It’s exciting building a layout isn’t it . Really great progress there . My own layout has been in the loft for 30 years and I find doing anything to it takes ages !
CLIP TOGETHER TRACK SYSTEMS - THE DANGERS !!! I don't like to point this out, but ALL clip together track systems have Radii that is too sharp for fluent smooth running. Indeed Clip together track systems also suffer from increasing Electrical issues. For the simple reason EVERY rail join becomes an "electrical resistance point", which with time becomes an increasing interference with the Electrical supply. Resulting in jerkiness in the behaviour of locomotive operation. Further ALL clip together track systems include curves that are horrendously under scale. For example a real life Class 45 Diesel, or a large steam loco like Flying Scotsman cannot negotiate a curve of less than 4.5 Chains (297feet), which in OO scale works out at 1188mm radius (about 3ft 10 inches radius). And these locos can only move at Walking pace around such curves !!! Further the Laws of Physics apply equally to real trains and models. The relevant Physical Law states, "that with every degree of curvature the power in the loco must increase by the SQUARE ROOT" !!! In model form this reveals itself as follows. A modern Hornby Flying Scotsman or Bachmann Class 45, will struggle to haul more than around 4 coaches around Hornby Radius two curves, before damaging wheel slip sets in, greatly reducing the models life expectancy. Real and Model trains, unlike Road vehicles do NOT have differentials in their axles. A Differential allows the outer wheel to spin faster than the inner wheel in a curve. Hence the outer wheel on each axle of a model locomotive powered wheels are being forced in curves, to skid over the rail surface. Which again reduces the life expectancy of a models motor and wears away the wheel profiles. Indeed on Model shop layout window displays I've had Steam loco models wear away their entire outside wheel flanges within 6 months of being placed on such automatic window layouts !!! If however these same models are used on 5ft radius curves, they will both happily haul 12/13 coaches without any distress to the mechanisms. The simplest solution to more reliable and long lasting reliability of your model locomotives, is to use the semi-professional PECO (or similar) Flexi-track systems. Which immediately reduces the number of problematic rail joints, and therefore minimises electrical problems. Further always aim for the LARGEST possible curves on any layout, and not go beneath 4ft radius, if you want your locos to behave properly and last for years ! I've been building professional exhibition layouts for over 40 years, a number of which have appeared in many Model Railway magazines in Britain, Europe & Japan. All of which have operated fluently because I set my minimum radii at 5ft for OO or HO, and 3ft radii for N Gauge. I'm also a real railway Engineer, hence my understanding of the Physical laws relating to Railways real or model. Happy Modelling 🤩
Nice work. Keen to follow, so have subscribed. Regards Bernie in NZ
It’s exciting building a layout isn’t it . Really great progress there . My own layout has been in the loft for 30 years and I find doing anything to it takes ages !
@russellbenton2987 thanks Russell! Finding time is the main issue!
CLIP TOGETHER TRACK SYSTEMS - THE DANGERS !!!
I don't like to point this out, but ALL clip together track systems have Radii that is too sharp for fluent smooth running. Indeed Clip together track systems also suffer from increasing Electrical issues. For the simple reason EVERY rail join becomes an "electrical resistance point", which with time becomes an increasing interference with the Electrical supply. Resulting in jerkiness in the behaviour of locomotive operation.
Further ALL clip together track systems include curves that are horrendously under scale. For example a real life Class 45 Diesel, or a large steam loco like Flying Scotsman cannot negotiate a curve of less than 4.5 Chains (297feet), which in OO scale works out at 1188mm radius (about 3ft 10 inches radius). And these locos can only move at Walking pace around such curves !!!
Further the Laws of Physics apply equally to real trains and models. The relevant Physical Law states, "that with every degree of curvature the power in the loco must increase by the SQUARE ROOT" !!! In model form this reveals itself as follows. A modern Hornby Flying Scotsman or Bachmann Class 45, will struggle to haul more than around 4 coaches around Hornby Radius two curves, before damaging wheel slip sets in, greatly reducing the models life expectancy. Real and Model trains, unlike Road vehicles do NOT have differentials in their axles. A Differential allows the outer wheel to spin faster than the inner wheel in a curve. Hence the outer wheel on each axle of a model locomotive powered wheels are being forced in curves, to skid over the rail surface. Which again reduces the life expectancy of a models motor and wears away the wheel profiles. Indeed on Model shop layout window displays I've had Steam loco models wear away their entire outside wheel flanges within 6 months of being placed on such automatic window layouts !!! If however these same models are used on 5ft radius curves, they will both happily haul 12/13 coaches without any distress to the mechanisms.
The simplest solution to more reliable and long lasting reliability of your model locomotives, is to use the semi-professional PECO (or similar) Flexi-track systems. Which immediately reduces the number of problematic rail joints, and therefore minimises electrical problems. Further always aim for the LARGEST possible curves on any layout, and not go beneath 4ft radius, if you want your locos to behave properly and last for years ! I've been building professional exhibition layouts for over 40 years, a number of which have appeared in many Model Railway magazines in Britain, Europe & Japan. All of which have operated fluently because I set my minimum radii at 5ft for OO or HO, and 3ft radii for N Gauge. I'm also a real railway Engineer, hence my understanding of the Physical laws relating to Railways real or model.
Happy Modelling 🤩
Awesome. What’s the length of your layout? I’m about to plan the same sort of thing in my loft… 7.2mtrs long 🫣
@mobileupload4374 it's about 12ft x 11ft (approx 3.6m x 3.3m)