VJandP - Getting Started

There is unfortunately no answer to "how unyielding is Fastrack".  Even with computer software, different settings in the program will produce different "fit".

A few other points:

The bigger the loop you are trying to connect, the more you will be able to fudge.

Fastrack cannot be pushed together any tighter than its actual length

There is very often a way to make things fit better by using many sections with different lengths of straight between different radii of curves, etc.  This gets inconvenient and expensive!

Vin, thanks for sharing more about your goals.   I essentially agree with LongHair's comments about fudging FasTrack, it depends.  For this size layout, to connect tracks in the real world, it's possible to make the joints fairly tight compared to what SCARM might indicate as one or two instances of +or - 1/8" discrepancies lengthwise.

When making tracks align in SCARM laterally and angularly, I prefer to find combinations that result in near perfect alignment.  Especially when working with different curve diameters in the same plan, trying different combinations of lengths and curve angles eventually results in alignment.

This all translates to SCARM settings as: Settings - Edit - Tolerances: Distance 0.15", Angle ~2.5 degrees

Something I use that speeds up this process is the attached spreadsheet.  Here's a sampling of what it looks like:

As far as your revised plan, I've worked on it a bit to improve the alignment, the biggest changes were substituting O72 RH Switches in place of O60's at the crossover and adding missing 1-3/8" isolation pieces at some of the switches.  The rest is just alignment and clearance related.  Note that in the image below, I've turned on the Show Roadbed feature in SCARM settings.  This makes it more obvious when adjacent tracks are too close or overlapping.  That was the case with the right hand spur in the yard on the right, so I substituted a O60 curve for the O72 just before the bumper.

When working with SCARM, I found it's online help combined with experimentation to be the best ways to learn.

Vin, welcome back to the hobby and this forum.  IT looks like Steve and Long Hair have covered a lot of what you are asking.  I'll look forward to seeing how it turns out.

@SteveH. Another huge thank you for your time and effort.  Now I know the tolerances can be adjusted and that there’s a “show roadbed” option.  Definitely good things to know.  The tweaked plan looks great.  I’m anxious to download it to my laptop and take a closer look.

@Long Hair Thank you for the Fastrack tips    That makes sense that the bigger the layout the more flooding there is. Similar to using tubular track    I can see how this will get inconvenient and expensive quickly! I’m sure there wouldn’t be anything more frustrating than being so close to finishing a section of track and being short a handful of odd pieces.  A sharp hack was my best friend when I laid the tubular track for my other layouts. LOL

Love this forum!

Vin, I too have gotten frustrated running out of track pieces when finalizing a layout.  Since then, I've patiently looked for good deals and ordered more than I think I'll need.  I'll use the extras eventually.

If you're interested, here's a link to my next major layout plan.  Working on it helped me to become very familiar with SCARM and get some great advice here on OGR.

@VJandP posted:

@SteveH. Another huge thank you for your time and effort.  Now I know the tolerances can be adjusted and that there’s a “show roadbed” option.  Definitely good things to know.  The tweaked plan looks great.  I’m anxious to download it to my laptop and take a closer look.

@Long Hair Thank you for the Fastrack tips    That makes sense that the bigger the layout the more flooding there is. Similar to using tubular track    I can see how this will get inconvenient and expensive quickly! I’m sure there wouldn’t be anything more frustrating than being so close to finishing a section of track and being short a handful of odd pieces.  A sharp hack was my best friend when I laid the tubular track for my other layouts. LOL

Love this forum!

If you're w/in driving distance of an LHS, buy some product and make friends with the owner. If you're a good customer, they may let you buy more track and extra fitment pieces than you will need and then let you return what you don't use for a refund or store credit.   

@SteveH posted:

Vin, I too have gotten frustrated running out of track pieces when finalizing a layout.  Since then, I've patiently looked for good deals and ordered more than I think I'll need.  I'll use the extras eventually.

If you're interested, here's a link to my next major layout plan.  Working on it helped me to become very familiar with SCARM and get some great advice here on OGR.

Your plans look great.  I'll definitely be looking for inspiration on the next layout.

I've already scored some decent deals on eBay.  Most recently an estate sale of 120+ pieces of fast track, looked to be mostly 10" straight, a bunch of 30" straight, and a bunch of various misc sized straight pieces.  With shipping, it works out to about $3 on average for a section with the smaller sections being offset by the 30" pieces and a turn out or 2.

I suddenly need more storage . . . 

My only experience with Fastrak is on my Christmas layout.  Some sections don’t quite fit right, but are close enough to work.  I went with GarGraves on the permanent layout, which is tubular.  My track cuts don’t fit any better, no matter how much measuring I did.

@VJandP posted:

Your plans look great.  I'll definitely be looking for inspiration on the next layout.

I've already scored some decent deals on eBay.  Most recently an estate sale of 120+ pieces of fast track, looked to be mostly 10" straight, a bunch of 30" straight, and a bunch of various misc sized straight pieces.  With shipping, it works out to about $3 on average for a section with the smaller sections being offset by the 30" pieces and a turn out or 2.

I suddenly need more storage . . . 

Thanks Vin.  It's was also an exercise in figuring out ways of using every type of FasTrack pieces available all together in the same layout. 

What we all need is a "suggest" feature in software where you highlight two points and the software comes up with ways to connect them.

Sharing an update.   The space in the garage I have is limited and there are some restrictions like the **** pull down ladder above.  The first layout I posted was intended to be a table on casters so it could be pushed out of the way.  Then I thought about doing an L shape around the area where the ladder would drop.

What I've attached here is a potential alternative.  Problem is that it gives me barely 24" to maneuver in front of the workbench.  And the other thing I don't like, with it being so close to the ladder (it would unfold less than 12' ahead of the siding area) a rogue tote could fall off the ladder, which has happened before.

Overall I like the plan but this permanent table layout won't quite fit the bill.

What I did take away from it though is that I'm loosing the outer 072 loop of the first plan to save some space.  Thinking about what I want to do - learning about Lionel Legacy and wiring - I can save the "big engines" for the future layout in the new house.  I don't need to do too much too quickly.   I'll try to keep the outer loop 060 and will drop down to 048 for the inner loop and maybe 036 to incorporate a small yard.

A 12'x8' table on casters so it can be shifted out of the way sounds daunting but right now it's my best option for a decent size and to accommodate the space needed for other activities in the garage.  Still thinking on it.  We'll see what the next track plan looks like and what I want to prioritize and what I want to give up in this "temporary" layout.

Hi Vin- I posted some comments on your electrical thread earlier. Welcome to the Forum and welcome back to the hobby. Lot's to read and plenty of helpful members here so don't be afraid to ask questions.

Bob

I have less space than you, but I gave up on 072 curves when planning as well.  My mainline is 054 and sidings are 042.  I like the second plan better than the one you first posted.  Yes, we all have to work with obstacles.  We have the pool down ladder to the attic in our hallway.  It is a pain to use, and certainly messes with you for layout planning.

O-60 switches have an unusual geometry.  Going from the end with the switch stand, out through the curved side, is the equivalent of one O60 curve plus two 1-3/8" straight sections.  This can be seen in the attached image where a O60 curve plus the two 1-3/8" straights are overlaid on top of an O60 switch with its included stock half roadbed pieces attached.

To use a O60 switch within a basic loop, two 1-3/8" pieces need to be added into the loop symmetrically in 3 locations (shown in orange) for the loop to line up.

The green pieces were changed to make it all fit.  The blue pieces were added to allow independent power control (toggle switches or other) of the individual spurs.

The revised SCARM file is attached.

@SteveH Thank you for tweaking the track plan.   I keep forgetting about the insulating pieces.  In my brain I keep thinking old school and that I’m going to replace the center rail pin with an insulating nylon pin.  :-/

Thank you everyone for your ongoing input!

I’m working on 2 more track plans that I’ll share hopefully this week.   I’m experimenting with plans that have smaller radius curves so I can do more with the inner loop and adding yards and sidings.  Also, I'm playing around with a layout that I remember from a Train Store I frequented as a boy.

So many options

FINALLY !     Between work and holiday activities, haven’t had much time to make any progress. I spent some time in the garage this past weekend building the table -  12’x8’, on casters so it can easily be scooted around.   Immediately became a storage shelf but half of the boxes are things that I purchased for the layout. The rest of it is going to find a home elsewhere in the garage.

I bought some gate handles that I’ll put on the sides to make it easier to grasp when moving.  Plenty of 45° braces at the top of the legs but I’m going to add an extra piece around the bottom above the casters for additional support. Once I drop the sound deadening board on… I’ll be ready for track!

Speaking of track, I still haven’t finalized a plan for the table. But, temporarily I will be putting a couple of loops on just so I can set up a few things and start getting the hang of all this new equipment.

The below 2 pictures are some of my eBay acquisitions and an early Christmas gift to myself… the ZW-L     I’ve had pretty good luck finding a few items that I really wanted on eBay, I’ll share pictures and updates as I set things up.

The two acquisitions I‘m most excited about are 2 Conrail Lionmaster SD80MAC Diesels, #4100 and #4129.   One was still new in the box and the second was lightly used and well taken care of.   Ultimately I want to model 50s and 60s steam and diesel, but I had to have these Conrail locomotives. I grew up watching these blue behemoths pass through Erie, Pennsylvania streets.   Just taking them out of the box put a huge smile on my face. I can’t wait to fire them up, sound the horn, and watch the ditch lights flashing.

This last pic is what started it all. My wife got this Pennsylvania Flyer set for me for our anniversary a couple of months ago. This totally rekindled my flame for the hobby. At one point I told her… I don’t think you realize what you’ve unleashed. I think she does now, sort of… LOL. Wait until we get into the new house and I get my hands on that bonus room.

Thanks for the heads up.   Updated the post. Hopefully the pics show.    I finished the table and will be posting a few more pics.  

I updated and re-added one at a time, saving the post after each upload.  I can see all the pics - again.  Not sure why I see them and they drop off …?  Hopefully they stick this time.  

Updated pic of the table. I added some extra bracing on the legs. Also added some gate handles on each side to make it easy to grab and manipulate. For as big as the table is, it rolls pretty easily on the casters… so much so, I have to make sure I keep the wheels locked or it’ll coast by itself due to the slope of the garage floor.  

You can see I also added the sound deadening board and last but not least, the inaugural loop of track!    I used the wall wart to power up and run the Pennsylvania Flyer around it, and it did fine. I thought it would lose steam, no pun intended, when it got to the far end of the loop but it did fine without having an additional power run connected.  

With some of the discussion I’ve seen about Fastrack, I was expecting lots of echo and vibration and for the sound of the train on the track to be very loud.  I didn’t think it was bad at all.  Granted I’m in a large garage and only had a few cars hooked up…. We’ll see what it sounds like when I get a few more trains going.

One thing I’ve learned already, 072 curves take up space fast! Ultimately, if I was going to be limited to a smaller layout, I would definitely stick with 060 or 048 and lesser diameters.  But for now, this layout is all about catching up and learning. Looking forward to setting up a few more loops and firing up the ZW-L.