Perhaps, I will be the odd man out but me thinks you guys who like the solid side on the outside with the slide side (gapped Atlas Flex) on the inside of the curve might want to to go back and check your track with a NMRA gauge. Atlas flex track has a solid side while the other side is gapped. When laying flex track I always put the solid side on the inside of the curve and the gapped side on the outside. Should I forget and do this in reverse, the track starts to tighten up/ pulling inward and my equipment will try to climb up and out of the track. With regard to squaring off the ends when joining to another section of rail. I seldom square off my rail joints preferring instead to overlap them by about three inches. That way I don't get Ie., "<>" this kind of a joint. Poor description, I admit but that's the best I got's for illustration purposes. Instead I end up with a smooth joint keeping to the curve and keeping the track in gauge. This discussion isn't new and has been argued both ways for years. I learned my technic from a article in the Model Railroad wig wag back in 1972 to 1974 (oops that would be 1962 through 1964) and built my finest HO layout following these recommendations. I must admit the layout operated the smoothest of all my HO layouts with little or no derailments. I've continued this practice with my N scale railroads. And, with layouts I have built for friends in N scale. It also works for O or S scale although harder to find Atlas Flex in these scales...still the idea works. The article (I referred to) or one like it may have resurfaced during the mid 70's as this has been a contested issue for years. The theory is: The outside (gapped side of the Atlas Flex) rail will slide and the ties as they spread will look prototypical and will hold the gauge of the rail better then if they are all bunched up together. Perhaps another way to say this: Ties... bunched up together and the track pulls inward. It's worked for me and solved many a problem not only for my railroads but for my friends model railroads. So give it a try and let me know what you think. Now... you will excuse me while I duck and cover. Edited add on: When I built my HO scale layout with the new atlas flex track it didn't have a gapped side. I had to hand cut the gaps into the ties...loads of fun. I yelled (a lot) back then, stating: If you are going to make flex track... make one side solid and the other gapped. We got it... what a difference it makes. Have fun! Try it you might like it...better! Grin!!
This has been argued time and again. The simple fact is that when you bend a section of track both rails tend to move away from the center point of the curve. If the sliding rail is on the inside of the curve it will tend to move toward the outer rail which does not move, thus narrowing the gauge. Conversely if the sliding rail is on the out side of the curve it still tends to move outward widening the gauge as the inner rail cannot move. Try it and do the measurements and you will see. AL
I just put this thread into the How To Forum. A little late, I know. It may save some modelers a few pieces of flex track as someone suggested. The consensus thus far in this thread is sliding rail or gapped ties on the inside with a few who say it doesn't matter.
Thanks, Flash! I work with very broad curves most of the time, so it doesn't really matter. I still put the sliding rail to the inside, so that the ties converge tighter on the inside, rather than expanding on the outside.
I agree with pete nolan, I have always put the sliding rail on the inside, so that the ties bunch together on the inside and aren't "unrealistically" spread apart on the outside-and usually most seen part-of the curve.
Whoa, back up the truck, someone agrees with me!:tb-err: Just kidding! Under normal curves, I've never heard of a gauge problem with flex track due to the orientation of the sliding rail. I've heard of the potential, but never an actual case. If I now hear of one hundred cases, well, great, we've finally got an answer! I do it for looks, and looks alone.
Mighty discerning eye there, Pete. You can see the difference on very broad curves? I can hardly see it on 10" curves. Post us a picture please. Regards Al
One of the peculiarities of Peco code 55 flex track (imbedding the rail into the ties) makes the gaps between the ties pretty obvious IMHO. So for that reason I always try to put the gaps to the side that is harder to see from the front of the layout. Depending on which way the turn goes the gaps maybe on the inside or outside of the curve. Brian
