How-to: Lego R56 train track hack!

[@hitthebricks5502]

Really interesting approach to expanding the capabilities of standard Lego track.

[@boulevardbricks508]

There is no way I'd use all of my R40 tracks, so why not experiment? Besides, the more MOC rolling stock and locos I build at 7 and 8 wide, the more I realize that R40 is very tight, so bumping to R56 or larger is key. It can be expensive to buy aftermarket track, too. Thanks for watching!

[@transponderings]

Far more appealing to me than other curve hacks I’ve seen. I’d definitely consider doing this if I weren’t going with third-party large-radius curves. Great idea!

[@boulevardbricks508]

Thanks! 😁What radius curves are you using? I recently discovered that Aliexpress has 3rd party R72 and R104 track for cheeeeeeap...I bought the R72 to try it out and the quality was excellent! Injection-molded ABS, great color match to Lego, strong clutch power at the connections, and again very inexpensive. I paid about 5 bucks as an introductory purchase offer for 20 pieces (a little more than a half circle). I might do a quick review of them.

[@transponderings]

@@boulevardbricks508 I’ve ordered some Fx Track R104 and R88 curves. Just enough to play around with for the moment until I decide what I want to do with it. I like the look of the metal track (and the points in particular look much better than the LEGO RC ones). Also, I’d like to be open to different options for powering trains. (At the moment I don’t have anything motorised.)

[@bricksmodified]

Very nice, definitly need to try that as well!

[@boulevardbricks508]

Thanks for watching!

[@GJBricks]

That's a nice trick! I don't like hurting my LEGO but I might give this a try to tidy up my outer curves

[@boulevardbricks508]

I hear ya - other than the train tracks I will not take a blade to the brick. Good luck!

[@vicbartsch351]

Great idea. Did you happen to try cutting the outer rail and let it push together instead of pulling apart like the inner rail does?

[@boulevardbricks508]

Thanks! Yep, thought about it - and there is a video on YT somewhere about it as well. Cutting the outer rail requires all cuts to be the perfect size (gap) and perfectly centered, so when the track is pushed "out" it is at the correct R56 radius all the way around. By cutting the inside as shown here it requires far less accuracy on width and placement of the cut since it relies on the R40 curves and support plates on along the inside to easily create the correct R56 radius. For sure though, if one wanted to take the time, you could cut the outer rails with the right gaps and location then glue them for a clean rail result. Thanks for watching!