Making / buying a curved platform for N gauge

[potatan]

Does anyone have links to instructions to make an N gauge curved platform? I can't seem to find a kit or prebuilt one for "N"

I'd prefer to buy one ready made or kit form if anyone has a link to one.

Thanks!

[aleopardstail]

Metcalfe do a kit, though its very much a scratch building kit (its flat sheets). not sure there are curved pre-made ones in N the way there are in OO

they are not too hard to make, set track helps as you know the geometry so its really just the Metcalfe kit, a pencil and a way to draw reasonably large radius curves then cut with scissors

note its easy to practice this with 2mm grey card. the key bit is how high you want it, and how far back from the rails. normal way to work it out is to stick the card on something, drop a bit of track over the top - mark where the track is. hold a pencil on the end of the longest coach you want to run and move it around the track to draw a line (this for the platform outside the curve, for inside the same but with the pencil in the middle)

that should give space to run the coach with the thickness of half a pencil clearance. once you have done that over a bit of the track measure from the track centre to your line, find out the track radius (will be on the PECO website somewhere), add the distance to your line and thats the radius curve you want

you can then draw that more accurately on bits of card.

note, if you make cuts between sections as lines perpendicular to the track you can make your own sectional platforms as well

[potatan]

Metcalfe do a kit

Aha! So they do, PN135

I found these instructions which mention the platform being up to 3" wide which seems huge for N Gauge. Here is a pic showing a 3" distance from the rails to illustrate. Some mistake perhaps? Three inches at this scale is approximately the height of three Class 42s stocked on top of each other

PN135 N Scale Stone Platform Kit Instructions
The PN135 Metcalfe N Gauge Stone Platform Card Kit is a versatile platform system that can be built into virtually any shape, including straight, curved, island, or bay platforms. Here’s a summary of the kit’s components and assembly instructions:

Components:
Four sheets of tarmac for the platform top
Four sheets of ready-cut wall strips and wall tops
Four sheets of ready-cut interior strengthening strips and tabs
One sheet of self-adhesive platform edging strips
Assembly Instructions:
Begin by building the box-type structure using the pre-cut components. This will provide a rigid and realistic platform base.
Cut the tarmac sheets to the desired length and shape for your platform. You can make straight platforms, curved platforms, or any combination of shapes.
Attach the wall strips and wall tops to the platform edges using the self-adhesive strips. This will create a realistic platform edge.
Use the interior strengthening strips and tabs to reinforce the platform structure, ensuring it remains rigid and stable.
Trim any excess material and smooth out the platform surface to achieve a realistic finish.
Kit Specifications:
Scale: N Gauge (1:148)
Length: Up to 7ft (based on an average platform width of 3 inches and 30% wastage)
Kit contents: Enough components to build up to 7ft in length
Tips and Variations:
You can build all-in-one platforms or sectional separate units, depending on your desired layout.
Use the kit’s versatility to create unique platform designs that fit your track layout.
Combine the PN135 Stone Platform Kit with other Metcalfe kits, such as the PN130 Mainline Station Kit and PN131 Parcels Office & Waiting Rooms, to create a comprehensive model railway scene.
Important Notes:
Assembly requires some model-making skills and patience.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for best results.
The kit is designed for N Gauge scale, so ensure your track and other model components are compatible.
By following these instructions and tips, you’ll be able to create a realistic and versatile stone platform for your N Gauge model railway layout.

[Bigmet]

I found these instructions which mention the platform being up to 3" wide which seems huge for N Gauge...

Let's take it step by step, and over-simplified, for the roughest of rough guides.
Half an inch is enough width for an 'old' single face platform installation in N, that's from platform edge to any building on the platform, roughly a 2m or 6' unobstructed width between the platform face and buildings on the platform.

Modern builds, more like an inch for the unobstructed width on a single face platform, space permitting.

Double these width dimensions for an island platform, which has two faces. And there you are, have a building or footbridge only 4m or 13' wide, in the middle of a modern construction island platform, that platform comes out 3" wide minimum in N gauge. The kit is simply giving you the option to go out to that width, which many locations will require if a reasonably accurate model is the aim.

[aleopardstail]

real platforms are wider than you think, however this is a model, so narrowing to fit is fine. I went with 1.5" for a single face platform and 2" for an island and it looked fine

for "set track" platform width is normally enough that if you had three parallel tracks you could take out the middle one and replace it with a platform without touching the other two

its also worth noting you will want to make it such that your desired station can sit on top of the platform.

I used these kits for my N gauge layout, they come out ok (add glue to the self adhesive edge strips!), I used the brick not the stone ones, the kits are the same other than the printing - though some of the station stuff is only in one or the other

you can of course make platforms wider or narrower to fit the space you have, and with curved ones it may actually look better with a curve facing the track but straight on the non-track side (or a series of straight lines)

[Dad-1]

Not read every word, but having platforms on a curve is always difficult.
The gaps between coaches steps and platforms becomes visually excessive.
The longer the coach the worse the problem.
You also need to hold locomotives at maximum 'yaw' to be certain that they
won't catch. For all the care I took I still had to sand some edges back. The
largest locomotive doesn't turn out to need the most space.

Longest coaches on your chosen curve, pencil held at centre, draw a curved
line and make that the 'approximate' edge. Be prepared to adjust !!

For '00' made all my own platforms from hardboard.

Geoff T.

[potatan]

Hmmm...
At this stage (currently painting the baseboard, no holes drilled, nothing committed, all options open) I'm minded to simplify this part of the learning exercise by putting the station front and centre. I think I was shying away from this idea because it

1. felt like parts of it might get knocked over all the time by me being clumsy
2. didn't use up a corner (I'm still pondering what to put in all the corners)

Maybe I'll just put the station this side of my shunting yard and rearrange the roads to suit

Current layout reminder:
download/file.php?id=47922&t=1

[Dad-1]

Don't let me put you off.
It can be done, but the tighter the curve the more difficult it can become
in addition to that rather excessive gap requirement.
This is why you read so many warnings, there are just so many places to
have a stumble. It is always a learning curve, one of the enduring reasons
for building another, and another layout !!
I have 4 ready for use at the throw of a switch and my 'Thomas' exhibition
layout packed ready for transport !! Then there is .............
Be warned it can be quite addictive.

Geoff T.