Hey, everyone. If there is a way to get a spectrum 2-8-0 to run on Micro Engineering code 40 flextrack, can you throw some suggetsions my way?
It sounds like you are experiencing what I am going thru having to accept that the lower the Code # on your track, the chance of wheel flanges on certain trains, sometimes your favorite trains, do not allow for it to be run. I cannot imagine going any lower than Code 55, that is really pushing it, just MHO ! fatalxsunrider43
Yeah, this has been a constant issue for me. The SD&AE's rail is actually close to code 70 or code 55 in HO scale! I'd be fine with atlas code 55, but I am hopefully optimistic for my steamers and code 40. Oddly enough, my spectrum 2-8-0's wheels have REALLY tiny flanges (about a millimeter or less), and considering the spectrum 2-8-0 can be kitbashed into pretty much every SD&AE steamer I'd ever need, this just might work out in my favor...
From what I remember about code sizes, code 70 is 0.070" tall, no matter what scale. 0.070" is the same no matter if it's HO or N. It's proportionately taller in N because N is smaller.
D'oh! I meant "code 70 or 55 on HO track". I knew that code doesn't change, only the apparent size of the rail due to scale. Sorry I made that confusing.:mwacko:
No, BUT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR!!!!!!:w20z6q::w20z6q::w20z6q::w20z6q: (LOL pharmaceutical dance party) THANK YOU THANK YOU YOU THANK YOU!!!!!! I'm totally using ME code 40 on my next layout!!! for sidings & spurs, anyway... code 55 main & turnouts are still OK in my book
Well I could not answer your basic question, but here is a little additional information. If you use handlaid rail, even MTL Pizza Cuters will run without hitting the ties. This was shown to be true by the Balboa Park (?) train layout down there somewhere in San Diego. It is quite easy to handlay track now due to the fixtures and tools from Fast Tracks. Your approach to using Code 55 on the mainlines and Code 40 on the sidings and spurs is exactly what I am doing. The one thing I have found with the Code 40 flex, is that a lot of Atlas locomotives, even recent releases, will hit the ties or the tie's nail heads, while others like the Kato locomotives with the low profile drivers will not. I was prepared for the change out of all of the oversized wheel sets, but now, when locomotives like the MP15 and the GP38-2's also hit the track, made me drop flex track and switch to handlaid. This actually was a happy accident because I used the Fast Tracks siding and branchline jigs with the different tie spacing than the main. And boy I have to say I like what I see with that. Regardless of the brand of Code 55 track you decide to use, you will want to look at using Fast Tracks turnouts. From what I have seen in your many posts, you should have no problems with building turnouts. They will be much smoother and operate a lot better than the commercial turnouts from Atlas, Peco, ME and anyone else. And you have the ability to use the turnout you want, and not compromise with the factory limited selection. The pride of my track that I will be installing soon, is a set of #12 mainline crossovers. Very sweet, and passenger cars can run through a full speed with no worries if derailing unless the wheels are way out of gauge. Nothning Atlas or Peco make come close. So I hope you enjoy your adventure using mixed rail sizes, I surely am! :thumbs_up::thumbs_up:
I'll second that. They are wonderful. No dips of wheels running through frogs. They are a brilliant piece of engineering and your turnouts turnout perfect every time.
Have you checked your guages and alignments? Wheel spacing can lead to many problems. Did you bend the track wrong? Have you tested your track with a steel straightedge? Very few items from the factory are perfect, they're still made by humans.
