AnyRail Model Railroad Forum

General Category => Problems => Topic started by: varkenvarken on October 15, 2021, 10:44:30 AM

Title: Flexrail issues
Post by: varkenvarken on October 15, 2021, 10:44:30 AM
Bought AnyRail a couple of days ago and I am loving it! But there are a few quirks with flexrail handling that I find confusing. Maybe these should go into the wish list section of the forum but I first want to check here to see if I am simply failing to understand something:

- a flexrail segment (I'm using Piko A) has two endpoints and two control points. There seems to be no way to add additional points. I need add two flex segments together to achieve the same effect. Is this the recommended way to do this?

- when I move any track segment, all connected segments including flex tracks move with it. But sometimes I would like to move a part of the track-plan, keep another part fixed and have a connecting section of flex track deform with the movement. Is this possible? (If I glue part of the layout all connected segments will not move). So basically I want to move the green section in the image below and have the flex section deform with the movement:


- I don't see options to convert between fix track and flex. I guess this one would be for the wishlist, but again, just checking I am not missing something obvious  ;D  It would be useful however to convert for example a few curved track sections to flex, so that the flex track would have a well defined curvature (but with less end-points, so less soldering of power feeds).

-- Michel.
Title: Re: Flexrail issues
Post by: David on October 15, 2021, 06:22:19 PM
A flex rail has four control points, but as soon as you connect the endpoints the outer control points are fixed, and the inner two can only move along a line to ensure that there is no kink at the connection point.
To add control points, you need to use multiple flex tracks. A quick way is to right-click the flex and use the 'Cut flex here' function.


There is no way to move sectional track and let the flex rail move along. The reason is that when you use a lot of flex track, there's no way to decide what to move along and what not. Just disconnect the sectional track, move it, and then drag the flex endpoint onto the sectional track endpoint.

You can't turn regular track into flex track. To create a perfect arc from flex track, right-click it and select 'Curve flex...' from the drop down menu. If you want to make sure to not disturb the flex once it is bent, right-click it and select 'Freeze flex'.
Title: Re: Flexrail issues
Post by: varkenvarken on October 15, 2021, 06:50:32 PM
Thanks David! I'm glad i asked, since there seems to be quite a bit of 'hidden' functionality  :)  I like the option to create a perfect arc segment; still, an option to convert a section of track to one or more flex track segments would be a great addition.