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Wheee!!! Its here, Aristo's new 20" circle of track!

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vsmith

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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Pizza Pizza! Just arrived, hot off the delivery truck.:D

At the BTS Lewis Polk told me that Aristocraft was going to sell a 20" dia. circle of track (thats 20 INCHES, not feet /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/shocked.gif ) for things like Christmas tree layouts or special display layouts to things like the Eggliner, I saw the circle on display at St Aubins booth, but I couldnt pick it up that weekend. When I recently decided to seek it out and having found nothing on St Aubins website I did a search and lo and behold found Wholesaletrains was offering it (and for less than I was quoted at the BTS to boot!) A quick order and...

Yesteray I got home and found to my delight my order arrived early, the track looks great! the tieplates are cast to fit this ubertight curve, and it comes with Aristos new track clamps that are very good. Its not a simple one piece circle, its 4 seperate quarter circle sections that when put together form a circle, but this also means that by adding a few straight sections, or mixing with regular R1 curves and track, some very tight and twisty mining or logging lines can be inserted into existing layouts, -or- COMPLETE layouts may now be built in spaces never before considered possible!!! The Microlayout guys are going to freak! /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/w00t.gif

It Aristo part # ART11140 if your interested, Pics to follow as soon as I can /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/laugh.gif
 
markoles

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#2 ·
New clamps? These don't have the standard aristo two-screws-fish plates? Interesting. OK Vic, in addition to the pictures, how about some testing, like what will go around? LGB Stainz? LGB Porter / toytrain locos? This might be a good kids room addition.

Later,

Mark
 
vsmith

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RE: Wheee!!! Its here, Aristo's new 20" circle of track!

Mark the clamps look like a cross between a Hillman clamp and a Sanval clamp, solid like a Hillman on the ouside, and with two vertical Phillips head screws on the inside, the screws press the rails against the back and align the track very well.

The display had an Eggliner racing around on it, so I suspect all the above will work fine on it.
 
vsmith

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RE: Wheee!!! Its here, Aristo's new 20" circle of track!

Pete, I have that track for my Christmas tree

The Positive: it makes a circle that fits nicely on the 36" diameter finished wood tabletop I used for the base, with some felt on the underside to cut the noise a bit.

The Negative, this track is completely useless with any other brand, it only snap connects to its own kind, and the rail is aluminum to a solid cast plastic base, no brass.

The Aristo track will connect to any other Aristo, USA or LGB rail no problem as it uses the same code rail, so its far more versitale, and at 20" dia. some very interesting ideas can now be explored.
 
vsmith

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Discussion Starter · #7 ·
Tom...just noticed this, it wasn't there when I ordered my circle

http://wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200509854

A/C is also offering a 31" circle of track, for barrel installation, like the HLW setup. Hmmm yesss....things are looking up in the large scale microlayout world! I now have access to 48", 31" and 21" diameters,

Oooh the mind reals from the ideas..now if I can just get Lewis to make matching turnouts in those diameters /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/laugh.gif
 
Dennis Paulson

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RE: Wheee!!! Its here, Aristo's new 20" circle of track!

Neato , you think maybe a Bachmann streetcar would go round these curves ? Or a AC Lil-Critter ? Or the new little Bachmann 4 wheel diesel ?
Now LS sectional track on a 4x8 with no hangover .
Nice addition for some people's interest , or space .
 
vsmith

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Discussion Starter · #11 ·
RE: Wheee!!! Its here, Aristo's new 20" circle of track!

The sample on display at the BTS had an Eggliner racing around it so yes, I expect just about any other similar size 0-4-0 should work OK on it, couplers may be limited, I suspect hooks will work but nut knuckles, I use link and pins and can custom shape my links. I'm planning on using my HLW Mack engines and HLW minicars on this track. I have run alot of my stuff on even the 32" diameter portable track , be fun testing on this track next.
 
A

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RE: Wheee!!! Its here, Aristo's new 20" circle of track!

Keep us posted on how other small locomotives perform on this track. Sounds like something I may want to play with a bit. I have Hartland's track (36") and have used it on a whiskey cask layout for several years before Hartland ever offered their own whiskey cask rig (which I also have, but which is still boxed up aside from the Mack and cars).
 
vsmith

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Discussion Starter · #14 ·
One thing I found already, even the HLW minicars should have roller bearing wheels as there is a bit of drag due to the effects of the wheels on such short radius's, not a big deal with the engines as both axles push the engine along nicely. I'm considering if I use the track for a pizza layout to custom build stock to I can angle the wheels a tad to offset the effects of the short radius...of course if I was Chris I would just make a full lenth car that was curved to match the track. /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/tongue.gif
 
vsmith

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Discussion Starter · #16 ·
carpenter matt

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I will not be surprised by the next BTS, that Vic has Modular standards filed for this sort of thing with the NMRA /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/blink.gif

And a modular PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA Layout!/DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/shocked.gif:)
 
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