Flexi Track

[intercity112255]

Can I ask you something? How tight can the flexi track go? I have a small 0-4-0 pug and I'd like to make a really small layout.

[ay76]

@intercity112255 Wouldn't suggest going tighter than 1st radius. But if you want to go tighter, then it's a case of experimenting to see what will or won't work.

[wattass7]

thanks for that, have you ever heard of PECO S100X concrete sleeper track, i no there is that track but its not listed as s100x, any idea what the x is for its not in peco catalouges in fact cant find it anywhere , yet somone is flogging 25 lenths new , and its written on the box, any ideas would appreciate it mate, i really want to know if its compatible with code 100 and peco set track

[ay76]

@wattass7 Sorry no not heard of s110x. Best to take that one up with the seller?? Try the likes of Hattons or the model sups that Peco list as their dealers. I use peco code 100 streamline concrete flexi track, & it is compatible with code 100 peco & Hornby set track.

[wattass7]

hi ay, im pulling up all my track to replace with this code 100, im going to get tracksetta 24, 30, 36, for my three track radius, in your opinion are these bends ok for running lima hornby bachman locos, and is this very easy to do , at the min i made the mistake of putting down a rite mix of track and some track is higher than outhers so when loco goes over it like jumps a bit etc, so whats this track like for bending with tracksetta, thanks ....hugh

[ay76]

@wattass7 With the loco's best to go for any radius 2nd radius upwards. Those you list here, should be okay. Very easy to do, make sure you do a transition curve from the straight into the actual radius your bending. Peco flexi track works very well with these track templates. Money well spent if you do get these templates. Cheers.

[Spectrewing]

What is the tightest a track can turn?

[ay76]

@Spectrewing More of a case of what is the tightest radius your loco's can run through.

[Spectrewing]

@ay76 What is the radius for my 0-6-0 switcher? Sorry about this I am new to this hobby.

[ay76]

@Spectrewing Switcher or as we say over here Shunter. Check with the manufacturer of it, as to which minimum (tightest) radius curve they recommend it can cope with. Personally i wouldn't run any thing tighter than either 2nd (2nd Radius 438mm arc 22.5°) or 3rd radius ( 3rd Radius 505mm arc 22.5°) settrack type curves ( the likes of by Hornby or Peco). Also it depends on what your track plan requires. Cheers.

[gtacrusher123]

flexi track is realy good i use them for the straight's and weird curves (my sidings) but use the normal track for the curves

[jackontheweb]

can the track bend down and up

[jackontheweb]

can the track bend down

[ay76]

@jackontheweb Yes, as seen on the incline ramp on my other layout videos.

[JBofBrisbane]

@jackontheweb - that's called a "vertical curve".

[80rvp]

he he i remember watching this video a few months ago, i found the template at my local hobby store in the corner, cheers for the tip otherwise i wouldnt of found it :D i can finally straighten my flexi again as if i just bought it :D

[ay76]

@80rvp Cool, nice one. Regards :-)

[jmsschooner]

@ay76

i want that particular one

[ay76]

@jmsschooner okay.

[jmsschooner]

i want the book with the lillybank layout u made a while back

that would be a dream

[ay76]

I'm surprised you've not gone & bought a copy of it yet!! Try ebay uk & look for Hornby 7th edition track plan book. There's one for sale, amongst many others. The track plan for lillybank was based on the one on page 29 plan 19/7, from that very book in front of me now. Before you ask i'm not emailing it, as my scanner has packed up. Think edition number 6 was pretty good. The latest edition something like 12th has a good few plans & ideas in it.

[infernodood3]

looks nice how you have laid it but seriously you have no idea how much i hate flexi track for making curves

[ay76]

@infernodood3 Using these templates, makes it a lot easier to do. Really dose take the hassle & guess work away, when doing the curves etc. They do different radius templates, so there should be one to suit your layout plan. Regards.

[infernodood3]

@ay76 yea, but the thing i find a pain the most is when you make a curve causing one of the rails to be shorter than the other and you have to mess about making sure you are accurate so that when you join it to the next section of track you dont have a huge gap

[ay76]

@infernodood3 Know what you mean.If you watched that Model Town series on Sky tv. They showed another method of doing staggered joints on curve's. I've tried this, & makes for better running around curves. Maybe an idea for another how to video?? Cheers.

[infernodood3]

@ay76 no problem mate, your vids are brilliant and useful, yeah go for it i would surely be the first one to watch it! :)

[ay76]

@infernodood3 Okay will put that on the to do list. Cheers.

[JBofBrisbane]

@infernodood3 - get yourself a Xuron cutter (Google it) and cut the long rail to length.

[ay76]

@JBofBrisbane As shown in one of my other videos.

[jmsschooner]

can u use this for non flexi track

[ay76]

For flexi track.

[ay76]

@jmsschooner Have you got round to buying any track plan books or DVD's on building layouts??

[TheGamerguy10]

can the track bend upwards?

[ay76]

@TheGamerguy10 yes, when taking it on to the start of an incline as well as down wards for the top of the incline.

[TheGamerguy10]

@ay76 Thanks for that!

[ay76]

@TheGamerguy10 Your welcome.

[cech1444]

With the Hornby Flexi Track, is there a semi-flexi one and a flexi one?

i got one the other day and im not sure how to use it... Sounds a bit stupid... i got the fishplates... its just that one rail is always longer than the other.

[ay76]

@cech1444 Yes they do both. When you bend it, one rail will go longer than the other. With the longer rail, cut it to length to suit after bending & marking out where to cut it. Also worth buying a proper pair of track cutters. Check out Hornbys track plan books, in them there is a section in the back that shows a way to go about installing flexi track.

[Fisher387]

how do i get or make templates?

[ay76]

@Fisher387 Have a look at the link in the video discription box, or google / bing Tracksetta track templates. Cheers.

[tallengineer2320]

hi this is john where do you get the templates? cant seem to find them around here in pennslyvainia do have a place that i can order them through mail order? thanks great vidio ....john

[farisjoomun]

where did u get it from

[ay76]

My local model shop.Most good model shops should sell them. Cheers (Check the link in the lower part of the video description box.)

[pyronathanpyro]

ah yes i sea

[gcrebel2008]

Didnt even know they made such. Gonna have to try them out.

[ay76]

Cool, let me know how you get on. Cheers.

[nially69]

at the end mate u say about lifting the template off and moving on. Is it ok to nail a section and then simply just slide the template along, nail that section and move it on again?

[ay76]

Yes, that's correct. I use the thicker Peco (i think Hornby now do thicker type pins) track pins. Kind regards.

[qujzdotyjpl]

What is this function, I`m croucious.

[ay76]

These "Tracksetta" track templates are tools for making model railway (railroad) curves to various radius's. So using these you can custom make curves to suit any track plan. Also saves money too.Cheers.

[HornbyTrainsChannel]

hi

i was wondering if u know wat the points are that look like the x track

[guitar200900]

Good Video

[ay76]

Thank you, hope it was of help. Cheers.

[MrAnnonumous]

hi i don't have none of those and getting some flexi track and don't have to money to get them so how would i make it straight and also i got fishplates but don't know if you get them. one more question do you need to cut the track or if its ok the size can you lay it thanks

[ay76]

For straight track up could use a a long piece of straight wood placed along side track. flexi track usually dosen't come with the fishplates(rail joiners), so having a pack or two of the fishplates is a worth having. The last question depends on what your track plan is like. On mine there is long straights, so the section of flexi track used for them dosen't need cutting. For the bends you'll find that you'll need to cut the track to fit. Cheers.

[MrAnnonumous]

well mine are going to be long straight i got just enough fishplates 12 because i am getting 6 pieces of track and i am going to use pre - made curves out of sets thanks for the answers and should i leave a gap how big would you say cheers again

[ay76]

For the gap i leave around 1-2mm.Cheers.

[MrAnnonumous]

does it still work

[ay76]

It worked okay with no problems on the last layout, & so far is working okay on the new one. Cheers.

[Doubledig]

Hi mate, I see you have cork under the track in some sections. Are you going to use cork under all the track or only at certain areas?

[ay76]

On the main layout on the upper level base boards (still to be built ) It'll all have Cork sheet under the track. Only used in certain bits on the lower level you see here for some of the points & also to raise the track on to the ends of the bridge. Cheers.

[stevehill28]

Where can u get these track setters? who sells them on the web?

[stevehill28]

hi looks like a good way of doing it. where can u get the TRACK SETTERS?

[thetrainman407]

awesome video! i dont use those straighteners, i fel its unessesary. have not so straight track give the railroads character :D

[ay76]

Cool. I like the long sweeping s curves that i've seen on some layouts. Wish i had more space to do that on this layout. Oh hum....

Cheers.

[branchlinedisaster]

thats good, because i use them aswell, but i have a problem, the majority of my track is hornby track and other flexi wont work, but ive seen peco concreate track works with hornby track, what would you recommend i do?

[ay76]

The Peco flexi track should be compatible with Hornby, I also have the Peco Concrete track too (going on the upper level).I did a test board using Peco Concrete track mixed with some Hornby track & found no problems at all.If you want to go for the modern style of track, I'd go for the concrete style track.About to up load the track cutter video for you. Cheers.

[branchlinedisaster]

lain do you cut your flexi track? of so how?

[ay76]

Going to do a video to show how i cut it. I use Xeron track cutters. Cheers.

[ewsdneax61eaxe10]

Hi iain, can you recommend a book on how to plan/create layouts in step-by-step guide? Ta.

[peggey707]

thanks for the info, but whats the best way of cutting flexi track

[mststv]

Ive got this, thats what most of the curves on my layout is !

[ay76]

Great stuff, which radius ones are you using? cheers.

[mststv]

Dunno mate, my dad put them in  :)

[ay76]

Okay.Cheers.

[Bondy1980]

good work again, i use those track templates as well for my curves, the 36 radius 1!

[ay76]

Great stuff, saw a 40" one this morning in my local model shop.....now if I can just rework part of the track plan!! cheers.

[mecrazy5]

can you explain the difference in radeii to me please, i am a little confunded!

[hornbyrailway2008]

great video, i like it, lots of good infomation 5* for you Iain

[ay76]

Glad it's been of some help.Cheers.

[bronzeonion]

they look handy btu Im not gona try flexi track yet

[ay76]

They are very handy, & well worth buying if you are using flexi track.Cheers.

[jaannetts16]

hey are very handy i was going to buy some but i desided not too.

[ay76]

Worth getting, I wouldn't be with out them now. Cheers.

[mallard290]

nice iain im thinking of buying flexi track

[ay76]

Many thanks Brandon. Works out good value for money flexi track. I use Peco Streamline, but go for what suits you best.Cheers.

[MrAnnonumous]

hi that really helped me. i saw those things in other video's of your but did not know what they were. i was dreading laying flexi track incase the radius was to tite for the train but i will probably get some of them also today my layout was extended to 12ft by 10ft cya

[ay76]

Many thanks. Well worth getting, I wouldn't be without them now. Using these templates makes it so much easier. Glad this video has helped.Good to hear you have extended your layout.Cheers.