Performance on sharp curves.

[Keikyu]

Alright, I am curious on how well trains perform when the curve is relatively sharp. I have the Kato superelevated set which has curves that are 381mm and 414mm. Trains go around those pretty smoothly, but they take up alot of space.

 

So I am wondering how well things like Blue car carriages and commuter trains would perform on smaller Kato curves than what I have. For now specifically I am meaning 282mm and 315mm but I am also wondering how well they would work on 249mm curves as that would save a load of space.

 

I did some searching but I couldn't find much helpful so I decided to ask. Thanks.

 

 

[Martijn Meerts]

They should run fine, but the sharper the curve, the slower you should run through them. The sharper curves also don't usually have super elevated versions, so if you want that, you'll have to do your own custom version.

 

The biggest issue with the sharp curves is that it just looks rather silly, especially when going from straight track into the curve. That can be partially solved by easing some easement curves though, so you start with for example a 381mm section, then 282mm sections, and then another 381mm section at the end of the curve.

[katoftw]

Shinkansen 315mm or bigger.

 

Anything else will run on 249mm and 282mm fine.  I only use 249mm-348mm curves.

 

I do find a top heavy metal mech like from a EF210 or similar will tip over at full speed, ie in the red.  But then that isn't normal/suitable running speeds is it?  Blame the kids.

[Keikyu]

Nah I wasn't looking for super elevated curves, just normal ones. So having them go slower is a fair enough trade off for having some more space to fit stuff in.

 

I was more looking at the blue train cars I was running the other day. i was looking into something more than a simple oval but in less space than the super elevated set but I can use 282 and 315mm fine for what i have planned out. I just didn't want any derailing or ridiculous lookingness and i don't have any 249mm track on me to test it out myself.

 

Thanks. it sounds like it will be fine with 282 and 315 as long as I am careful with it.

[Mudkip Orange]

You can get 282/315 superelevated curves just like the 414/381s.

 

Blue train cars with Kato couplers will run fine on 282. Blue train cars with Rapidos will take 249 easily.

[Keikyu]

You can get 282/315 superelevated curves just like the 414/381s.

 

Blue train cars with Kato couplers will run fine on 282. Blue train cars with Rapidos will take 249 easily.

 

Oh they do make super elevated 282 and 315. I don't know how i missed that but what was disappointing me was losing the elevated curves by using smaller curves. Thanks.