J Daddy posted:"We will be building a modest grade on a tubular track layout we are building. The grade will really just be a slight rise along an 8' section of straight track. So, in other words, 4' up to the peak, and then 4' down."
I am thinking you mean 4 inches up and and 4 inches down? not 4' or 4 foot?
So rise/run X 100 percent is your slope.
your run is then 1/2 the 8ft...
so 4/96 x 100= 4.2 percent slope which is quite aggressive with no room for a flat at the top of the grade.
Can you lengthen the run of 8 ft?
I'm not sure what type of grade Pat will be doing. If he would give us some additional info on what he is planning (length of climb and how high) would help.
It looks like Stephen is just going to go up for four feet (maybe to a bridge crossing a river, or just for scenic effect?), then back down. It doesn't look like he is going over another track. If he uses a 2 percent grade, his track will rise only 1", 3 percent 1.5" and 4 percent 2".
I've used the same technic at both the start of the climb and at the crest. That is using a 4" wide piece of plywood at the transition areas. Make sure the first foot of the plywood is firmly attached to the surface, then bend it to the grade you want and support it with risers. The plywood will make a nice curve from flat to grade/grade to flat. I then secure a Gargraves 37" section across the bend so it forms a smooth curve. Don't use sectional track.
If Stephen plans to keep the grade at 2 percent, I would go with Dale's suggestion to use Woodland Scenics Styrofoam risers, again using a 37" straight section to make a smooth transition.
