Which brand of flex track would you recommend?
- Walthers 2. Atlas 3. Life Like $. Or some other Brand
If, like me, you are concerned about price go with Atlas. I bought Atlas Super-Flex Track. If your concern is Prototype then I’ve read that Walther’s or Shinohara is closest to prototype.
I am new to model RR but so far, the few Life Like products I’ve purchased aren’t so good.
Dave
Lots of times you don’t get a choice, you take what your local hobby shop has or special order a case. Add to list above Peco which is very good. Go to www.walthers.com to see what is avalible in your scale.
If you can check at the store , ask to try the brand they have with it’s rail joiners. See if it is easy to slide the joiners on and off. If memory serves, Life Like is not too user friendly, and Peco, nice track as it undoubtedly is, has quite horrible joiners when it comes to joining with any other brand of track. (Sort of like computer and software companies we won’t mention who seem to go out of their way not to be compatible with anyone else [:(] ) If the joiners don’t work well , avoid the track. If it’s the only one available, then maybe online is the place to shop, but you’d better stock up on just one brand.
I’ve gotten good results with Atlas code 83 flex track and Walthers code 83 turnouts.The ties for the turnouts are thinner than those on the Atlas track, so I put a shim made of .020 styrene under the end ties to level them. I also use Atlas code 100 rail joiners. Much easier to use and easier on the finger tips. With soldered rail joints and painted rail, the slightly oversize joiners are no problem.
Peco code 75 shouldn’t be joined with other track (as a rule), that may be why you have trouble with their joiners. Peco is also code 75 and has a full line of switches and accesories. I agree, it is a problem joining it to code 70 or 83, like it’s hard to join 83 to 70 or 100. Peco does make code 100 also and it joins with Atlas 100 for sure without problems.
Availability of track and turnouts is almost as important as what is best. Up here on the “Wet Coast”, Shinohora 70 is the choice of top modelers - aside from hand laid.
where to go to buy flex track ???
Go to your LHS (local hobby store) or you can always order online.
I’m in N scale and have never had any difficulty mixing brands of track. I have mixed Atlas 80, Peco 80, Peco 55 and Kato Unitrack and years ago used some Shinahara turnouts and a Lima crossing. The Peco N rail joiners are thinner than the Atlas but will still work if I’m careful not to force them out of shape. The Atlas joiners work too. Connecting Atlas 55 or Micro Engineering 55 with the others, because or the difference in rail height, takes a little more work but can be done. For main lines I usually use Atlas 80 because of cost, I prefer Peco 55 to differentiate secondary track. For turnouts I usually use Peco, but will use other brands if they are a better fit for the site.
I can’t comment on HO since the only flex track available when I was in that scale had fiber ties.
The prototype mixes sizes and types of rail, and we can too.
I’ve used Atlas Super Flextrack almost exclusively and say its very good, especially the Terminal rail joiners
My two cents - Micro Engineering flex in code 83, 70 and (if you dare) 55. This stuff looks fantastic and I believe has the most prototypical rail head size and shape.
Guy
Atlas, Peco, & Shinohara
I have used atlas when I was in HO and Shinohara now that I’m in S. Both work fine. The key is doing a good job of track laying - smooth roadbed, no kinks at the joints, etc. Take your time and check it - lean over and sight along the track. If it doesn’t look smooth - it isn’t. Redo it. Laying track on a curve last month I soldered a kink in the rail[
]. Before going on - I cut out the joint and redid it.
Enjoy
Paul
I will always use Atlas code 100 flex track…it’s cheap and it’s easy to work with when you lay it…I usually paint the rails with floquil rail brown and remove the excess paint from the top of the rail with a bright boy , then i paint the ties grimy black …you can buy it by the case (usually in a bundle of 100 sections) on the internet …also, check out the hobby shop ads in Model Railroader Magazine…Train world, America’s hobby center , ect… all sell it by the bundle
Also comes pre-weathered or unweathered, very good product.
Jay
Atlas, both Code 100 (hidden) and Code 83. For the money it is as good as anything out there.
I’m using Atlas & Peco code 100 for everything. Both work well together with my Peco & older than dirt Shinohara switches.
Gordon
Prototypical: best is Micro Engineering, nothing else is close.
Operation: code 100 Atlas with Peco turnouts.
I use Peco 75 and previously I used Peco 100 flextrack and turnouts. I have always found them just fine. All track looks better with a cork underlay and a spread of appropriate ballast laid over it and pre-wet with “wet” water add a drop of dishwashing liquid to a jar of water and lightly mist/spray on then use watered down PVA glue or acrylic matt media to fix. Cover up turnout mechamisms to stop glue/ballast seeping into th works.