The pros & cons of Fixed vs. Spline track. Which one is better/easier to use?

[beach_rail]

I'm working on my first layout which is totally on flat terrain. I'm trying to decide which track type might be better for my needs and easier to lay & manage. Most of the tutorials seem to focus on spline track but I can see some definite advantages to fixed. Any insights would be appreciated.

Thx

 

[cascaderailroad]

Fixed track can't go up gradients ... spline track can be appled to gradients.

Some Fixed Track Junctions have animated points ... some other Fixed Tracks require additional invisible wiring.

Fixed Track requires each and every piece be customly fine rotated ... and some other Fixed Tracks join like magnets.

I know MP Wood v2 works in 04/06 and displays well in 09/10 also, I am unsure about MP Rusty whether it also works in 09/10.

I have tried all the high poly tracks (and they look fantastic on sweeping curves ... but they kink horribly in anything less than a #30 Turnout).

After years and years of picking through tracks that have good framerates, that don't kink in turnouts ... I am sorrowfully back to using Chunky Mesh-MP Tracks.

RTS Tracks are really good looking, the Greenery Tracks are so-so. WRRW, MRT, Std High, Standard Gauge Old/New, are some of the high poly tracks that have turnout kinking problems.

 

[ray_whiley]

Fixed straights and curves can be useful for initial track planning, especially curves (to define the ruling radius), to be replaced later with splines. I use them frequently in this way. Short lengths of straight can be useful as 'placeholders' between lengths of spline.

But fixed radius curves are not prototypical - railway curved track uses 'transitions' which gradually ease from straight to curve. So if you want your track to look like the real thing - always replace fixed curves with splines.

Ray