Smallest circle possible

[C37]

Hi, I am planning to make an 00 Christmas scene diorama to give as a childs present.

What is the very smallest circle that can be created from Hornby set track?

All the designs I can find on the internet show an oval track with a short straight section. My intention would be to remove the straight and just have a circle instead would that work?

I would run an repainted 0-4-0 locomotive with 1 maybe 2 wagons.

All the buildings will be of a snow scene, not necessarily to scale, with fairy lights and such like. I really want this to be as small as possible in 00 gauge.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[GusB]

Hornby's 1st Radius curved track has a radius of 371mm

https://www.hornby.com/uk-en/shop/accessories/track/track-pieces/single-curve-1st-radius.html

 

[Cowley]

Yes pretty small.
I’m just tidying my sons 00 layout up to sell on eBay and it’s inner loop is 1st radius.
It’s surprising what locos and stock will actually go around it...

 

[Jonny]

Hornby's 1st Radius curved track has a radius of 371mm

https://www.hornby.com/uk-en/shop/accessories/track/track-pieces/single-curve-1st-radius.html

Overall geometry is at https://www.hornby.com/media/pdf/Track-Geometry-PDF.pdf - remember that 371mm is by track centre (it is probably best to allow ~40mm for the outer rail and a bit of adjustment room).

 

[SCH117X]

An 0-4-0 should cope with tighter curves than Hornby 1st radius - Roco do a 358mm radius curve http://www.gaugemaster.com/item_details.asp?code=RC42422&style=&strType=&Mcode=Roco+42422 which is described as Radius 2 !