Curves with LGB flexitrack

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playmofire

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I use, on separate layouts, LGB track and Playmobil plastic track. Space is tight and a half circle of Playmobil track comes in at under 48 inches. A half circle of LGB R1 track comes in at, if memory serves me right, something like 52 inches. I, ideally, would like to have LGB track which would

Now the questions are, can LGB flexitrack be bent to the Playmobil diameter and will it need to be held, e.g. pinned down, in place to maintain the curve?
 
playmofire said:
I use, on separate layouts, LGB track and Playmobil plastic track. Space is tight and a half circle of Playmobil track comes in at under 48 inches. A half circle of LGB R1 track comes in at, if memory serves me right, something like 52 inches. I, ideally, would like to have LGB track which would

Now the questions are, can LGB flexitrack be bent to the Playmobil diameter and will it need to be held, e.g. pinned down, in place to maintain the curve?
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I use a home-made railbender if I want to bend the LGB track. Most of the original line of mine utilises the 1500mm flex track. None of mine is fastened down (apart from sections on trestles.
 
I have several portable layouts on 4 ft wide boards & use R1 curves. I just gently ease in the track & pin it down & then cut the end off. I have not had problems running.The only thing to watch is overhang as I put an edge around the boards & have had steps & footboards catch.
 
Flex track is not ideal at sharp curvature. It is difficult to get a continuous smooth curve and the gauge can become irregular - even with a rail bender. Most people seem to use set track for sharper curves. As Mike suggests, curves can be compressed a bit by just easing in each joint but you will probably need to fix it down.
 
dutchelm said:
This is built with R1 curves on a 4 ft wide board. 11 curves to a circle. See if you can spot the kinks.
Second advantage is that train set curves are cheaper than flexitrackView attachment 219565
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Wondered how you managed it, the cat is now out of the bag! Great stuff.
JonD
 
The tightest radius track I could find was Aristo which fits onto a 4' board for an around the Christmas tree layout. Not sure if Aristo still make it tho'.
My biggest problem is getting stock which will cope wuth the tight radius. The v small LGB Summer Coaches clash the roof corners, so far, only Hartland two axle wagons go round and even then I have to file down the coupling hook webs to allow greater flexibility otherwise they tend to derail.
I think Hartland used to do a 'track around a barrel' which was tight radius. I could never find it on sale anywhere.
 
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