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I know this is an old topic and tired topic but I would like to solve my dilemma one way or the other.

I made the decision to go O Scale from running Semi-Scale knowing there would be restrictions on what I could run.  It has been a good decision in my mind.  I am also a recovering engineer so my brain will not let technical things go so I am hoping some of you have experience that I don't.

I currently run 031 Fastrak figure eight on my floor layout.  I am satisfied with running 60 foot MTH and K-line "short scale" passenger cars however there are a few MTH locomotives I would like to get which specifies 042.  I am assuming the 042 refers to tube track so 036 Fastrak approximates 037.5 in tube track vernacular.   I do not run express trains rather scale 20-30 mph so I am hoping the lack of 4.5 inches in  diameter may work?  I really cannot go to the 042 track due to floor limitations.  

A specific example is the MTH P47 Blue Comet.  MTH specifies 042.   I would rather not buy one only to find 036 Fastrak falls short.

What are your thoughts? 

 

Last edited by Jeff Noll
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If the manufacturer specified O42 minimum curve over O36, there is a reason. Safest bet is to trust the manufacturer.

You may also go to your LHS and politely make your case that your purchase is contingent upon testing a certain track configuration right there in the store. Some may oblige, others may just refer you to the manufacturer's declaration.

Be aware that it is much more complicated than just making the turn - there are s-curves, back to back switches, pickup spacing and so much more that is taken into consideration as these values are derived.

Last edited by bmoran4
bmoran4 posted:

If the manufacturer specified O42 minimum curve over O36, there is a reason.....

MTH Realtrax is offered as 031 042 054 072 082 The 042 could be based upon what MTH offers. The 036 FasTrack might work fine.

Lionel FasTrack is offered as 031 036 048 060 072 081

Probably the biggest factor when it comes to minimum curve dimeters are turnouts.  The MTH P47 Scale Premier is listed as 042 minimum. HOWEVER, the RailKing P47 is listed as 031 minimum. It sounds like you are already committed to non-scale. Stick with the RailKing product line and you should be just fine. Want better detailing? Look at the RailKing Imperial offerings.

Last edited by Gilly@N&W

Gilly, I am already committed to scale.  All my locos are Scale Lionel, K-line or MTH  which run fine on 031 (also the manufacture's specification).  I have had some Rail King steamers but they do not compare with MTH Premier loco's detail.  At this time I do not envision getting any more elaborate than my figure eight.  No "S" curves or switches.  I was just wondering if any other OGRers could say "my scale MTH P47 runs on 036".  I dealt with specifications my whole career and know that sometimes they are just a swag.   Jeff 

Jeff, how close to O42 can you go?   Here is a O41 Fastrack compound curve that will likely run a lot of O42.   Add in the width of FasTrack 3.5" wide roadbed, and you need 44.5" of width for the O41 compound. (red sections are O36 quarter, gray sections are O48).  Its not perfectly regular as a circle, but close.   Lots of small sections runs the cost up some.
O41-CompoundCurve

Right curve is slightly narrower, but less "perfect" IMO.

The left curve has O48 lead-ins, giving you O48 easements in effect.

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Last edited by Ken-Oscale

This comes up frequently enough there should be a sticky. MTH and Lionel Fastrack measure their curve diameters differently so a bit of apples/oranges.

A Fastrack "O31" curve measures 31 inches center-rail to center-rail:

                     IMG_3736

                     IMG_3737

 

An MTH Realtrax curve:

                     IMG_3733

An MTH "O31" curve measures 31 inches to the edge of the roadbed ballast slope.

                     IMG_3734

                     IMG_3735

So to compare apples with apples, an MTH "O31" curve measured center-rail to center-rail:

         IMG_3738

The Realtrax curve measures 28⅝ inches

 

          IMG_3739

 

So then, a Fastrack curve diameter is 2.5 inches larger than the same numbered Realtrax curve.

Thus MTH "O42" = Fastrack "O39.5".

OTOH, IIRC Lionel O27 tubular track measures 27 inches to the outside of the ties.

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Last edited by geysergazer
Jeff Noll posted:

Gilly, I am already committed to scale.  All my locos are Scale Lionel, K-line or MTH  which run fine on 031 (also the manufacture's specification).  I have had some Rail King steamers but they do not compare with MTH Premier loco's detail.  At this time I do not envision getting any more elaborate than my figure eight.  No "S" curves or switches.  I was just wondering if any other OGRers could say "my scale MTH P47 runs on 036".  I dealt with specifications my whole career and know that sometimes they are just a swag.   Jeff 

My scale MTH P47 runs on o36 just fine. Had it on my Christmas layout. I wouldn’t run it on o31 though; tried this and it wasn’t the best. 

My premier GS4 with the LED Christmas lights also ran just fine on o48 even though it’s rated for o54. 

As long as you don’t race them, you should be okay. It really depends on the engine/car. 

One thing to note as I read above, you said scale P47. Are you referring to the scale wheels version of the premier line or the high rail premier? 

Thanks for everybody's input.  It is with great interest I note that MTH changed the min radii for their premier Blue Comets (high wheels) from 042 to 036 in their newer PS 3.0 locos.  Everything PS 2.0 and earlier are 042???

The analysis of Realtrax and Fastrack is superb!  I just learned something.

My track constraint is the fact my layout is on the floor of my office (like a 12 year old's).  The larger the radii the less room for humans to move around.  I really like the figure eight (another throwback from being 12 years old) and as the radii increases the length of the figure eight grows.  Ideally I would like to have the length limited to seven feet but could be a bit more flexible.

What a wealth of knowledge this forum contains.

I would caution that we are not necessarily “home free” if a unit’s wheels successfully hold the rails on a curve tighter than the mfr. spec. Remember that in doing so, the trucks have to swivel to the max. I have seen the inside of nearly all the units I own, and all too often, the leads between the motors and their other connection points are a bit too short to allow extra swivel without tension. I have also seen the wires from the pickup rollers cut into and shorted by the sharp edge of the unit’s floor. Do the overseas assemblers really save that much money by not asking “what if” and including a bit more slack?

I wonder as well with steamers where an umbilical with four or more wires has to bend more over the life of the locomotive. And what about alignment with the infrared engine/tender couplings? Having written all this, I confess to running a couple favorite locomotives on under spec curves in the hope of “getting away with it.” 

Perhaps you will be interested in this O44.5 Figure-8.   It goes together nicely, and should run most O42 equipment without speed limitations.

O44-5_Figure-8

For comparison, a fully O-48 figure-8 will be minimum of 52" wide, so this saves a bit on both length and width.

Here is a variation that breaks down four O-48 full sections, so that there is one O48-Half and one O48-Quarter uniformly between the O36 sections (except at the middle, where there is an O-48-Full section).  There are also three small straight sections in place of the 5" section (times 4).  [The cost goes up a bit with more sections.]

O44-5_Figure-8V1b

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Last edited by Ken-Oscale

Just playing around:  here is an O43 (compound) Squished Connected Figure-8, in 47"x97":

1" less than 4' wide, and 1" more than 8' long.  Pretty good condensation.

O43_Connected-Figure-8-Squished_V1b

No place to insert O48 turnouts for spurs.

Build an outside frame, trim off 1" from the width of a 4x8, and insert that inch at the end to make 97.

Might make a good Xmas layout, with the tree in one circle, and presents in the other (or the cat).

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Last edited by Ken-Oscale

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