Atlas code 83 concrete flex track & Peco rail joiners

Model Railroader
1

I am using code 83 flex track for the first time and have 2 questions first, I bought Pedo rail joiners for code 70, 75 & 80 but none will fit on the rail…I bought a bunch of them and tried various and no go. Is there a trick? Second, how do you hold down this flex track with no nail holes? drill holes? of course I will use caulk but on the curve will need a few nails. thank you kindly in advance

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I’m guessing you mean Peco rail joiners. What brand of Code 83 track? Is it Peco as well? Or is it Atlas or Walthers or ME? I always use the same brand of rail joiner as I am track.
I never use nails anywhere except for hidden track, which is Atlas code 100 (with the pre-drilled nail holes). Other than that I always use just caulk, even on 18" radius curves. I weight it down with soda cans while the caulk skins up good. Even just applied, the caulk usually has enough tack to hold the track in place without springing open on the curves.

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Yes, Peco…I was not sure caulk alone would hold as well but if it worked with 18" radius then it should work well on my 36" curves. thank you for the response!

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I have used pushpins on the inside rail and outside of the outer rail of flex track curves to hold them in place until the adhesive sets. On straights I alternate them to hold everything in alignment along with full soda cans as weights.

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5

I use nails on the ties outside of the rails, but I do alternate them on one side of the rail or the other.

Rich

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On the bottom side of the ties there should be partially “drilled” nail holes every so many ties. You ream/drill those out from the bottom on Peco track if you want to use them.

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thank you!

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I may have missed this and you’ve already answered, but onto what surface are you attaching the track?

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cork roadbed

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I think what I wanted to know is what is the surface the cork roadbed will be on. If it’s plywood, the nails would work. On foam, they won’t.

Like some others, I use caulk – a very, very think layer. It sets in several hours, and I’ve never had an issue with it not holding.

To hold it during the time it cures, I also use pushpins into the cork. It’s easy for me than to pound nails.

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