I am fairly inexperienced in model railroading, and I have a question about track. I went to my local hobby store, but they only had the ez-track etc., but none of the segmented regular track. The only regular track they carried was the flex track. Is that the way to go (flex track)? The ez track might look as good if I put ballast over it, but then I figure I might as well go with the regular track to save some money. Any suggestions? Also, I have alot of HO scale model train parts, but have no idea about N scale. Does all the electrical stuff that applies to HO apply to N? Is there anything special I should know about it? Also what is this code 55 track I keep reading about? Thanks, Steve [ 13. November 2002, 02:36: Message edited by: Mindwarp ]
First, \/\/ELCOME ABOARD!! Being new to the hobby, Flex track is not exactly the best way to start. It takes more patience and skil to sucessfully lay flextrack. Sectional track is a no-brainer, and quite simple to lay. What is your benchwork made from? I HIGHLY suggest gluing your track down to your roadbed, whether foam or cork. Both are cheap, and readily available anwhere. I glue all my track down, using track nails to positively locate it while it's drying. I also use foam benchwork construction, modular for portability. I have tons of pics in my webshots albums, so take a look see if that'll work for you! Do you have a layout plan in mind? Reg. flex track and sectional track is usually code 80, meaning the actual rail is .080" high. Code 55 is gaining popularity these days, but is better for experienced modellers, and modellers who model an earlier era, like steam. Code 55 is .055" tall, so it looks better, more prototypical, and more finescale. Flextrack can be found in either these sizes, or even code 40 which is REALLY small stuff, code 70, and many maufacturers. Many agree that Atlas track is the way to go. This is for many reasons, some of which are: cost. Atlas track is everywhere, flex, sectional, you name it. 2: Atlas track is cheap!! Code 55 is nice stuff, and priced almost like code 80 stuff, but once you leave the Atlas camp, and look at Micro-Engineering, Peco, Shinohara, and other track, Atlas is easier to find. Stuff like what I just mentioned is hard to come by in an average hobby shop. It is usally special-order stuff, and it's not cheap at all! Atlas track is what I'd recommend to you, and I use it myself. Now I consider myself to be an intermediate modeller, an expert by no means. I'll save that title to RSN48, Pray59, Alan, Colonel, and... you get the picture. I have learned so muuch for these guys! You will too. Since foam construction is so easy (no special expensive tools for wood construction) cheap, and lightweight, I'd recommend you try it. A sheet of foam runs about 15 bucks for 2" variety. That one sheet of foam will be sufficient for a nice sized layout. Plus, any extras you have left over, if you don't do a 4x8 will work nice for scenery *hills, etc* They also come is 2x8 sizes I hear. There are many layout plans available in small sizes, like this link: Mike's small trackplans I invite you to check it out, and see what you like. All plans are sectional, some with flextrack. All can get a parts list for what you need to buy to build any layout listed! Email me off list or post back here is you have any more questions!
Thanks for the reply, glad I stumbled onto these boards I was planning to make the framework with a 1/2" sheet of plywood on top, and then I was going to add another layer of something on top, foam sounds good. Couple of questions about that part though (1) So when I head off to home depot, is it a special type of foam, or just any foam? (2) Can I cut it with anything, or do I need a special tool? (3) Do I need to use special glue? (4) Do I still nail the roadbed/track into the foam, or just use glue? I have been trying to use the forums search function also, so hopefully not all of this is completely redundant Oh and very cool pictures, that layout looks neat Steve [ 13. November 2002, 03:50: Message edited by: Mindwarp ]
Welcome to TrainBoard, Mindwarp! Don't worry about asking a lot of questions - that's how we all learn! To answer your questions in order: 1. Buy extruded styrofoam insulation (also called blueboard or pinkboard, depending on the color). I can't recommend the white beadboard, because of lack of strength and texture. I've used the extruded styrofoam on a number of layouts, and highly recommend it. 2. You can cut the styrofoam with a knife, but Woodland Scenics offers a foam cutting tool that used heat to melt the foam when cutting. It retails for about $30, but it's really handy. If you don't want to spend the $$, I've always gotten by with a long blade in an Xacto #5 handle, and a Stanley Surform tool for shaping the foam. 3. YES! You definitely need a special glue. Liquid Nails for Styrofoam, or a cheap knockoff, will do the job just fine. Any other glue will melt the styrofoam, and you're left with lightweight Swiss cheese. For laying track, you can use Woodland Scenics' Foam Tack Glue. Again, it's not cheap (~$10 for a bottle) but it's styrofoam-compatible, and easy to spread under roadbed and track. 4. It helps to tack the track down while the glue dries. Woodland Scenics offers long Foam Nails, but you can also use pushpins to hold the track in place. When the glue dries, just pull the pins and re-use them. You might have to ream the holes wider in the Atlas track to use the pushpins, but they are a lot cheaper. I have been laying cork and flextrack on upguys railroad, and getting used to the smaller size of N scale. No, I'm not switching! I usually don't lay more than a couple feet of cork/track in a 2-hour evening, but over time it adds up. If you use sectional track, you should go a little faster, since you won't have to trim the flextrack to size. For your first railroad, I do second the recommendation to use sectional track. You might also check out the Atlas books with N scale track plans - they offer two different ones, and there are some good ideas in each one. Pat Pat
I don't use any special glue for my track, I use standard latex liquicd nails,as Ialsouse on the foam scenery. Cheaper, and boy am I a cheapskate!!
Speaking of cheap.... I picked up a foam cutter in the floral section of Michael's. Got it for less than $5. It cut through foam like it was butter. About the track... next time I start building... It'll be nothing but flex-track. I've had more problems with sectional track than it's worth...
Great tip - think I'll stop by Michael's on the way home tonight. Also speaking of cheap - plain old Elmer's, or the equivalent, works on foam, too, and is cheaper than Liquid Nails. Plus, check out Michael's for "T-pins" - looks a lot like Woodland $cenic$ Foam Nails but a lot cheaper.
