Hi veryonr,I’m new to HO and am building a layouy.I used a computer software but notices the list of Atlas track curces has angle of 7.5,22.5/1o/30 etc…I gather these are bank curves but I don’t know what to use or why.What company 't should I use eg, Bachmann,Atlas etc.?I know Atlas raised there prices.Need help! Thanks. DOC
Doc,
I assume you are using the free Atlas RTS software to design the layout. All of the track components in RTS are Atlas track. The degrees are just that. For example, a 22" radius curve track is 22.5 degrees. Bachmann’s EZ Track has an integrated roadbed/track structure. Not all of the Atlas geometry will transfer over to the EZ Track pieces.
Jim
Sectional curve track which is described as “degrees” just show how many pieces you need to complete a half circle.
A circle is 360 degrees. A half circle is 180 degrees.
If the curved arcs are long enough you need six for a half circle, then each is 30 degrees (180 / 6)
If the curved arcs are long enough you need 8 for a half circle, then each is 22.5 degrees (180 / 8)
A 10 degree arc is 1/3rd of a 30 degree arc
A 7.5 degree arc is 1/3rd of a 22.4 degree arc
The arc degree only says how long the pieces are, not what radius the curve will have.
Curve radius is the distance from the center point of the circle to the middle of the track. Tight curves are 18" radius (36" diameter).
Instead of using sectional track, you can also use flextrack - which comes in 3 foot lengths and which are bent to the curve you want and cut to length. Flex track tends to give you more flexibility than sectional track in where to place tracks.
Smile,
Stein
Thanks for the reply.The software is Anyrail and I can choose the manuf. so I chose atlas but I think I can change that.since atlas seems to be going crazy.The track has the gray plastic rail bed.I’m so cofused as to what to use.I figured the plastic railbed is faster.Should I chang to someone else in your opinion?Sorry about my spelling.Doc
If cost is a major consideration , using track with the roadbed attached, like EZ track , is relatively expensive. Snap track, or as suggested flex track, is less costly. As mentioned above flex track gives you the freedom to adjust the track , It takes a little more work to install but in my view the flexibility it gives you is well worth it.
Atlas track with the integrated grey roadbed is their Code 83 Tru-Track line. Not sure what you mean about Atlas going ‘crazy’. Atlas has been moving production to a new plant and there has been shortages of the code 83 line of track. They should be in full production again later this fall. I suspect you have been listening to too many ‘experts’…
Atlas is one of the largest manufacturer of HO track. Walthers-Shinohara also has a good line of code 83 track. Peco may be the largest track manufacturer out there and has some very nice products.
Most of the integrated sectional track(Atlas Tru-Track, Bachmann EZ Track, Walthers/Life-Like Power-Lock, and Kato Uni-Track) have rather limited selection of turnouts/crossings and can be quite expensive. I do have some Bachmann EZ Track here at my workbench for testing DCC decoder installs. My layout has Atlas trackage(flex track and Custom-Line turnouts).
Jim
thank u for the replys.Guess I need to consider other choices.So ,not
knowing much about track,I guess other choices will give me more
accessories if I go with flex or anything without plastic railbed.Am I
geting the idea?I’t hard at 65 to get into the new fangles train unlike my
lionel from 1948 to1950…Times have certainly changed.With your help I
think I’ll get it.DOC