I am laying code 100 ho flex track with black plastic ties for the first time. I am planning on nailing it down, but there is a couple of areas where I cannot nail. Could someone suggest what adhesive I should use.
thanx for the help CCG
Cheap latex caulk would be my suggestion. Spread a very thin layer with a putty knife, about the width of the ties. Do not use so much that it comes up between the ties. You can virtually see through the layer. If you are laying curves, I would suggest using some T pins to hold it in the curve while the caulk dries. Put some books, bricks, cans of paint or other weight to hold all of it down. Track can be moved later, if neccessary, by sliding a putty knife carefully under the track. Do not put it under turnouts. The track will hold them in place and if you get adhesive on the turnout, it will give you problems.
Suggestion: Paint your roadbed, at least under the turnouts, a color close to your ballast. This way you do not need as much ballast under them, which can also mess them up.
One caution when nailing your track. Do not nail it down too hard. If you push down too hard, you can bend the ties and make your track out of guage.
Good luck,
Richard
The only Latex “adhesive” caulk to use is DAP 3.0 it has a set up time of less then 5 minutes and by all means make sure it’s Clear Latex Adhesive caulk not bathroom calk etc. that stuff never drys and you will have nothing but a mess on your hands
Thanx for the input guys. Installing this track has me real nervous. My layout is 8’ x 12’, with 3 main lines, about 30 turnouts, a turntable, freight yard and a tank farm. All of the track, turnouts, and all of the rolling stock are at least 35 years old. The 90’ turntable is the only new addition to the layout. I have never had any kind of train layout prior to a year ago when my grandson Corbyn (11 years old), expressed an interest in trains. Back in 1974 a friend of mine was killed in a motorcycle accident, and his wife told me to take all of his trains, They have been in my attic ever since. I rushed to get the trains running for corbyn. This means that I took no precautions about insuring good track work. Corbyn and I have had a blast building and running this layout. It is time now to start replacing all of the track work and rolling stock. Just after we started building this layout my son gave me a membership in Model Railroader magazine, which has been my salvation. I cant tell you how much help this website has been to us in keeping us on the right track.
THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL OF THE HELP
Corby City George (CCG)