HO train curve radius

The Rev John has been in touch with some help when it comes to a HO train curve radius.

(Thank you all so much for your kind mails after the last post. I really do appreciate them.)

There were more comments about Stephen than Todd’s question, so I thought I’d lead with this today:

“Hi Al,

I endorse the multitude of comments that were posted in support of your emails. However in looking through them I did not see a complete answer to Todd’s questions.

Q1 How do I know if a curve is too tight?

A. Experience of rolling stock de-railing.

Manufacturer’s recommendations.

Tips form others who model in your scale.

Q2 What’s too tight?

See answer to Q1. The consensus of results from the emails on Al’s site would suggest a minimum radius of 27 -30 inches or 70 – 75 cm for the metric minded.

Q3 How do I measure the radius of a curved section of track?

ho train curve radius

Regards Rev John.”

Hi Al.

I’ve attached a photo of a simple conversion to turn an ordinary wooden clothes peg into a really useful clamp.

I know this has been around for a while but there’s always new people coming in to the hobby and also those who’ve forgotten this simple tip. The main problem people have when the try is that they change the position of the two peg halves. If you look at the photo you can see that the peg itself hasn’t changed, but the spring has been reversed and moved to the middle notch. Although its not necessary you can make two little grooves for the repositioned spring and enlarge the middle notch. Even without this the clamps are very effective and useful model building tools.

Ken”

“hello – here is some pics of my layout im working on i have actually 3 tables linked altogether the first one is a mountain table i converted to a army base theme then the second table was created for passenger trains and residential theme basiclly i have some big boy trains and needed to create a layour they would run on the radious of first table was too tight so then i started the second table.

i have built a suspension bridge to link the mountain table to the yard table (almost completed)

then i will finish up with ballast and street lamps with telephone poles on middle table

i get great ideas from other peoples pics and layouts so i hope everyone can give me some feedback or any helpful hints my project has been on the works now for about 8 months and work on it in my spare time

thanks again for looking

Thomas


That’s your lot for today peeps.

A big thanks to Rev John on his HO train curve radius help, and to Thomas and Ken.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the big day when you make a start on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.


HO track curve question

Todd’s been in touch with a HO track curve question:

“Hi Alastair,

I love your emails and posts. Thanks. I have a question. I”m not sure where to go to find the answer. I have HO curved track pieces of all different lengths and radius. I find that some of my train pieces can’t make certain curves because the curves are too tight. How do I know if a curve is too tight? How do i measure the radius of a curved section of track? What’s too tight?

Thanks,

Todd (my trains always derail)”

Hi Al,

this probably has been submitted before. Florists oasis can be pulverized in your fingers to make this very realistic greenery and is much cheaper.

I enjoy your emails and save most of them for future reference.

Sincerely, Frank, Clermont Florida (near Mickey Mouse)”

And now I’d like to share the polar opposites that fill my inbox most days. Here’s one from Stephan and one from Bob.

Stephen’s mail made me think, “Why do I bother?”.

But then I read Bob’s and all was well with the world again.

“A job worth doing, is a job worth doing well. You could definitely ratchet your email(s) and website up a notch or two.

Seeing both, leads me to believe a kid is doing them.

Some basic education in sending emails and the website should be programmed in to your hobby or “profession.”

A Hodge Podge is a Hodge Podge… with a little self esteem you could do wonders.

Surely, across the pond, there are people that would help you.

Stephen”

And now compare that, with Bob’s:

“Hello Al,

I’ve been receiving your Emails for about a month now and I must say that I get great pleasure from reading and learning tip’s and suggestion’s from what I’ll call your newsletter’s.

Although I know you can’t possibly respond to what must be a plethora of Emails sent to you I do not need to add to your list.

Just wanted to say you’ve started to help me battle a 3 year bout with depression. I’m 55 and have started digging through 15 year’s amassing N scale RR material. Tracks, engines, scenery,
book’s on how to and the like.

I believe your word’s have given my life a lot more meaning.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Cheers,

Bob”

That’s all for today my freinds.

Please do keep ’em coming. It’s getting a bit thin on the ground this end.

And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.


Joel’s office train

“Here is the one I router’d into the desk. The kids love it when they come by 😉 Thanks

Joel”

“Thank you Alastair for posting my layout.

For Robert: As far as a track plan is concerned all I have is a diagram I made in order to keep track of the points. it is not to scale.

Alan”

(You can see Alan’s layout, here.)

“Hi Al , not sure if any good to you, but just been doing some changes again and testing the Bachmann Express points , which are a big saving on the price of Hornby.

Regards

Dave”



A great money saving idea from Dave. Have a look at the ebay cheat sheet too.

That’s your lot for today peeps.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.