We are in the process of adding cork roadbed to our layout at home. I was wondering if any one here had a pic of how to cut it for swiches. I know i’ve seen a diagram of how to cut the normal roadbes strips for switches, but i can seem to find one any where. Dose any one have an electronic copy they could post, or is there a website out there that has one? If not what book or mag could i find this in?
Thanks a ton.
I don’t have a diagram, but I’ll try my best to explain it.
My approach is to cut a standard narrow triangle from sheet cork; the makers of the cork roadbed sell it in sheets as well as the familiar halves for single track. The triangle is used for the “inside” half of the cork roadbed beneath the turnout. The three corners of the triangle are the center points of the straight and diverging tracks and a point about an inch toward the frog from the throw bar.
Basically, you install this triangle at the center of the Y of your drawn centerlines, then add the outer halves of the roadbed around it. This make nice, clean roadbed beneath the turnout without a lot of seams or gaps.
Obviously you need a separate template for the different turnout sizes.
Not sure if you are aware but there is a company that makes cork switch beds. I got mine from Itty Bitty Lines. They are available in the different number turnouts.
http://home.mountaincable.net/~va3cp/track1.htm
http://home.alltel.net/ah50902/corkbed.htm
http://www.nmra.org/beginner/track.html
http://www.polyweb.com/dans_rr/blog/index.php/archives/category/layout-progress/track/
not cork but check this out
http://s145079212.onlinehome.us/rr/howto/splines/index.shtml
i just cut the conjoining piece on an angle under the turnout.
I believe you can also purchase cork that is pre-cut for turnouts.
Personally, I use sheet cork for roadbed. Switch pads are easy to cut from sheet. I have a template I made out of cardboard by simply tracing a switch (one left and one right). I just lay the template on the sheet cork and cut around it. Then I simply butt the diverging roadbed against the switch roadbed pad and I’m done.
Ron
thanks guys. some of the photos are a lot of help. I know companys do make precut swich peices, but i dont want to pay for them. i should take a look again at sheet cork. I had once before but was not sure how i wanted to cut it. my brother solved the problem by buying a case of cork road bed. Now we jsut need to start on the switches.
Thanks,
~matt