replying to Larry Jaques, brian wrote:
Hi Larry,
Tubing bender is just two expensive for fabrication just a few (as little as
2) hoops. Just yesterday I found a contractor friend who says he has a hand
conduit bender i can borrow. I figure I can just make small incremental bends
and get my circular hoops. Now I just have to figure out how to calculate
those incremental bends to get my 5 foot hoop.

If you google "model railroad helix" you will see imagines of what I am
looking to build,...but an alternative method/materials.
Here is a forum subject thread I started on the project...
_http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/30323?page=4_
In these photos you will see a 4 foot dia metal ring I found at a junk yard
(likely a rim of of outdoor table). This would work for a 4 foot dia helix,
but I was looking for 5 foot dia,...hence my search for bending conduit into 5
foot dia circles. One hoop at the bottom, and one hoop at the top,...then 8
vertical pieces joining the 2 hoops. Inside this 'open style barrel' I would
coil up a spiral hoop(s) of PVC pipe onto which to lay the rr track.

https://www.polytechforum.com/img/5r

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for full context, visit http://www.polytechforum.com/metalwo...pe-639050-.htm