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 Posted - March 28 2008 : 06:20:15 AM
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Hello
What is the minimum radius for the GG1 and 6 axel diesels? Thank you.
david
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Posted - March 28 2008 : 11:50:46 AM
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| Rivarossi GG1s and Athearn 6 axle diesels are designed to go around 18" radius curves though with such muscle you'll want as wide as you can go.
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Posted - March 28 2008 : 3:18:03 PM
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There is no “hard and fast” rule for minimum radius, but there are a few good rules of thumb.
Generally, most manufacturers strive to make their models work on 18” radius because that is pretty much the standard train set curve. This is why vintage loco models have goofy things like open pilots, swinging pilots, truck-mounted couplers, and combinations thereof. You also get extreme artistic licenses like the shorty (fake) Tyco GG1.
So, 95% of the time, any given loco will work. Long steam engines are another matter, as are extreme “DD” diesels.
Most newer models designed in the last 10-20 years have paid better attention to realism, so you don’t see as many obvious shortcuts taken for the sake of running on 18” curves. You can get away with it, but 22” is more of a safe minimum.
(That said, I believe I read that Athearn’s new Genesis 4-8-8-4 Challenger can run on 18”….! But that’s sort of like the “minimum requirements” on a box of software: it’ll technically “run”, but you’ll be asking yourself “why bother”…)
Most rolling stock over 60’ in scale length (say 9” in ruler length) will be problematic on 18” curves. Forget about autoracks, 86’ piggies, and full-length passenger cars.
Regardless of operation: The bigger the curve, the better any train looks.
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Posted - March 28 2008 : 10:21:49 PM
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Don't forget that with Tyco truck-mounted couplers, minimum radius is virtually unlimited! So go ahead--run that Super 630 around those 15" curves! But you are right, GIC, I think most of us wish we could have larger-radius curves. My minimum is 18....the 2-6-6-2 works fine, but has some massive overhang! For some reason, the Tycos don't bother me on smaller curves, because that's what they were intended for, and we all have to suspend a lot of reality anyway in so many other areas--That's part of what makes them fun...not so serious!
Edited by - Adams on March 28 2008 10:30:08 PM
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