questions about building in the garden

[Yoda]

Hello,
I am thinking of building a single line around three sides of my garden, but this has raised a couple of questions

What is the minimum radius i could use?
what is the maximum gradient i could get away with?

I am thinking of using the small 4 wheeled locos from IP Engineering or HGLW.

Thanks in advance for any help provided.

[tom_tom_go]

Hi Yoda, and welcome.

If you are only going to run small 0-4-0 battery loco's then you can get away with set track 2ft 6" radius curves from Peco.  I would not attempt to try and curve track yourself down to this radius as it's too tight.  Gradient wise the IP/HGLW locos are light so you would need to go easy with rise/fall of your line.  I would suggest buying the locos first and then testing what they can cope with.

[MDLR]

If you are only going to run small 0-4-0 battery locos then you can get away with set track 2ft 6" radius curves from Peco.  

.................... and if you fit them with 2 axle drive, they will go around Faller E-train 14" radius curves - see my exhibition layout at www.mdlr.co.uk/ff.html or at Elsecar next weekend!

[jay1976]

hglw loco get the twin axle chassis as they pull a lot more(mine pulls 8 mamod wagons ok even on peco set track and even on my slight hill on dry track,greasy wet track is down to 6 mamod wagons, remember peco wagons arent light
I did add 50gramms of stick on wheel weights to mine plus it has 4xAA batterys powering the rc gear which adds a bit of weight and the loco has been abused a bit now pulling stuff really to heavy for it. and its sat up against the buffers flat out with both axles spinning.. 4 year old controller dont help but does show its ok..