Take a look at this prototype brochure, posted on another thread... http://www.gbrx.com/PDFtecbulletins/GenFreight73CPDropDeck.pdf Note the "Curve Negotiability Radius", with uncoupled, coupled to a like car, and coupled to a 40' base car. Also note that the 256 foot version is about 19" radius in N Scale. Maybe the way the prototype advertises is good for the model. A model could say "coupled to like car, 13 inch", "coupled to 40' base car: 19 inch". Wadda ya think?
I always thought that would be a good idea Leo. If they advertise on online stores and made reference on the jewel case " min radius required 19 inch" or something. That way no one could complain their rolling stock won't negotiate a curve...or looks like crap doing so. Maybe a manufacture will take note and start doing so. It can only help the modeler and the hobby...thnxs
From a newbie's point of view it would be very useful! It seems to be one of those things that is never widely published and not usually included in the manufacturers specs, I usually end up googleing for it, only to come up with conflicting answers...
Thank you for this. Although there is some variation in the radius that our kits can negotiate depending on the location of coupler mount and coupler style - the kits usually have a 'recommended' coupler. We will try this out with our new kits coming out soon. It will certainly be an issue with the ribbon rail which is now being produced, as trying to tun a consist round too tight a radius will cause too much 'whip' and derail the flat cars. We will try to insert the details into the new car details. Peter Peter Harris N Scale Kits N Scale Kits
Manufacturers will advertise the attributes of a product that they think will sell more, not fewer, copies of that product.
it is always better to inform customers the full details/specs of a product than to make them guess and/or buy the item and be disappointed. regardless ... this kind of information would be cool to have for new releases and would differentiate a manufacturer from the others.
That holds true for more than just the minimum radius, pulling power, ease of DCC conversion are just a couple of things often kept from us until we buy a loco. The manufacturers shouldn't produce locos with attributes that would make them not sell. Minimum radius though, should be displayed prominently on the box, that way rollingstock that has no business running round nine inch radius curves need not be designed with compromises to scale appearance so that it can.
