ok new question.

When a track piece says its 18" radius curve or 22" radius curve what does that mean? Does it mean the track is 18 or 22" in length?

Well, I have an area about 8 feet by 10 feet. The real problem is I dont want it to be permanent so I wouldnt be doing any landscaping and such for now just the track.

one day I plan on having an expansive train layout but for now while I have limited time, space, and money Id like to start out small and do a figure 8.

I have always been interested in model railroads so I got a Bachman Rail King HO scale set for Christmas. I got a little tired of the basic oval (47" x 38" oval 12 pieces curved track, 1 piece straight track, and 1 plug-in) that came with it so I was thinking of buying the 30 degree crossing and making a figure 8. The figure 8 says I need 21 18" curved and 1 18" rerailer.

So basically my question is to save money (I don't want to have to but a curved rerailer if I could just use the straight one i already have) I would assume I have to buy 2 straight pieces (to make 4 including the straight rerailer and 1 straight i already have) plus another 10 18" curved pieces (thus making 22 curves total). However my amateur model railroading brain is thinking that with the extra straight pieces coming off each side of the crossing will thus throw off the radius (and thus total number of curved pieces I need) of each side of the 8.

Well....I am apparently one of a few things....dumb because I don't know how big my pieces of track are. Dumb because I don't know if my track is 18" curved or not.

Basically I'm completely lost...PLEASE HELP

I'm sorry if this is a dumb question but I'm new at this. Any hope would be appreciated. I'm sure you will be seeing a lot more of me around here.

Does anyone know I can find a flatbed car that either has a 1940 ford on it or that I can put on it?