The tightest N gauge curves...

[The Next Station Is...]

16.5mm radius curves in N gauge!

 

 

And if you check out the user's other videos, there are some even crazier examples. Would I be right in assuming that a custom motor chassis would be needed to negotiate such insane curves?

[IST]

Quite bizarre, especially with this speed.

[kvp]

No special motor is needed just a single standalone powered bogie, fixed to the loco shell. One such unit is sold as a power unit for the tiny chosi railway deki3 locomotive and he has that exact loco on some of the layouts. Alternatively, you can mod a small 3 axle locomotive, by removing the wheel farthest from the motor. This way, you get a small 2 axle motorised frame. In some models, you can remove the middle axle and add a blank gear to power the front wheel. In case of the small black steam locomotive, he is cheating, by only placing the two rear axles on the rails and letting the front one hang in the air, but that only works on a perfect circle. Adding some serious gauge widening at the curves also help, thanks to the wide wheels found on most model trains. The problem is coupling, since normal couplers won't work and in some cases, where the curve diameter is less than the length of the engine, no trailer can can be used at all, since it would just go backwards, instead of going through the curve.

[railsquid]

That's quite a spectacle.

[E6系]

Quite a sight !

[railsquid]

Interesting case study.

[railsquid]

The developer was a true visionary, focussed on his goals. Fortunately his ideas weren't too much engineered to tank.