I really don't like the flexible track, I've found it much louder and I just don't think it should replace the straight and curved pieces...

Agreed.

I use flex track like many others primarily to make the layout fit when doing non standard design work, such as making odd angles attach up or vertical changes. The only other place for it is in my train station, because I completely welded it together with brown tiles to make a level wooden walkway across it.

I believe the initial concept for flextrack was to use it pairwise with straight track to create large turns, not just the flextrack by itself. I never see any mention of that. Anyone who uses it like that?

I had heard that as well... I think from some of the AFOLs who gave feedback during the development. Somewhere there are photos of the prototype segments and they did not have the guardrails. I suspect late in the testing that lego discovered that a heavy zig-zag would lead to derailments and added the guardrails to keep the parental complaints down.

Are there uses for it outside of track-building? Perhaps being used in a SHIP combined with some braces to get a nice angle? Maybe even in a circular pattern to get a wide-radius circle?

Yes there were some AFOLs involved in the making of the flex track

Are there uses for it outside of track-building? Perhaps being used in a SHIP combined with some braces to get a nice angle? Maybe even in a circular pattern to get a wide-radius circle?

I haven't seen flex track used that way. I know someone who used regular PF curve tracks to make a SHIP.

Are there uses for it outside of track-building? Perhaps being used in a SHIP combined with some braces to get a nice angle?

Pardon me asking, but what do you mean by a SHIP?

Might this be something special or is it just a ship?

Pardon me asking, but what do you mean by a SHIP?

Might this be something special or is it just a ship?

SHIP stands for Seriously Huge Investment In Parts. It is generally a very large spaceship build.

Here is an explanation and examples: http://www.brickfrenzy.com/shiparticle/howtobuildaship.html

I use flex track like many others primarily to make the layout fit when doing non standard design work, such as making odd angles attach up or vertical changes. The only other place for it is in my train station, because I completely welded it together with brown tiles to make a level wooden walkway across it.

This is what it's useful for... as a replacement for curves, it's a serious fail. If there's an awkward part of a layout that needs something like it, then great. It's a travesty that you can't buy just straight LEGO tracks in a set from TLG without being saddled with something so many obviously hate.... even most of the reviews on S@H for the straight/flexi set are negative on including so many flexi pieces. They should at least add a couple of straight and cut back on the flexi, but I suspect that they have like a single mold that makes both, and they are tied together in volume. That had that problem before when they had a single mold making the same number of curved and straight pieces. I don't get why they haven't figured out demand requires them to be molded separately so that they don't get stuck with (or force on consumers) parts they don't want.

Edited December 10, 201410 yr by fred67

Flex track is just like alcohol: 1 or 2 is great and gives you joy and helps you relax. Too much of it makes you all wobbly.

I like the flex track, but only just a couple. I have a huge amount of flextrack unused, most even sealed.

Yes, flex track will bend up or down, more than straight or curved tracks.

Thank you for pict ! I will rework my bridge and use some flex to solve my issue.