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Can I Convert Track Plans from One Track Brand to Another?
Steven asks:
I have track plans using Atlas track. I already have some Bachmann EZ Track. Is there any way I can convert an Atlas track plan to using EZ Track?
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You should be able to convert most track is compareable. You may need to adjust for the road be stiffness but it should not be a problem.
I have found that different brands of track only approximate each other in track section length, turnouts, curve radi and so on. So, one brands track plan would not be an exact fit for another brand track. By some jimmeying, I have been able to make working layouts by mixing brands of track. The most useful trick has been cutting half sections of one brand and epoxying it to similar half section of another brand, making a connection between the two brands.
YES (Sorry to shout) Published track plans are there for you to get ideas, not prescriptions. Peco, Hornby and Bachmann set track components are all interchangeable. I’m not exactly sure, but I think Atlas also follows the same geometry. Some of the track with integrated ballast would be more difficult, but not impossible to mix with the above brands
From what I understood of your question, this should answer your question.
If you were thinking of using a track layout design, say of a ‘HO’ layout and want to duplicate it in ‘N’ scale. Yes, you can do so, but you need to take into consideration that ‘N’ scale is just a tad over half size of ‘HO’ scale. So you would need to take the general dimensions of the ‘HO’ scale layout and divide it by 2 and then add a bit more to equal the proper ‘N’ scale. So a 4′ by 8′, ‘HO’ layout could be duplicated in ‘N’ scale, in an area of about 2.5′ by 4.5′. Or if you found a interesting layout design in ‘N’ scale but want to model it in ‘O’ scale. What you’ll need to do is basically double the ‘N’ scale dimensions, and then double the dimensions of the first “doubled” dimensions from the original ‘N’ scale layout. So to duplicate a 3′ by 7′, ‘N’ scale layout in ‘O’ scale, the area that would be needed would be about 14′ by 30′ in size.