You can instantly tell when a model railway layout does more than simply run trains in circles – when it tells a believable little world. Changes in height are a key part of that feeling: trains dip out of sight, disappear, reappear, and suddenly they seem truly “on the way.” The NOCH easy TRACK Helix, Basic Helix supports exactly this kind of realistic operation. With track radii of 481.2/542.8 mm and the choice of single-track or double-track running, it provides a strong base for adding extra levels and making your layout feel noticeably more alive.

A helix is more than a technical link between upper and lower levels. It adds rhythm to operations and helps you create authentic scenes from everyday life, just like the real railway: one train vanishes, another appears, and in between, things happen “out of sight.” These small moments are what make a layout feel convincing and exciting.

And wherever track goes, scenery follows: station areas, working life, rural settings – anywhere your imagination wants to build a story. With carefully hand-painted, highly detailed NOCH figures, you can give these areas a human touch: people in all walks of life, brief encounters, everyday gestures. That’s how a helix becomes more than a climb – it becomes part of your model world’s atmosphere.

Whether for model building, model railways, as an eye-catching element for decoration, or as a backdrop for macro photography, this base helix opens up many creative uses – and turns “more levels” into real, visible realism.

Please Note: this is also suitable for OO gauge layouts