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I am a newbie and starting to build my first layout. I have a challenger loco that requires a 3 ft turning radius. Please advise how to construct a template to build a corner.
Norm Ramsey
Norm Ramsey
Turns
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Welcome, Norm...
The easiest way is to use a wooden, flat stick about 1/4" x 1" x 40". Drill a small pivot point about 1" in from one end. From that pivot point, measure out your desired radius and drill a small hole at that point. Then it is a simple matter of putting a tack into the pivot point and tracing out a radius with a pencil point through the other hole.
With a 3' minimum radius, you're talking about a layout that is about 74" wide at the loop.
The easiest way is to use a wooden, flat stick about 1/4" x 1" x 40". Drill a small pivot point about 1" in from one end. From that pivot point, measure out your desired radius and drill a small hole at that point. Then it is a simple matter of putting a tack into the pivot point and tracing out a radius with a pencil point through the other hole.
With a 3' minimum radius, you're talking about a layout that is about 74" wide at the loop.
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Thank you
Thank you so much for confirming what I thought was right but was afraid I was overlooking something important.
Norm
Thank you so much for confirming what I thought was right but was afraid I was overlooking something important.
Norm
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1,483 Posts
I have a Big Boy, a Challenger, a 2-10-2, and a 2-8-8-2 Mallet and do not have any 3-foot radius turns. Are we talking HO here?
My widest turn is just under 32" inches and it is not a full 180 degrees. Most of my turns are between 22" and 28" on the main. The turns on the spurs/switching lines are as little as 16", although most are between 18" and 22". But, I'm talking HO.
A 32"r turn is one BIG, sweeping turn!!!
As far as laying out my turns, I have a compass that can layout 4' radii. Before I got it. I used the ol' string and nail trick. I Believe that, Using NMRA Standards and Best Practices, that the setback for the track from the face of a module/plywood is 2". I don't have a mainline module at hand to measure. And I always look it up to make sure. But, laying track 1" from the edgei is asking for trouble. The inevitable derailment would cause a train for a disastrous meeting with the floor with irreparable damage. And it could be quite costly to replace a Challenger should that happen.
Check with the NMRA standards and Best Practices BEFORE laying track. And it would be wise to do so BEFORE getting the supplies to build your layout.
Bob
My widest turn is just under 32" inches and it is not a full 180 degrees. Most of my turns are between 22" and 28" on the main. The turns on the spurs/switching lines are as little as 16", although most are between 18" and 22". But, I'm talking HO.
A 32"r turn is one BIG, sweeping turn!!!
As far as laying out my turns, I have a compass that can layout 4' radii. Before I got it. I used the ol' string and nail trick. I Believe that, Using NMRA Standards and Best Practices, that the setback for the track from the face of a module/plywood is 2". I don't have a mainline module at hand to measure. And I always look it up to make sure. But, laying track 1" from the edgei is asking for trouble. The inevitable derailment would cause a train for a disastrous meeting with the floor with irreparable damage. And it could be quite costly to replace a Challenger should that happen.
Check with the NMRA standards and Best Practices BEFORE laying track. And it would be wise to do so BEFORE getting the supplies to build your layout.
Bob
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