I am trying to find the easiest way to secure my tracks (with attached roadbed) down onto the base platform (Noch Meran Prefab layout), so they will not move. Rokuhan makes makes track screws, but I find them very difficult to get through the roadbed and into the base platform. In addition my layout has 2 grades (I don't know the % of rise) and the Rokuhan screws are not long enough to go through the track roadbed and into the base.... which leaves a space under the roadbed. So, what are my alternatives? I could nail the roadbed down with these tiny nails I found on amazon. They are about the same diameter as the metal part of a pushpin and are long enough (19mm x 1.2mm) to secure all the tracks, including the grades. But, they are still very difficult to get through the roadbed. Or, I read somewhere to use double sided tape. Strong double sided tape and trim it down to the size of the roadbed. Any thoughts or suggestions? I would appreciate any input..... Thanks ~Michael
Double-sided tape is a good idea. If you use thin foam double-sided tape it will cut down on the noise transferred to the base. You could also use an appropriate sized drill to drill through the roadbed before you use the tiny nails that are long enough to secure all of the tracks to the base.
I'm probably not going to try a drill.... I'm not "handy". I'm really leaning toward the tape. I just have to see if the thickness of the tape raises the track too much.
I'm probably not going to try a drill.... I'm not "handy". I'm really leaning toward the tape. I just have to see if the thickness of the tape raises the track too much.
I’ve tacked my track down with hot glue gun. Quick holds well. I ballast afterwards anyway but the hot glue is easy quick
If not ballasting you can use screws - one benefit is that they can easily removed if you change your track plan
I find them very difficult to get through the roadbed and into the base platform. In addition my layout has 2 grades (on the Noch Meran...I don't know the % of rise) and the Rokuhan screws are not long enough to go through the track roadbed and into the base.... which leaves a space under the roadbed.
I agree with Tom and found double-sided tape a good choice. But on my layout I added additional ballast on the track bed, glued with thinned white glue.
Opinion: I have not tried it, but common sense says the hot glue dabs will be much faster, plenty strong, and easily removed if needed. Transfer adhesive tape is paper thin or thinner, and would hold fine, but might not stick to all surfaces well, and has to be cut and backing peeled off, making it a slower process then hot glue, and screws can look un-prototypical, which if you are a scale modeler can look offensive.
Double-sided foam tape scares me. It is thick (so raises the track even higher and may cause some curved or Tracks to be less than level or possibly induce ‘super elevated’ where inside/outside are not same height. These pre-made layouts are designed before roadbed track where You could just touch a drop of glue here & there between the ties. With the raised roadbed, you also have potential tunnel height restrictions so make sure your tallest cars clear the tunnel with the raised height of the Rokuhan track. I’ll caution Rob with hot-glue as it can harden (cool) faster than you can assemble/position the track. Also, it always leaves ‘spider webs’ when you pull away. If so, having the track assembled first, is a priority. Then mark the outside line (just the ‘hidden’ side) or at the ends of then track where there are angles to help reposition accurately. If you are able to get your nails easily Through the Rokuhan track holes, you should be able to lightly tap the nail to make a visible intent in the formed road bed. You could then remove the track and tap the nail through the hole as it is without the track. Then put drops of slow dry glue into the holes and lay a section of track or so at a time.
If you're a scale modeler looking for prototypical accuracy ... you're probably not going to be using Rokuhan tracks.
you might want to buy a box of glue dots and play around with them. i've used them for years and they appear to age well. Now Glue Dots have a new product "glue lines" which may be great for track (no unsightly round edges.) https://www.amazon.com/Glue-Dots-Line-Clear-Lines/dp/B00NGAZURO Screw or nails, they both pull out of the Noch foam over time. First thing you have to do on a new Noch completed layout with Marklin track is "walk" the track with your fingertip in the center on the ties to identify the raised nails, push them down, and then watch them gradually rise up again over time, along with your track! Rokuhan track definitely. The "lifting" of individual pieces of Marklin track from the board is history, the Rokuhan rails are permanently mounted on the roadbed. And Marklin track is sooo fragile, with broken ties where the nail hole in the tie has been torn, or the tie bent down, by over exuberant mashing down onto the foam.
Hey there .... I think I may have found a solution to my track nail/screw/glue/tape dilemma. Someone in a Facebook Group came up with a product and I also found a couple of YT videos that mention this product as well as it working well on Noch foam layouts. It is called Styro-goo and is made specifically for gluing plastic to hard Styrofoam. Found it on EBay and ordered a bottle. I can always push-pin the tracks in place while the glue dries. Then, carefully remove them. I Hope it works. Thanks all for your ideas.... I still have the nails and screws for problem areas which might need both glue and/or nails. .. and I could always order Glue-Dots/Lines if I need them. As far as the wires from the turnouts, I purchased an L Shaped tool (complete with How to YT Video!) from Z Scale Hobo that separates the wire from the plastic plug, thus allowing for a much smaller hole to drill. I think I may have a friend who would come over and drill a couple of holes for me through the foam. Attempting this myself spells eminent disaster. Lets hope it doesn't come down to that (!)
