Radius turns

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I am having trouble creating 36" and above radius turns (HO) on my layout. Is there any secret to making a smooth, even 36" radius turn? Also how can I make a banked curve that would be the appropriate degree of banking. Bill Simons

-- Bill Simons (wallysimons2@aol.com), January 02, 2005

Answers

I use the RibbonRail gauges also. They are available from Walthers, either direct or through your local hobby shop.

As far as banking (or super elevating), I just use strip styrene. Place it under the outside ties in the curve. .020 thickness seems to work the best, you might use some .010 in the easements to gradually transistion from flat to banked.

-- Bill Parks (bparks_43@yahoo.com), January 02, 2005.


Hey Bill,

I use HO radius alignment gauges from a company called Ribbonrail. I don't have an e-mail address handy, but their address is 15 Fulton St., Wood, PA 16694. Phone is 814-635-3926. These are terrific gauges--they're designed to fit in between the rails and slide inside the curve, so you just slide the gauge through the curve and it maintains a perfect radius throughout. To lay out the curve, use the radius tool to draw a line on your subroadbed and then lay roadbed on top of your line. Take your time and make sure you get everything right before glueing or nailing down your roadbed. If you have the room, I strongly suggest that you also add 12-18" of easement to each end of your curve as well.

John

John Golden O'Fallon, IL

-- John Golden (Golden1014@yahoo.com), January 02, 2005.


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