more of a kick than the Atlas ones. I recommend running a capacitive discharge system for them.)
They are also visually interesting turnouts, and they get you out of some tight corners with style. I bought my latest ones from http://www.modelrailwaypo.com in New Jersey. They had the best prices I could find, and they shipped the next day. Peco also makes a larger-radius version if you’d prefer that.