I have a “027” train I am putting on a permanent table layout. This is Lionel 3 rail track. How do I attach the rails to the syrofoam that is stacked 4in thick for inclines on top of the plywood table. I don’t want it coming loose from the styrofoam. [%-)]
If you’re going to ballast your track, the glue that holds the ballast will also hold the track. You can also use coarse thread sheet rock screws to temporarily hold the track.
Plastic wire ties, for bundling wire, can be used without conducting the vibrations down to the plywood. Drill through the table, pass one tie down through the track screw hole with the lock end up, put a second one on from under the table and pull snug, snip off the ends if desired. The end on the track can be painted if desired.
Plastic wire ties are not practical to use with 4 " of foam.
I believe Buckeye and others used drywall screws. Then if you ballast, the glue and etc will hold it.
Thanks for the information guys! Drywall screws and ballast glue is the trick. I’ll let you know how it comes out. Thanks!!
Specifically I am using the screws we used to build our deck. Any long skinny wood screw should work. It has been holding firm for seven years going on eight.
Chief…Wait until you see how I am going to attach my bridge piers/abutments to the foam. [:)]
Belated [#welcome], Saq.
Jack
Back in the’90s a guy in Johnson City used short pieces of 1-1/4" closet rod placed in drilled out spaces in his foam, which ranged from 4" to 8" thick, glued with Latex Liquid Nails and he screwed his GarGraves Flextrack to the rod ends. [latex Liquid Nails holds and won’t “eat” your foam–USE it!].
I later used his method for GarGraves flextrack in the curves of my high 5-track, shelf railroad. I drilled holes for the pine closet rod with a 1-1/4 spade bit [messy but workable] and glued the 2-1/2" pieces in–drilled screw holes and screwed the track to the rods. Just recently dismantled the 5-track shelf RR, but ran a MTH Clinchfield Challenger on one track 14 years and ithe system was still holding the track when I took it up [and gave it, 270’, to Lisa-NC].
More work but works!
Although clothes poles do vary, a very common diameter is somewhat larger, 1 5/16 inches, which seems to be influenced by the 1.315-inch diameter of 1-inch pipe. That size might very well hold in a 1 1/4-inch hole without glue.
The idea of using closet rod or wood dowels is a scream! Gluing that down through the styrofoam and screwing my track into the dowel rod tops should be the way to go. Thanks for all the input! You have certainly put a “greenhorns” mind at ease. Clinton