RMweb Gold flockandroll Posted December 27, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 27, 2019 (edited) I hope this is the best part of the forum to post. My son would like to add another circle of track to our occasional dinning room layout. Due to the literal "table top" nature, using flex-track is not really possible. So I am looking for code 100 set track to form an outer circuit to go with our existing Peco R4 curves (571mm) and medium streamline points. I am quite happy to cut down the length of track pieces to get them to fit. The radius probably needs to be between 622mm & 638mm (if less I could add small straights) I seem to have eliminated European set track, so now I am considering American track. About which I know almost nothing... Starting with A for Atlas. Is their 24 inch radius actually 610mm to the track centre? Any other suggestions please? I am in the UK, so track needs to be reasonably easy to obtain (that bay place perhaps?) Thanks (edited to change title) Edited December 27, 2019 by flockandroll Change of title Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted December 27, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 27, 2019 Shinohara did sectional track in larger radii as well. Stopped production but you might still be able to find some. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold flockandroll Posted December 27, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 27, 2019 Goodness I remember now reading about Mr Shinohara retiring. IIRC he made the track himself in his own workshop (The (in Sheffield speech) Little Mester way of producing things has survived longer in Japan) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold flockandroll Posted December 27, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 27, 2019 Actually a mix of 24 and 26 inch radius curves would do it... so far I can't find any make of 26 inch curve without built-in ballast... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
long island jack Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 could you not use flexi track? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold flockandroll Posted December 27, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 27, 2019 As this is on top of the dinning room table, I guess I would have to try gluing flex-track to thin plasticard to put on the table top? Would that even work? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dungrange Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 6 hours ago, flockandroll said: Actually a mix of 24 and 26 inch radius curves would do it... so far I can't find any make of 26 inch curve without built-in ballast... Would it be possible to remove the ballast? Bachmann produce 26" radius - https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=258_366_367&products_id=2470&zenid=f8c73lovkc0kon8m3cht3mlit0 The photographs aren't all that clear, but it looks as though there is a clip that clips the ballast sections together, with separate fish-plates to hold the track / rails together. I'm wondering if these could be separated. I'm guessing that the inclusion of the ballast layer is to make it more durable for those with a table-top set up who are constantly making and breaking up the track plan. For those with a more permanent setup, flexi-track would be the most obvious step up, but I can see why this may not be in your case. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold flockandroll Posted December 31, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 31, 2019 It seems that EZ ballast CAN be removed but it is a right faff (you even have to sand them down afterwards)... So I have bought Shinohara 24" curves, will try using with short straights (26" seemingly unavailable at all but one Canadian supplier where it is very expensive and only 11 in stock when you need 12 for a circle). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted January 2, 2020 Share Posted January 2, 2020 I would have used a larger radius (28"?) as transition curves and then completed the circle/oval with the 24" radius. Alternatively flexible track stuck to a paper/card base (You don't want to lay track directly on the table (SWMBO disapproval is assured!)). Pre-curve it to approximately the correct radius or it will try to straighten out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Reichert Posted January 2, 2020 Share Posted January 2, 2020 I'm actually just off to my workshop to test cut some slotted curved bases (25.5" radius) to hold rail for making up a couple of hidden return loops. The drawing above copyright Andy reichert The slots will be shallow but the rail can be fixed by glue and few spikes. These are 30 degree sections. Someone over there could make the bases up for very little cost. Shipping from here would be add about $30 of you can't find a local source. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold flockandroll Posted January 2, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 2, 2020 It's been difficult to get anything apart from 24" and then 30" (but only in a box of twelve to make a circle!) (see ) I have ordered a few Roco very large radius curves to maybe use as transition curves. I did consider going down the route of sticking flex-track to something, but didn't know if it would work with a thin enough thing! My son meanwhile keeps asking for American diesels and The Daylight (4479 is it?) with slight diversions to British Rail blue and German steam locomotives! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold flockandroll Posted January 2, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 2, 2020 Il Grifone, do you think paper would be strong enough? I was thinking it would have to be thin plasticard? Andy R, that's an interesting idea: might be a another method to getting track set in concrete or cobbles? Would need a track gauge though. Just remembered I actually have a box of phospher bronze flex-track I bought maybe 30 years ago! So maybe I can experiment. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 Paper should be strong enough or perhaps thin cardboard. The Rail needs to curved to the required radius, so that the paper is just for final location. Make sure the curve extends to the end of the rails to avoid dog-legs. My layout manages with just the cork underlay and a few pins in the really sharp curves (2nd radius (17¼") as I have a long narrow room). A generous radius like 26" shouldn't need fixing. Obviously slight movement takes place, which is easily corrected. One day I'll have to glue it and ballast.... An SP GS-4 Daylight is something I want.... https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=SP+GS-4+DAYLIGHT 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Reichert Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 18 hours ago, flockandroll said: Il Grifone, do you think paper would be strong enough? I was thinking it would have to be thin plasticard? Andy R, that's an interesting idea: might be a another method to getting track set in concrete or cobbles? Would need a track gauge though. Just remembered I actually have a box of phospher bronze flex-track I bought maybe 30 years ago! So maybe I can experiment. Thanks You wouldn't need a track gauge. The slots are cut to fit the exact width of the rail base and the proper gauge apart. But that is made for hidden track. Only the base is in the slot. The rest of the rail is standing almost full height. I've already done the paved track versions in setts (aka cobbles) as below. Andy 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold flockandroll Posted January 3, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 3, 2020 That looks absolutely excellent! Is that using a laser cutter? I was thinking back to school days and it would have been some kind of router back then I guess. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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