Better Bends

If you have curves on your layout heres a quick technique that will make them look better.

Curves are a problem for trains.

Centrifugal forces push the train out and the wheel flanges touch the rails causing friction and wear.

To overcome these problems full size track is banked with the rail on the outside of the curve elevated compared to the inner rail. The rolling stock then tilts inwards countering the centrifugal forces and the wheel flanges don’t rub against the rails. A practice known as superelevation, see the above photo of a superelevation and a train banking on a curve at Dunbar – photo from Wikipedia.

On our model railways we don’t need to worry about shifts in the centre of gravity and uncomfortable rides for passengers or wear on wheel flanges. On model railways superelevation is purely cosmetic and purely for looks, giving a more pleasing look as the trains lean into bends.

To achieve this look, cut strips of card to roughly one third of the sleeper length in width and to the curvature of the track bend and and glue them to the baseboard where the sleepers on the outside edge of the track will fall. If you take a strip of card and cut V’s along the length you’ll then be able to bend it to match the curve. Alternatively, just cut it into short strips and place them under track one after another.

The exact thickness of the card depends on the gauge you’re working with.

For OO, approximately 1mm to 2mm will do. On my N gauge layout, I use between .25 and .5 of a mil depending on the angle I want. For other gauges, scale these up proportionately to the gauge. There’s a handy illustration of the different inclines and how they look on an N-scale layout here.

One tip, give your different rolling stock a trail run before finally fixing the track down. Too step a cant can result in trains falling off the track which neither you or the tiny passengers will appreciate.

One final thought, just as trains don’t like transitioning from straight to curve, suddenly introducing a banked rail won’t be appreciated by your rolling stock either. Slice the card being used into thiner strips and place this under easement curves or on the straight before the curve starts so both the curvature and height of outside rail elevation builds up slowly – sudden changes horizontally or vertically are prime cause of derailing.

With the track super-elevated your rolling stock will lean into corners and look much better. Give a go, you won’t be disappointed.

> A final, personal, note: I spend a huge amount of time testing, photographing, writing and researching techniques for these articles and pay for all the running costs of MRE out of my own pocket. If you found this article useful you can support me by making a donation on my fund-raising page. Thanks and happy modelling, Andy.
 

Andy Leaning

Andy is a lifelong modeler, writer, and founder of modelrailwayengineer.com. He has been building model railways, dioramas, and miniatures for over 20 years. His passion for model making and railways began when he was a child, building his first layout at the age of seven.
Andy’s particular passion is making scenery and structures in 4mm scale, which he sells commercially. He is particularly interested in modelling the railways of South West England during the late Victorian/early Edwardian era, although he also enjoys making sci-fi and fantasy figures and dioramas. His website has won several awards, and he is a member of MERG (Model Railway Electronics Group) and the 009 Society.
When not making models, Andy lives in Surrey with his wife and teenage son. Other interests include history, science fiction, photography, and programming. Read more about Andy.