My rail has arrived but now a question...

[racedirector]

[REPOSTED FROM INSPECTION PIT]

My first supplies for hand laying my own track and stuff has arrived. What daunting task have I got myself in for! LOL!

Anyways, I have a question. I bought code 70 rail and HO low profile ties from ME, and Low Contour PC Ties from Clover House. But...the PC ties seem to be a lot lower than the low profile wooden ties. Did I stuff up? Should I have bought full size PC ties?

I thought with them both being classed as "Low" they would both be the same....

Can anyone shed any light on this....

Cheers
Bruce

[ 02. February 2004, 10:45: Message edited by: racedirector ]

[Coaltrain]

I have never used pc ties other than for switch point throw bars, an there you will want them thinner so they don't drag and hang up.

One other reason why they might be thinner is that they will be the right height after you sand down your ties to make them level. After you glue your ties down you want to run a sanding block over the tops to make them all the same level. Then glue your pc ties in after you do your leveling. I don't know if that is why they are thinner, it's just a guess.

Did you get a tie spaceing jig? If not you can make one, I made mine from styrene.

[racedirector]

Thanks Jeff

Interesting about not using PC ties in the turnouts - did you just spike everything in place, including the point rails?

And nope, haven't got a tie spacing jig. I've only got a couple of templates for mainline & branchline track that I found on the CVT site. Was thinking of making one though. Might take a visit to my LHS tomorrow and see what they've got....

Cheers
Bruce

[ncng]

I made my own tie laying jig a long time ago out of a piece of 1 x 4 and ties. I don't have a picture of it. I will try and get one later. The trick is to leave a channel down the middle that you can place an upside down piece of 1/4" masking tape in. After placing the ties on the top of the tape you just lift out the strip.

I also never use PC ties except for the throw bar. I just spike everything else down.

You will find that the wooden ties plus defects in the roadbed will make the tops of the ties all different heights. You must sand the ties down level, then stain them, and then lay your track. When I use PC ties for the throw bar I end up sanding a lot off the bottom of the PC tie in order to get it to move easily as a throw bar.

David

[racedirector]

Thanks David

I'll get into making a tie spacing jig in the coming days. I may even go all out and do a mainline spacing one and a brnachline spacing one. Having said that, I'll be laying code 70 rail on both main and branch though.

I might try a couple of turnouts with spikes only as well...another notch in the ole belt you might say...could be interesting!

Cheers
Bruce