flex track

Hi. If i use flex track, how do i know if my curve are OK (radius)? Do i need a special stencyl, do i need to draw a patern? Charles

You draw the footprint of your roadbed, then after gluing it down, just center the flex track all the way thru. Use pins to hold each sections in place, then mark the cutting lines. This method helps to fit and shape the adjoining sections. I use cheap craft "Tacky Glue" to permanently attach the track. The same pins are used to hold it down until the glue dries.

Lajos

Charles, use a ruler to draw a circle. Get one that has a hole in the middle of the ruler. I also recommend MTL flex track or Peco. Marklin flex track doesnt stay bend.

Go for simple: a thumbtack, a piece of string, and a pencil.

Don't forget to take advantage of flex track's ability to make easements. An easement is a long, smooth arc that connects the straight and curved portions of the track. It not only looks more realistic to have an easement, but it can improve performance.

Here's a detailed description of an easement, with a good illustration:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_transition_curve

A simple way to simulate an easement is to offset the tangent (straight) line beside the end of the curve a little (say, about an inch). Then connect the straight and curved lines with an arc having a much larger radius than the rest of the curve.

There is also a good discussion about planning curves for flex track here:

cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/168080/1847012.aspx