I’m interiested in replacing my junk flextrack with some regular curved track sections. I am looking at the Code 100 Shinohara 30’’ radius curved tracks.
What does 30’’ radius really mean? Is it the width of the 180 degree (half circle) that it can make, or is it the distance it can go to make a 90 degree (half of a half of a circle)
Thanks!
Phil
Phil,
It means you can make a 60" diameter curve with them. Radius is always half the diameter. For example, I have a 4 x 8 layout. I have a half circle at one end with 22" radius curves. Therefore, I have 2" of buffer on each side.
Tom
It is the distance from the center of the track if it were a circle to half way between the two rails. The distance between the track in a 180 degree curve is the diameter and that is equal to 2 times the radius. Thus a 30 inch radius curve will take about 63 inches of table width.
Well, I learned something today! I always thought it was the full loop, but that would seem imposible.
Thanks guys for the quick response!
Phil
Radius is used to determine the sharpness of model railroad curves. The smaller the number, the tighter the curve. Depending on your scale, it determines the wheelbase of equipment that can negotiate the curves on your layout. Curves in the model world are a lot tighter than anything on the prototype.
Where the diameter comes in is it determines how wide your benchwork must be to have a complete return loop. The classic 4x8 ft layout uses up to a 22" radius curve, leaving the track 2" from the edge. In some scales, that’s too small to run some equipment. The best solution may be to use a smaller scale if you want to run modern or passenger equipment.
Others have advised your correctly. But to confuse the issue, 3 rail O manufacturers use diameter, not radius when talking about curved track. For instance, O27 track forms a circle 27" in diameter, which is 13.5" radius. O36 track is 18" radius.
But outside of the “toy” train manufacturers, curves are measured by radius, and North American prototype turnouts by frog number.
yours in tracking
Fred W
Umm, I assume you mean the our “model” track is measured by frog number, the real track is (I’m told) measured by “degrees of deflection”. I further understand, on “real” track, a high speed turnout (which modelers might use a #10 or #12), might equate to a #20 or #24.
Brad
Phil, if you think flex track is junk you are doing something wrong and do not know how to use it right. It is a little tuff to use at first but is the main steay of the hobby.
By the way a little math when it comes to the linear lenght of a turn radius.
18" 360 has 113.04 inches of rail. 180 has 56.52.
22" 360 has 138.16 inches of rail. 180 has 69.08.
24" 360 has 150.72 inches of rail. 180 has 75.36
30" 360 has 188.40 inches of rail. 180 has 94.2.
Cuda Ken
Now, now, Ken, you’re just adding to the confusion by bringing up Circumferance! [:)]