I can't see it having much use in your layout, but what about staggering the placment like flex-straight-flex-straight-flex-straight-etc.. and make a super gradual curve for your high speed trains?
And while you're at it, LEGO, make kits of just straight street pieces for sale too. Always have to buy a curve and/or an intersection with one straight piece. I don't need 18 intersections.
+lettersfromhelen While I tend to make brick built roads now a days because my 8 wide cars look kind of silly on the normal LEGO ones, as a kid that always pissed me off. Why would I need that many intersections? There's like only one building per block!
Your last little bit about the copper tape is a LIFESAVER! I've been looking to get more 9V tack for my train layout but it is expensive since it has been discontinued. I'm going to use your idea of copper tape on top of the plastic trap to expand my layout. Thanks for the tip.
9V was awesome, but I kinda understand. 9v tracks did not sell that well, plus they were expensive to make. that said, I think the flex+straight is MUCH better than curved plus straight. at least flex is useful for making slow curves and awkward angles and fits PLUS they can be used as straights in a pinch when fastened to plates. just realese 9V tracks at a increased price and sell: curved track 8set straight track 8 set straight track 64 set cross single piece improved switch (cut off the branch...) not flawed double switch diamond crossing incline curved (for spiral climbing) incline straight power reciever wheels (for powering PF stuff) wheels with a BATTERY COMPARTMENT for a 9v battery and 9v flex (4 straight length) one thing that frustrates me a TON is that DUPLO trains have inclines; hell they have COGS built into them to help the battery powered locomotives to climb! the switches also don't have the annoying branches! and they have DIAMOND CROSSINGS! duplo tracks>>>lego tracks.
Its a toy. And that's the problem for adult builders. Lego should do the old style track as a mail order for collectors and people doing train layouts. Specialist, but there is a demand for it.
Alex Paulsen I agree but I can see why lego decided to use infra red because children buy lego and lego does not want to shock children when they step on track
Low voltages can't penetrate the resistance of your skin. 9v is completely harmless, I had one as a kid, the only way you'd feel it is if you licked it, and to lick the track spaced apart that far is a damn good effort.
You guys are aware that there are people who make custom tracks for proper lego train sets, right? take a look at TrixBrix.eu... or just google "custom lego train tracks".
Jacky Li first off, they wont get shocked since the power is very low. It is like touching a 9v. Unless your tongueis licking both sides, you wont get shocked. Second, lego just did it since it was cheaper
nice video. I agree, the one saving grave of flex track is the fact that you can use it for odd spaces. As for how ugly it is, you can always dress it up with brown 1X4s or 2X4s to give it the appearance of railroad ties.
In terms of real railroad looking, that's why I prefer the 9-volt track system because the metal strips gives it that clean and crisp realistic steel rail look. And the regular track just looks like plastic. Even in a lego sense. It's just too dull. I wouldn't mind if they made the ties a different color or the rails themselves a different color but the fact that it's ALL 1 dull color is what takes away from it. And sheesh you really weren't kiddy of how ugly flex track is. Like a horrible plastic centipede.
if you look on aliexpress you can buy aluminium tape or copper tape, cut strips of it and stick to top of rails ,i havent done it yey but i reckon it would look like what youre chasing.
Whatever happened to the track I remember as a kid - it didn't come as a solid block like any of that shown in this video: instead you had to assemble the rails onto the sleepers/ties yourself. When did that disappear?
Bring back 9v even if it's less safe! Out of interest does the flex track attach to a baseplate (or plates) when in a straight line? Maybe that solves the issue of easy straight lines albeit with more Lego pieces.
One correction on the motors. The modern power functions motors didn’t go into production until 2010. The original RC trains with the battery box integrated into the base plate were used from 2006-2010.
Thank you for posing this, both for clearing up the 9V / Powerfunction dilemma and the Flextracks. I totally agree with you that the curved tracks are really ugly. I plan to use mine where I have the problems you describe with short gaps between regular tracks and where the rails will not be seen on my table. Planning to start a table in a few weeks.
Alex, thanks for doing this video! because some of us just think it's always going to be useful just because it's designed! yes, straight track would be great but Lego makes more money be having them packaged together, just like the road pieces! it is frustrating! great video and I love to see the tracks on the right! good to see flex track has a use!
The main reason Lego doesn't make more different tracks are because there isn't a market for it, their primary customers are kids and they would probably just get a train set and that's it. But I do wish they would make more different tracks, better switches and larger radius curves.
I remember when Lego introduced the Power Functions sets. "Don't worry, we'll still keep the 9v 'hobby train' system available from our website"... for 5 minutes perhaps. Power Functions makes sense if you want to operate multiple locomotives on the same layout, it's probably more child/budget friendly than some kind of DCC setup too, but it really was a step back into the 80's to introduce battery powered trains again. What Lego really need to do is offer some much wider radius curves. I've seen people mix segments of Flex track with lengths of straight track to mimic a sweeping bend, but it's still a compromise in the aesthetics of the railway.
The thing is, your redeeming feature for flex-track is probably the reason that they made it what it is. It's highly versatile for correcting track geometry. If you need a quarter, half, three-quarters of either a straight or curved track, flex-track covers both bases, which means one product, one mould design. I won't argue that it's not ugly, but it's a simple and effective solution to a common problem with fixed geometry track types.
From what I've seen of your layout, you're mostly working with right angles. If you have a more free-form layout with lots of parallel rails and odd angles, flexible track is invaluable for connecting odd bits of track that don't quite line up, laterally as well as straight-on.
I used the flexible tracks to make an incline. It broke half of the time but it was fun making cars go runaway by pushing them down the incline. I wish they bring back the 9volt because i wan't to experience it too.
I’ve now switched to 3D printed track from trixbrix for a couple of reasons, 1 they do 5 different radii curves, 2 they do straights in 1/16 1/8 1/4 and 1/2 length, they do double slips single slips express point work crossovers diamonds and wye points, they do elevated track supports. All brilliant for layout builders, however when I use flex track on straights I use 1x8 plates to clipped on the sleeper edges to stiffen it up. Looks bad but it is practical.
+Alex Nunes do you know a website where I can find a 9 - volt motor like you have in the video? ( I'm looking for another one, my other 9volt motor is starting to break) so again do you know a website where I can find a 9volt motor
With a hobby saw and some glue you could make half and 1/4 size pieces of regular track. You could also straighten your flextrack segments with 1 or 2 meter sticks on the sides. The Flextrack could be used in a more futuristic looking train maybe on top of pylons to give it some elevation. Sort of like Disney Mono-rail trains. I'll bet the flaxtrack would bend vertically a little as well, giving you an option for some incline.
I use the flex for industrial sites and build up in the middle with smooth pieces like a road crossing. And if I need to fill in small spaces like he did and fill in the middle to look like car or foot crossing
Power Functions trains can also run on the old 1980's track too. That is what I still using to run my Emerald Night and the Mearsk diesel train on and it works. I even used it with my Lego Winter Train Station last Christmas and it worked too.
Personally I only have the modular buildings but I can see what you mean with the train tracks, its the same with road plates as well, you often buy those in combination packs too, its either T- junctions and curves or straights an intersections. I don't have space for an entire city but I could go with mostly straight but you just can't buy only a pack of straight roads in the lego shops.
Hey you know u can place 1x1x(Whatever length) yellow pieces on your flex tracks to keep them straight and well that'll provide a look of a power track or wbatever
but i find 1 problem with flex track when my big heavy steamer comes along the areas that the flex track is not bluetacked down my train just pushes it straight and then either derails or gets stuck
+alex nunes I have 1 9volt motor but I don't have and of the 9volt track. if I use copper foil or tape like you have used will that work to power my 9volt motor. write back if you want to. michael
It does make sharper turns, which is useful for tram-style tracks that go next to streets. Otherwise, a 90-degree turn is 16 studs long total and will therefore require extra baseplates.
Make Flextracks straight is easy. Just put a 1x4 unter the trackpieces right and left. This way they aren't bending anymore, you can fit them to baseplates, and the bad sound when driving on them is less annoying. You can even use longer pieces... 1x8 is possible to. Just put them under the sides... Its a really great solution for this.
I just have tall city buildings in the middle of my tables, then I have a small fraction of flex track hidden behind some, although once the track got too expensive I just started getting those long, gray rail pieces, familiar to the blue ones they discontinued around the 90's
I find that if I reinforce the straight track with flat plates, I can keep it straight. I don't use flex track for turns because my trains tend to derail on turns. Hope that helps!
Lego got the flex track idea from model railways (N gauge, 00 gauge etc) It can help with making custom curves instead of a set curve from using premade curves.
I found good use for flex tracks when building on slicky floor. With the static parts the track was very fragile. Every time i touched the circuit accidentally it was cut. So i inserted 2 flex parts after 2 straights/curved or before switches. Was working fine for me
Totally agree with your thoughts on flex track. It would be great if LEGO would just make shorter sections of straight and curved track. Thanks for the video.
more straights is fine, I am currently snatching the blue 12V tracks as well well as the middle pieces so i can combine City and 12V together. Next step is ballasting but that will be a costly one, unless I can find some fake Legos somewhere to cut expenses.
to get your flex track to be dead straight, what i did was took 1x8 plates and tiles and attatched them to the outside of the track. This then stops the tracks from flexing. Hope this helps :)
I was hoping that if I purchase some flex track, I could possibly make the curved tracks curve a bit more quickly. I have limited space and want to allow the track to bend back on itself to create a loop in the said limited space. Does flex track help with this?
How does the flex track fare if you were to use it in say, a slope or hill along your line? Seems like it might have decent give vertically. Might be it's saving grace?
+Sam Cookson Not sure how steeply the track can increase, but you can increase the normal track at a rate of one plate per section, and your trains wheels would probably try and lift off the track if it was much more then that.
I've got a bit of the 9V train system, and I find it too hard to convert to the new battery system. I don't like the flex track, and I wish that they had kept the 9V system. Maybe it cost them too much to produce? But then again the train parts and tracks are really expensive, so I don't see a point in that. I agree with you completely that LEGO desperately needs to create more track pieces. I really want to see wider curves for the tracks. I've never been a fan of the LEGO curve, I find it too sharp, and it limits the size of the train, and the realism.
I've talked with LEGO customer service for a good few years about bringing back the individual 8x straight or 8x curved packs of track that were availible when they shifted from 9V. I think that'd be alot better for them rather than the combined 8x straights with 16x flex. I've been throwing away so many flex pieces when buying the currently availible track packs, that's half my money gone in the trash!
Excellent presentation on flexible track. I mostly use it to tie two ends together but I don't mind the ugly shape in between the rails. I think they look like that for function and production, so that the piece has few holes and won't fall apart upon use. If it needs to be straight, I would use dark bluish grey plates to bind them together in the middle. I agree more straight track is necessary for train layouts.
As far as halving the existing tracks, I'm not sure if that will work well for the curves when a train runs over them. Seeing the way the flexible track works, or might, but then again flexible track can move slightly when a train crosses them in s curve, if they're not tied down. I figure that's to keep them on track.
Every thing you say is so accurate! If they made 1/4 Straights that'd be nice but seriously. I just put plates on my flex track to hold it straight. The last thing I need is more curves lol
4 года назад
it's for fractions genius, to connect the track when it is not matching, you know not everybody has the space to extend the track in a 10+ meters layout of multiple tables, the play you have in a track that long basically denies any advantage of flexible track, when you are setting up a track with 30 to 50 sections of track you need those flexible bits, so that the track adapts to the limited space you have, not only on the fractional sections needed but also on weird angles the sections might want to connect
Why does it happen that you sometimes have to use flex tracks because a turn of straight won't fit? Shouldn't it all perfectly fit when you lay out the track no matter how?
+Dimitri Petrenko It has to do with diagonals. If all of your turns are 90 degrees, you will never have a problem, but if you have some portions that run diagonally, it takes more straights to reach the other side of your table then if you just went straight across. Going diagonally, the horizontal distance covered is now a fraction, therefor the numbers don't always match up with the track that was just running horizontally.
Flextrack is more useful if you use it mixed and anterning with other tracks. For example in this week i made a layout on my floor and i had to make a slight curve with 3 or 4 straight-flextrack pairs. IMHO the worst thing what somebody can do with flextrack is making long, straight or curved trakcs only with flexitrack. The look is one part, but trains can run much harder on it. But if you have too much it can be a good solution for storage sidings like you did. (I'm not sure the correct terminology in English for they).
Thank you. I'm an old schooler and all my trains are 9v and I've never used the newer tracks. Its good to know the flex track doesn't have any additional value for curves because personally I find it hideous! I would use it as you have, hidden under trains and in tunnels
When you mention no more curve track just streight track, flex works here cuz it can both straight and curve so i see what your saying but, you forgot to mention that flex track can be used for even tighter curves unlike regular curves which cant bend to the right length of curve unlike does which can be not to wide so i see it as a possibility to make wider curves. Edit: i forgot to mention somethings and some typos.
a great use of flex track is to make a track switching yard with a moveable track to select the track line you want to move the train to ... sure you have to build the tracks on a base ... just like in real life ... but flex track makes the switch sooo much easier and allows you to join different tracks sets when they dont align in perfect harmony with the other set
Third party track. 4D brix make a quarter-length straight, and are in the process of releasing new points as well. I like the flexitrack for fixing weird geometry, but otherwise avoid it. If you wanna use the stuff for straight sidings, use 2x16 plates down the middle of the track to lock it straight :)
if you have a 3D print then you can print your own track as well, as there are a decent number of designs for the lego track on Thingiverse, there are even larger curves
Actually real modern railroads generally have track transition curves (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_transition_curve) for minimizing lateral jerk which you can not model with track pieces with fixed curvature. That also can be very relevant when you transport liquids in open containers on your high speed lego train.
I don't really mind the look of the flex track because it needs to operate as it should. Even though I don't have flex track, I would imagine it gives the layout more flexibility in allowing it to naturally settle in position without forcing parts of the layout into an awkward and uncomfortable position. That way, the tracks don't break off by itself.
+Adb543 Cp I think it is because of safety concerns with kids electrocuting themselves when plugging things into the wall. Still though, I see no reason why they couldn't sell the train sets with PF, but have the track be metal, and just sell the 9V stuff separately with a ages 16+ rating. Half the people interested in 9V would probably be building their own custom trains anyway!
Are you kidding me? 9v wouldn't electrocute kids! Lionel's CW-80 puts out about 18 volts of electricity at full force. I've touched the middle and side rails of my layout at full force and although it *really* hurt when the train made it to my finger, i didn't even feel a slight tingle from the tracks! If 18 volts isn't dangerous, then how would 9 volts be?
That's my biggest complaint! Lego doesn't listen nor respect the members of the AFOL group who buy Lego and build professional looking railroad layouts and that could only be achieved by 9 volt. When they discontinued 9volt and gave us 8 curves and 8 straights it was better than nothing. Now they screwed it up even more for us and made it more "toyish" and I am extremely turned off about it. Also they discontinued black train bogies and now yellow is the only color available! Again it looks "toyish" and now I have to buy my 9volt track off ebay brand new in box and pay $30.00 for a sealed box of straights! Lego really neglected the train series and I hope to see some more creator train models released soon instead of these "toyish" crap like yellow train bogies and that awful flex track that I just want chuck into the trash it makes me so sick!
+MoneyMarcMes Good point about the "toyish" look. I too was disappointed the black bogey plate was discontinued. It didn't make any sense. My issue is I started collecting trains at the tail end of the 9v era so most of my track is PF. Pretty frustrating, but that's the way it goes sometimes.
+Alex Nunes Hey Alex, Hit up Carol at Amazing Bricks on Bricklink as she has some black train bogies left for sale. I purchased 40 of them last time and she has some in her Bricklink store.
Flex track is important for fractions of angles.
that too, but you can simply re arrange the curved and straight tracks
to prove the power of flex track I cut this boat in half
I didn't expect to see a quality comment of this caliber on a video like this. I'm sad it only has 33 likes.
Lmao
I don’t understand
R Lihuak there there
That's a lot of damage
When using flex track in train yards, you can always get like 2x16 plates and put them on top of flex tracks to keep them straight.
That’s exactly what I do.
Endothermic Madness ii
I can't see it having much use in your layout, but what about staggering the placment like flex-straight-flex-straight-flex-straight-etc.. and make a super gradual curve for your high speed trains?
The flex track is more bumpy with more joints. this may defeat the purpose of broader curves.
Simple tip: if you want to have your flex track go perfectly strait just put some plates on the sides connecting them.
And while you're at it, LEGO, make kits of just straight street pieces for sale too. Always have to buy a curve and/or an intersection with one straight piece. I don't need 18 intersections.
+lettersfromhelen While I tend to make brick built roads now a days because my 8 wide cars look kind of silly on the normal LEGO ones, as a kid that always pissed me off. Why would I need that many intersections? There's like only one building per block!
did anyone think the tracks at 5:12 were blue?
The change in lighting is an illusion lol
Yes.
Yes.
The tracks look blue for the entire video
Your last little bit about the copper tape is a LIFESAVER! I've been looking to get more 9V tack for my train layout but it is expensive since it has been discontinued. I'm going to use your idea of copper tape on top of the plastic trap to expand my layout. Thanks for the tip.
9V was awesome, but I kinda understand. 9v tracks did not sell that well, plus they were expensive to make.
that said, I think the flex+straight is MUCH better than curved plus straight. at least flex is useful for making slow curves and awkward angles and fits PLUS they can be used as straights in a pinch when fastened to plates.
just realese 9V tracks at a increased price and sell:
curved track 8set
straight track 8 set
straight track 64 set
cross single piece
improved switch (cut off the branch...)
not flawed double switch
diamond crossing
incline curved (for spiral climbing)
incline straight
power reciever wheels (for powering PF stuff)
wheels with a BATTERY COMPARTMENT for a 9v battery
and 9v flex (4 straight length)
one thing that frustrates me a TON is that DUPLO trains have inclines; hell they have COGS built into them to help the battery powered locomotives to climb! the switches also don't have the annoying branches! and they have DIAMOND CROSSINGS! duplo tracks>>>lego tracks.
Its a toy. And that's the problem for adult builders. Lego should do the old style track as a mail order for collectors and people doing train layouts. Specialist, but there is a demand for it.
They should have gone DCC with the old track, rather than infra-red with the battery crap.
Alex Paulsen I agree but I can see why lego decided to use infra red because children buy lego and lego does not want to shock children when they step on track
Low voltages can't penetrate the resistance of your skin. 9v is completely harmless, I had one as a kid, the only way you'd feel it is if you licked it, and to lick the track spaced apart that far is a damn good effort.
You guys are aware that there are people who make custom tracks for proper lego train sets, right? take a look at TrixBrix.eu... or just google "custom lego train tracks".
Jacky Li first off, they wont get shocked since the power is very low. It is like touching a 9v. Unless your tongueis licking both sides, you wont get shocked. Second, lego just did it since it was cheaper
I'd like it if they just did packs of straights or curves, like 20 pieces per box.
nice video.
I agree, the one saving grave of flex track is the fact that you can use it for odd spaces.
As for how ugly it is, you can always dress it up with brown 1X4s or 2X4s to give it the appearance of railroad ties.
In terms of real railroad looking, that's why I prefer the 9-volt track system because the metal strips gives it that clean and crisp realistic steel rail look. And the regular track just looks like plastic. Even in a lego sense. It's just too dull. I wouldn't mind if they made the ties a different color or the rails themselves a different color but the fact that it's ALL 1 dull color is what takes away from it. And sheesh you really weren't kiddy of how ugly flex track is. Like a horrible plastic centipede.
You can use plates to cover the ties. It's a bit expensive, but it makes the track look better.
if you look on aliexpress you can buy aluminium tape or copper tape, cut strips of it and stick to top of rails ,i havent done it yey but i reckon it would look like what youre chasing.
Whatever happened to the track I remember as a kid - it didn't come as a solid block like any of that shown in this video: instead you had to assemble the rails onto the sleepers/ties yourself. When did that disappear?
Ronstar308 I know what you are talking about. Pieces similar to those are occasionally used. The pre made tracks are just easier overall though
Ronstar308 Early 90s.
Bring back 9v even if it's less safe! Out of interest does the flex track attach to a baseplate (or plates) when in a straight line? Maybe that solves the issue of easy straight lines albeit with more Lego pieces.
One correction on the motors. The modern power functions motors didn’t go into production until 2010. The original RC trains with the battery box integrated into the base plate were used from 2006-2010.
Thank you for posing this, both for clearing up the 9V / Powerfunction dilemma and the Flextracks. I totally agree with you that the curved tracks are really ugly. I plan to use mine where I have the problems you describe with short gaps between regular tracks and where the rails will not be seen on my table. Planning to start a table in a few weeks.
its a shame Lego stoped the metal power feed track as using batterys is not good...Great info and vid..
Alex, thanks for doing this video! because some of us just think it's always going to be useful just because it's designed! yes, straight track would be great but Lego makes more money be having them packaged together, just like the road pieces! it is frustrating! great video and I love to see the tracks on the right! good to see flex track has a use!
The main reason Lego doesn't make more different tracks are because there isn't a market for it, their primary customers are kids and they would probably just get a train set and that's it.
But I do wish they would make more different tracks, better switches and larger radius curves.
I remember when Lego introduced the Power Functions sets. "Don't worry, we'll still keep the 9v 'hobby train' system available from our website"... for 5 minutes perhaps. Power Functions makes sense if you want to operate multiple locomotives on the same layout, it's probably more child/budget friendly than some kind of DCC setup too, but it really was a step back into the 80's to introduce battery powered trains again.
What Lego really need to do is offer some much wider radius curves. I've seen people mix segments of Flex track with lengths of straight track to mimic a sweeping bend, but it's still a compromise in the aesthetics of the railway.
where did you buy train storage building? with the black roof....
The thing is, your redeeming feature for flex-track is probably the reason that they made it what it is.
It's highly versatile for correcting track geometry. If you need a quarter, half, three-quarters of either a straight or curved track, flex-track covers both bases, which means one product, one mould design.
I won't argue that it's not ugly, but it's a simple and effective solution to a common problem with fixed geometry track types.
I have a set of those old trains gush missing 1 curve track cant find them in any stores.
From what I've seen of your layout, you're mostly working with right angles. If you have a more free-form layout with lots of parallel rails and odd angles, flexible track is invaluable for connecting odd bits of track that don't quite line up, laterally as well as straight-on.
Rant on brother rant on. I'm with you. Bring back 9v
+Mardigrasman23 Maybe some day they will. If that day ever comes, many AFOL's will rejoice. lol
+SpecialForcesBricks 9v and other train systems don't pose any threats.
I like the new track because it can go enywhere in or outside where there is or is not a outlet.
9v for life
Bobo - Minecraft Anyways RC is a lot easier to use, and much more powerful
I used the flexible tracks to make an incline. It broke half of the time but it was fun making cars go runaway by pushing them down the incline. I wish they bring back the 9volt because i wan't to experience it too.
Tom Bricks Same, that is exactly what I use my flex track for.
Can i have the curved track please ?
I wish my family could afford stuff like this, we could hardly get a few battlepacks for star wars. :(
You can make a roller coaster with flex tracks
I’ve now switched to 3D printed track from trixbrix for a couple of reasons, 1 they do 5 different radii curves, 2 they do straights in 1/16 1/8 1/4 and 1/2 length, they do double slips single slips express point work crossovers diamonds and wye points, they do elevated track supports. All brilliant for layout builders, however when I use flex track on straights I use 1x8 plates to clipped on the sleeper edges to stiffen it up. Looks bad but it is practical.
Why don't you get the new 2015 Lego city square or deep sea exploration vessel?
can you please do a Video how to cover Flex Tracks with copper foil
I like the Idea of Flex Track because it means if you need a shape turn and then another sharp turn to get around buildings it could be quite useful
These flex tracks have some degree in horizontal clearance, which might make them usefull for ramps when working on different height levels...
+Alex Nunes do you know a website where I can find a 9 - volt motor like you have in the video? ( I'm looking for another one, my other 9volt motor is starting to break) so again do you know a website where I can find a 9volt motor
+Michael Fischl Try Bricklink, it is probably the best LEGO buying site out there. Though 9V motors run around $100 now a days.
With a hobby saw and some glue you could make half and 1/4 size pieces of regular track.
You could also straighten your flextrack segments with 1 or 2 meter sticks on the sides.
The Flextrack could be used in a more futuristic looking train maybe on top of pylons to give it some elevation. Sort of like Disney Mono-rail trains.
I'll bet the flaxtrack would bend vertically a little as well, giving you an option for some incline.
It could be good for a crossing???
I use the flex for industrial sites and build up in the middle with smooth pieces like a road crossing. And if I need to fill in small spaces like he did and fill in the middle to look like car or foot crossing
Power Functions trains can also run on the old 1980's track too. That is what I still using to run my Emerald Night and the Mearsk diesel train on and it works. I even used it with my Lego Winter Train Station last Christmas and it worked too.
Personally I only have the modular buildings but I can see what you mean with the train tracks, its the same with road plates as well, you often buy those in combination packs too, its either T- junctions and curves or straights an intersections. I don't have space for an entire city but I could go with mostly straight but you just can't buy only a pack of straight roads in the lego shops.
Hey you know u can place 1x1x(Whatever length) yellow pieces on your flex tracks to keep them straight and well that'll provide a look of a power track or wbatever
I'm a big fan as well been watching you for about 2 years now!!
+jesse albert (MonsterA380) Wow, impressive! I appreciate you sticking around for so long. Hopefully I will continue to keep you entertained.
The Flex track is good for making curves that are less tight than the normal track curves
but i find 1 problem with flex track when my big heavy steamer comes along the areas that the flex track is not bluetacked down my train just pushes it straight and then either derails or gets stuck
+alex nunes I have 1 9volt motor but I don't have and of the 9volt track. if I use copper foil or tape like you have used will that work to power my 9volt motor. write back if you want to. michael
+Michael Fischl It should work with the copper foil tape.
I use them as gap fillers and if I need to make a certain type of curve
It does make sharper turns, which is useful for tram-style tracks that go next to streets. Otherwise, a 90-degree turn is 16 studs long total and will therefore require extra baseplates.
Make Flextracks straight is easy. Just put a 1x4 unter the trackpieces right and left.
This way they aren't bending anymore, you can fit them to baseplates, and the bad sound when driving on them is less annoying.
You can even use longer pieces... 1x8 is possible to. Just put them under the sides... Its a really great solution for this.
What about the switch track?
I just have tall city buildings in the middle of my tables, then I have a small fraction of flex track hidden behind some, although once the track got too expensive I just started getting those long, gray rail pieces, familiar to the blue ones they discontinued around the 90's
I find that if I reinforce the straight track with flat plates, I can keep it straight. I don't use flex track for turns because my trains tend to derail on turns. Hope that helps!
Lego got the flex track idea from model railways (N gauge, 00 gauge etc) It can help with making custom curves instead of a set curve from using premade curves.
I found good use for flex tracks when building on slicky floor. With the static parts the track was very fragile. Every time i touched the circuit accidentally it was cut. So i inserted 2 flex parts after 2 straights/curved or before switches. Was working fine for me
Totally agree with your thoughts on flex track. It would be great if LEGO would just make shorter sections of straight and curved track. Thanks for the video.
more straights is fine, I am currently snatching the blue 12V tracks as well well as the middle pieces so i can combine City and 12V together. Next step is ballasting but that will be a costly one, unless I can find some fake Legos somewhere to cut expenses.
to get your flex track to be dead straight, what i did was took 1x8 plates and tiles and attatched them to the outside of the track. This then stops the tracks from flexing. Hope this helps :)
+JR Bricks excellent trick.
I was hoping that if I purchase some flex track, I could possibly make the curved tracks curve a bit more quickly. I have limited space and want to allow the track to bend back on itself to create a loop in the said limited space. Does flex track help with this?
no not really its only a bit tighter
cool vid and merry xmas
Is it just me? Or does the flexible track make a good opportunity to make a broken bridge for a video?
How does the flex track fare if you were to use it in say, a slope or hill along your line? Seems like it might have decent give vertically. Might be it's saving grace?
+Sam Cookson Not sure how steeply the track can increase, but you can increase the normal track at a rate of one plate per section, and your trains wheels would probably try and lift off the track if it was much more then that.
I kinda like the flex look better. Looks more industrial like elevated.
Marshall Smith™ I am not a big fan of it, but it is useful when making inclines, I use it as a sloping point between regular straight track.
I definitely see it's use in an elevated track look.
Fall of 2020 and still no packages of straight track to buy from Lego... I also have too much curved track
I've got a bit of the 9V train system, and I find it too hard to convert to the new battery system. I don't like the flex track, and I wish that they had kept the 9V system. Maybe it cost them too much to produce? But then again the train parts and tracks are really expensive, so I don't see a point in that. I agree with you completely that LEGO desperately needs to create more track pieces. I really want to see wider curves for the tracks. I've never been a fan of the LEGO curve, I find it too sharp, and it limits the size of the train, and the realism.
if Lego does do 9v I'll be kinda screwed because I have the power functions, I agree about the straight track issue though
You won’t be screwed. The tracks are cross compatible. The only thing is you won’t be able to use both in a loop if you’re planning on using 9v
So you can’t buy just a pack of straight tracks? You could do that in the 9-volt era
I've talked with LEGO customer service for a good few years about bringing back the individual 8x straight or 8x curved packs of track that were availible when they shifted from 9V. I think that'd be alot better for them rather than the combined 8x straights with 16x flex. I've been throwing away so many flex pieces when buying the currently availible track packs, that's half my money gone in the trash!
You could use the flex track as high speed train lines
Thanks fo the Tip just to put copper foil tape on the train tracks instead of buying the 9Volt Tracks. Genius! :P
Excellent presentation on flexible track. I mostly use it to tie two ends together but I don't mind the ugly shape in between the rails. I think they look like that for function and production, so that the piece has few holes and won't fall apart upon use. If it needs to be straight, I would use dark bluish grey plates to bind them together in the middle. I agree more straight track is necessary for train layouts.
As far as halving the existing tracks, I'm not sure if that will work well for the curves when a train runs over them. Seeing the way the flexible track works, or might, but then again flexible track can move slightly when a train crosses them in s curve, if they're not tied down. I figure that's to keep them on track.
Every thing you say is so accurate! If they made 1/4 Straights that'd be nice but seriously. I just put plates on my flex track to hold it straight. The last thing I need is more curves lol
it's for fractions genius, to connect the track when it is not matching, you know not everybody has the space to extend the track in a 10+ meters layout of multiple tables, the play you have in a track that long basically denies any advantage of flexible track, when you are setting up a track with 30 to 50 sections of track you need those flexible bits, so that the track adapts to the limited space you have, not only on the fractional sections needed but also on weird angles the sections might want to connect
Why does it happen that you sometimes have to use flex tracks because a turn of straight won't fit? Shouldn't it all perfectly fit when you lay out the track no matter how?
+Dimitri Petrenko It has to do with diagonals. If all of your turns are 90 degrees, you will never have a problem, but if you have some portions that run diagonally, it takes more straights to reach the other side of your table then if you just went straight across. Going diagonally, the horizontal distance covered is now a fraction, therefor the numbers don't always match up with the track that was just running horizontally.
Flextrack is more useful if you use it mixed and anterning with other tracks. For example in this week i made a layout on my floor and i had to make a slight curve with 3 or 4 straight-flextrack pairs.
IMHO the worst thing what somebody can do with flextrack is making long, straight or curved trakcs only with flexitrack. The look is one part, but trains can run much harder on it. But if you have too much it can be a good solution for storage sidings like you did. (I'm not sure the correct terminology in English for they).
Good Video and you just answer my questions about the flexible track. Thanks :)
If you put a plate components on top og the flexible track it wil straight out.
Thank you. I'm an old schooler and all my trains are 9v and I've never used the newer tracks. Its good to know the flex track doesn't have any additional value for curves because personally I find it hideous! I would use it as you have, hidden under trains and in tunnels
When you mention no more curve track just streight track, flex works here cuz it can both straight and curve so i see what your saying but, you forgot to mention that flex track can be used for even tighter curves unlike regular curves which cant bend to the right length of curve unlike does which can be not to wide so i see it as a possibility to make wider curves. Edit: i forgot to mention somethings and some typos.
I usually put a piece of lego in the middle to stick the tracks together
a great use of flex track is to make a track switching yard with a moveable track to select the track line you want to move the train to ... sure you have to build the tracks on a base ... just like in real life ... but flex track makes the switch sooo much easier and allows you to join different tracks sets when they dont align in perfect harmony with the other set
Trend to agree, but the double switch be nice to see back.
Yes, I missed out on that. Too bad it had such a short run.
Third party track.
4D brix make a quarter-length straight, and are in the process of releasing new points as well.
I like the flexitrack for fixing weird geometry, but otherwise avoid it.
If you wanna use the stuff for straight sidings, use 2x16 plates down the middle of the track to lock it straight :)
I will be a big customer of 4d brix very soon.
Habe you used any of them yet alex?
if you have a 3D print then you can print your own track as well, as there are a decent number of designs for the lego track on Thingiverse, there are even larger curves
Flexible track! Huh! Yeah! What is it good for? Absolutely nothin’!
Love your collection of Legos
The old motor still works on the new track, because it has a connector for batteries.
Are you sure that’s what the connector is for? I’ve only seen it used to power lights off the track
Diet Clorox
That is the intended use.
But I have one of those motors and I use it to connect the batteries.
@@schwarzerritter5724 huh, I didn’t know you could do that. Which power box do you use?
Any 9V box.
Actually real modern railroads generally have track transition curves (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_transition_curve) for minimizing lateral jerk which you can not model with track pieces with fixed curvature. That also can be very relevant when you transport liquids in open containers on your high speed lego train.
you can keep the flexible track straight by putting 2x4 plates on the inside of the tracks
Maybe crossings? All smooth and everything
I've love to see more images that shows how your rail siding connects back to the main line ;)
You make your on 9V track? Sweet!!
I don't really mind the look of the flex track because it needs to operate as it should. Even though I don't have flex track, I would imagine it gives the layout more flexibility in allowing it to naturally settle in position without forcing parts of the layout into an awkward and uncomfortable position. That way, the tracks don't break off by itself.
Does it make the curves smaller though?
No, the angle of the curve is the same.
It can be
Normal- train
Flex- tram or subway
I really wish Lego would sell both 9v so that those who would rather use 9v wouldnt have to pay so much for it
+Adb543 Cp I think it is because of safety concerns with kids electrocuting themselves when plugging things into the wall. Still though, I see no reason why they couldn't sell the train sets with PF, but have the track be metal, and just sell the 9V stuff separately with a ages 16+ rating. Half the people interested in 9V would probably be building their own custom trains anyway!
Are you kidding me? 9v wouldn't electrocute kids! Lionel's CW-80 puts out about 18 volts of electricity at full force. I've touched the middle and side rails of my layout at full force and although it *really* hurt when the train made it to my finger, i didn't even feel a slight tingle from the tracks! If 18 volts isn't dangerous, then how would 9 volts be?
Its good if you just want a small curved section. Some elevation change track would be nice though.
and the curved tracks are hard to fit in with the road plates
I noticed how you have many bridges-flex track looks like well supported track on a bridge. You could use the flex track on the bridge.
That's my biggest complaint! Lego doesn't listen nor respect the members of the AFOL group who buy Lego and build professional looking railroad layouts and that could only be achieved by 9 volt. When they discontinued 9volt and gave us 8 curves and 8 straights it was better than nothing. Now they screwed it up even more for us and made it more "toyish" and I am extremely turned off about it. Also they discontinued black train bogies and now yellow is the only color available! Again it looks "toyish" and now I have to buy my 9volt track off ebay brand new in box and pay $30.00 for a sealed box of straights! Lego really neglected the train series and I hope to see some more creator train models released soon instead of these "toyish" crap like yellow train bogies and that awful flex track that I just want chuck into the trash it makes me so sick!
+MoneyMarcMes Good point about the "toyish" look. I too was disappointed the black bogey plate was discontinued. It didn't make any sense. My issue is I started collecting trains at the tail end of the 9v era so most of my track is PF. Pretty frustrating, but that's the way it goes sometimes.
+Alex Nunes Hey Alex, Hit up Carol at Amazing Bricks on Bricklink as she has some black train bogies left for sale. I purchased 40 of them last time and she has some in her Bricklink store.
+MoneyMarcMes Awesome, thank you!
MoneyMarcMes I feel 9-volt is not as good and more dangerous. You can shock yourself with 9v.
You will never be abled to shock yourself with 9V...
That said you should also get the new heavy haul train which is still released by Lego.
This video contains thousands of dollars worth of LEGO.
i think the're on the right "track"
Sargent Balogna they're
Badum-tish