xtrack & EZ Track question

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malibu43

malibu43

Active Member
I'm hoping to semi-permanantly fix some EZ track to a 4X8 this year for an "Under the X-Mas" Tree layout. I already have a complete circle in 22" radius and 18" radius track, along with 10 or so straight pieces. At this point, I'm limited to using what I already have, plus maybe a minimum investment in some EZ track turnouts and an additional straight piece or two if needed.

However, after playing around in Xtrack, it seems like the length and width of the EZ track turnouts aren't designed to easily integrate with concentric ovals or parallel tracks. In other words, there are a couple gaps that are left and aren't filled by standard EZ track pieces.

Attached is the bmp of the layout I'm trying to do along with the xtrack file. Is there another combination of EZ track pieces that I'm not seeing that will allow me to accomplish my goal? Or do I need to try something simpler (like the two ovals sharing one straight section and only using two turnouts).

FWIW - The plan is to have my GS4 pull a passenger train around the outside, 22" oval, and have my GP35/GP9 pull a mixed freight load around the 18" oval. The layout is DC, so the loco's won't be on at the same time, but at least I can leave the rolling stock parked on the track while the other train runs. Or, I may insulate the two loops from each other and run them both at the same time. I know niether of these options really neccessitates turnouts or that both loops be connected in any way, but I think it'll make it a little more fun and allow me to do some other stuff if I want. And it will just look cooler :D
 
Edit - Ignore the italic text. Got it to work somehow. Still can't get the concept from my first post to work though...

Anyone have any thoughts on what I posted above? The straight section of the basic EZ track turnout appears to be 9", so it can be easily substituted in for any 9" straight section. I thought that the 18" radius turnout would also match an 18" radius curve piece, but it doesn't see like that is the case (at least according to Xtrack). Is that actually the case with the EZ track pieces, or is it just an artifact of the way that Xtrack models the EZ track pieces?

I tried a simpler layout where the inner and outer oval share one of the straight legs, and I still get the misalignment issue. The gap that's left looks like it could be filled with a 3" piece, but according to Xtrack, it does not fit or match up. See the attachments.

Can an EZ track user confirm any of this for me before I go out and spend money on something that won't work? Or does anyone have any suggestions for alternative layout designs using EZ track that would work with what I already have?

Thanks!
 
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Also, sometimes Xtracad (esp. with Bachman) doesn't allow for what you can do in the real world. Often the tolerances are set to tight. I never got mine to look/act right in the program, but sure enough the trains were going and I was doing what I wanted.
 
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