Curve size

[VincentMassi]

When you talk about a 22" curve, do you mean that it takes 22 " to make a 90 degree turn?

[Terry Toenges]

It takes four pieces for a 90 degree turn (1/4 circle).  Each piece is 8 5/8" of track. The total track length for 4 pieces is 2'-10 9/16".
16 pieces for a circle. 22" is the radius. 22" radius makes a 46" diameter circle when you add the width of the E-Z Track.

[Flare]

22" is the radius of a circle of track.

[bbmiroku]

In a word, yes.
22" is the radius of the circle.
A 90* arc follows the edge of a circle and takes up the horizontal space of the radius.  But the straight-line distance from one end of that arc to the other is...
a² + b² = c²
22² + 22² = c²
484 + 484 = c²
968 = c²
~31.11"
Where a and b are the radius of the circle and c is the hypotenuse, or the distance between the two points.

[Len]

And the radius is measured to the center of the track, between the rails. So the outter half of 24" radius track will be hanging over the edge of a 4'x8' sheet of plywood.

Len

[Terry Toenges]

The actual track length for a 90 degree arc using 22" radius curves is 34 and 9/16 inches because the track length of each of the four pieces needed is 8 and 5/8 inches. I used the track measurements that Anyrail 6 provided.

[VincentMassi]

Thanks to all of you for answering my question.

[Nathan]

If the 24" overall width is your problem look at using 5 ft by 9 ft plywood rather then 4 ft by 8 ft.  It is the size that is sold for ping pong tables.  You can also get it pre-cut as some people build the tables to fold.  If you do turn the pieces so the usable size is 4.5 ft by 10 ft giving you more straight track.

Nathan