Currently O72 for 3 rail. Going to be 54" radius (0108) minimum when I start my 2 rail layout.
O-106 max, O-42 min
11 x 17 ft platform.
2 mainline ovals with all O54 GG curves.
Multiple through sidings off of mainline ovals all with O72 Ross turnouts.
2 curved Ross turnouts both O96/O72.
.Atlas 3R, Triple main 090, 099, 108. Yard 072. Sidings 072 and 054.
For all of my 022 switches, curves on my 4 reverse loops and most of my curves: 031.
However, I have some sections of 042, 054 and 072 curves.
O72
0-90, soon to be 0-99
Layout = 8' by 24', largest radius curve = 072.
072
11 X 14' layout; max is 0-90, min is 1/2 section of 0-72 on innermost loop.
072
On my 6-1/2' x 12', O-72 largest. Also a O-48 & O-36 ovals all FasTrack.
Ross 112, min 072. 054 in diesel service area where larger not needed.
042
Atlas O81 sectional, O137 flex.
Outside loop is O 72.
O-63 max - O-54 min
Some O54. Majority is O31 on a 7 x 7 layout.
Almost all 072 or greater.
054.
O72
O54 minimum
O-60, looking to expand to O-72.
What kills me regarding curves is not the diameter itself (for minimum requirements of rolling stock/engines) but the 6" spacing that most people recommend because of overhang. It makes for a larger footprint of a layout.
O-36, but hoping to expand to O48 sometime in the future.
031 on all 16 or so square feet of it. Better than nothing.
0-42, but hoping to expand to 0-60.
Largest on Mainline: 0-72
Tightest on Mainline: 0-42
All K-Line Super-K Shadow Rail track.
0-72 Fastrack
Mark
O-80
I have an inside loop using O-54
O-72, -63, -54, -27 (for streetcars)
O-72 Outer, O-54 Inner
089 Outside Loop
080 Inside Loop
072 Yards
from O31 to O54, O gauge
O42 to O72, standard gauge
O-72
089 largest 072 smallest maybe a single section of 054 on a siding. Gotta be able to run big scale steam and my Centipedes. Granddaughters Christmas Polar Express 031.
031 on 7x8 layout and 027 on test track.
Essentially O72 minimum.
Which is how I managed RRTrack through the design process. There are lots of places where more generous radii were used if possible. It's been nearly 20 years since design/construct. RRTrack is/was on the hard drive of about 3 computers ago. My septuagenarian memory is deserting me more each day. I believe the largest radius used in one corner (accommodating access to the house electrical panel) was O128.
Bigger is better, of course. (WRT model railroading track radii and beer steins, especially!) I'd probably still be in HO using 40" radius minimum on the mains if it weren't for the aforementioned trappings of age. That would've given equivalent appearance of O scale equipment on O160 curves...the stuff of dreams. There's compromise in everything. We do what we can with what we've got....eh?
FWIW, always.
KD
Most of it: 072 GG/Ross/Curtis.
A bit in yards: Lionel tubular 042 (not much selection when I built this).
All switches are GG 0-100; except: 4 GG 0-72 and one Ross 8-way yard set.
All track and switches are painted.
While bigger is most certainly better, my layout which is 36" wide by 17 ' long had to fit into a long skinny alleyway in the room I had available. So I am also a bit of a traditionalist and use 3 rail tubular track (I purchased all new from both Menards and MTH) . The "outside" loop is Lionel "0 gauge" of 31" diameter but at the apex of the curve I have a single straight of 5" to give me some extra width. My inner loop " 0-27" and is pretty much left as is. I use appropriate switches for each loop, 022 on outside and (i don't remember Lionel #) but 0-27 on the inside loop. See picture view.
Best wishes and good luck with your layout.
Don
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054 in an 11x11 room
