"Helix"

[Ian MacMillan]

Anyone here build a helix?

I need to build one for a section that has some limited space. Although I don't really consider this a true helix as its only 1.5 turns, I've never built one before. I think I pretty much have grade down, but looking for others experiences.

I'm thinking that a 24" radius should be ok for hidden track with the longest car being 89' flats. (Min visible radius is 33")

[rswinnerton]

Ian,
You may want to bump that up a bit. Maybe 30". It all depends on train lengths. Longer trains need bigger helixes. My old layout had 22". Used to stringline my spine cars on a regular basis. Ofcourse now I have DCC and could add helpers!
Russ

[Sokramiketes]

Tim Horton's been sharing photos of his on SNFF, and it looks to be constructed from all-thread and lasercut panels.  Maybe ask him for particulars?  (Or search the archive, maybe he mentioned it already)  It looked pretty slick.

You can also read about Rich Weyand's massive helix here:
http://users.rcn.com/weyand/tractronics/helix/hlxartcl.htm

[John]

I am using 36" diameter on my N .. and I think it is too small

[dnhouston]

Tim Horton did a nice writeup on his helix over on Scalerailsonline http://www.scalerailsonline.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3151

[Ian MacMillan]

Russ, I definitely can not do 30" in this spot. 24" is right at the limit. The grade would be about 2%, and the trains would have helpers as it is a modeled helper section.  I'll have to do some tests with the 24"s.

I looked at Tims, damn that is nice. I will have to try and give some test parts a shot when my laser shows up.