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Hi I have done a little research and it appears the only curved switch track I can find in N scale is from a company called ROCO. Does anyone else know of anyone that offers curve turnouts? I am using atlas code 80 custom switches to be operated from under the table. I really dont want to put regular remote switches on the layout as I am not fond of the switch machine next to the track. So, any ideas?
ok, I have been all over atlas website and unless I am oding something wrong I do not see curved turnouts in code 55 or code 80. The only ones I have found were by a company called ROCO and I cannot get anyone from the company to email me back to let me know what code they are. So, my search goes on.
Ron, do you mean like this? (http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/150-2058). It's just not out yet but should be out in a month or two. Peco also has code 55 curved turnouts (http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/552-387) and Shinohara
also has them in code 70, which will work fine with code 80 a little shimming. They are being discontinued, however and are getting hard to find. Trix also has some (http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/739-14983) and I think they are the same as the Roco brand. It doesn't give the code size but I'd guess code 80 by the looks of the picture.
I find the Walthers web site an easier way to search for products instead of going to each manufacturer's web site. They will often have items that are in the pipeline but not yet released, while the manufacturer will often not add items until they are released for sale.
ok, I have been all over atlas website and unless I am oding something wrong I do not see curved turnouts in code 55 or code 80. The only ones I have found were by a company called ROCO and I cannot get anyone from the company to email me back to let me know what code they are. So, my search goes on.
Hey folks, thanks for the references! I see a LOT of curve switches but still am not sure if they are code 80. Is it possible, with some fine machine work to ground some code 80 track down to 70 or even 55? What issues would this cause? I am putting all micro trains trucks and couplers on my rolling stock but not sure if the locos would bump. I am not that far into the detail yet.
Thank you Jim and PCarroll for your research, and sorry it took so long to get back, haven't had much time to do much other than read and catch up. Danged ol thing called work.
I wouldn't worry too much. Switching between track codes isn't hard at all.
You can make a transition joiner real easy with a regular metal joiner. Just slip it onto the larger code rail and flatten the end sticking out with some needlenose pliers or something. Then lay the finer code rail on top of the flattened part and look at the rail heights. You want the top of the rails to line up, with no "bump up". You might have to bend the end of the joiner a touch to make that happen. Once you've got 'um lined up, solder it all together and run trains! It should look something like this when you're done. Thats Atlas code 55 & Atlas code 80 rail together.
