Layout Upgrade with ME Track
If ME Models does offer metal versions of all of its curved track products, then the upgrade you see illustrated above will be possible.
I would really love to substitute the sub-standard R40-Straight combinations with their equivalent radius components. Not only does it look so much better, but its pretty clear the rolling stock is going run much smoother through those curves. This will ease the wear-and-tear on wheels, bogies, and couplers and for RC/PF trains, it should increase battery endurance due to the reduce drag through curves.
Also illustrated in the centre of the track diagram are a couple of preliminary concepts of extended switch geometries. I'm still working out the details of the geometry to make it work and referring to real-world permanent way engineering practice for switches. Its pretty complicated! I've also looked at using the track template CAD software (now free) called TEMPLOT since it supports any track scale to generate track configurations. I used TEMPLOT (the paid version) ages ago to make EM gauge point templates--its tricky to use, but its about as good as it gets for prototype fidelity.
Layout Upgrade with ME Track
If ME Models does offer metal versions of all of its curved track products, then the upgrade you see illustrated above will be possible.
I would really love to substitute the sub-standard R40-Straight combinations with their equivalent radius components. Not only does it look so much better, but its pretty clear the rolling stock is going run much smoother through those curves. This will ease the wear-and-tear on wheels, bogies, and couplers and for RC/PF trains, it should increase battery endurance due to the reduce drag through curves.
Also illustrated in the centre of the track diagram are a couple of preliminary concepts of extended switch geometries. I'm still working out the details of the geometry to make it work and referring to real-world permanent way engineering practice for switches. Its pretty complicated! I've also looked at using the track template CAD software (now free) called TEMPLOT since it supports any track scale to generate track configurations. I used TEMPLOT (the paid version) ages ago to make EM gauge point templates--its tricky to use, but its about as good as it gets for prototype fidelity.