Well, you’ll have to ask the “boss” (aka Marc Horovitz) about an article! Marc is totally responsible for reading, selecting, and purchasing stuff that goes in the magazine. What I’d suggest is sending him an email with a description of what you’re proposing. His email is: mhorovitz@gardenrailways.com
Wish I could say more. [V] But send him a note. We’d never learn about some great ideas if it weren’t for creative people like you.
I’d like to look into constructing my own track just like yours. Don’t cha just hate copy-cats?[;)] Where can I get “Micro-Engineering Spikes”? …and does Sunset Valley have a Web Site? Also, Does Kalmbach have a number for ordering that Dec/96 issue?
Thanks-o-ton. [:p] BTW nice magazine
Hi M. Horovitz,
I would like the address of a supplier of Sunset Valley code-250 brass rail. I am in the same position as Kevin - lots of space for laying track, but would need to buy about $2000 worth of ready made to install my projected layout, plus overseas shipping costs. Possibly self built track would be less costly and shipping coils of brass rail (is it supplied in coils?) would also prove less costly than pre-built, to my Central American location. Prefabricating sleepers would be no problem, but spikes would be useful!
Alan E.
I’ll have to admit that I have never seen rail of any kind in coils.
Either pre-fab sections of straight or defined curves, as an assembly with ties in place, OR…
Bulk rail which comes shipped in tubes, as straight rail, YOU put the ties on, (any way you want to, pre-fabbed or scratch,) and you use a rail bender to curve each rail to whatever radius, varied or otherwise, that suits your needs. (Which is what I do.)
I am in the process of building track for our club layout. Am using both 250 and 332 rail. The club is Arizona Garden Railway Society. Based in Phoenix. My turnouts are #6.We use redwood for the ties to discourage termites. These are all live frog with micro switch for electrical routing. I even have a Y built on the end of our dual track staging trestle leading down to the layout around a 40 ft. daimeter helix. All of this track is code 250 hand laid with a 1.8 percent grade. It leads to a yard ladder custom build with 5 turnouts in a 12 ft length. My turnouts are an exact match for the new Aristo #6. The main lline is build from 332 rail both prefab and handlaid. We are keeping a minumim radius of 5 ft. Have some pix on club website www.azmodelrr.com
I’d like to know what the correct size rail is for: LGB (1:22.5 scale…Code 332.
Code 332 is .332" tall. I know LGB’s is way too tall,scale-wise.
1:20.3 scale track,I 'm not sure what scale/code it goes with.Code 250 ? (1/4" Height). I think this size is more in scale than LGB provides in their sets.
I’m also aware that there’s track available in Code 197…which I take to mean .197" tall. What’s the scale that size corresponds with?
I have all LGB stuff right now,a starter set, plus I added a couple of wood hauling cars and a bunch of Code 332 track.
I’d still like to know the closest “Correct” scale rail for a scale between Code 332 and 1:20.3 scale.
Any thoughts?
Hi, Bob, Dean here. Can you and I talk about How I could build my own track, materials sources, techniques, etc?
Hi all,
I handlay my turnouts, using Code215 brass rail (out of OZ), ME spikes and red cedar ties which I had cut to order by IBEC.
I skip handlaying the track, this in consideration of having handlaid approx. 800ft of HOm track and life gets shorter as I get older and there is Canadian track which has almost the perfect tie pattern for RhB track.
Interested in how I do turnouts? Check out http://www3.telus.net/RhB_layout_Grischun if you’re interested in the Swiss Rhaetian Railways you may want to check out the Discussion Forum as well
Cheers
HJ
hi guys, i’m building a g scale with aristo, usa, and lbg track. what i would like to know is how to get two or three travks layed in a curve so that they maintain a 6" parrell throughout the curve. i remember when i worked with ho kalmbach had a how toobook for ho but i haven’t found anything like it for g. at the moment i have 4,5,and 10 ft. dia. track sections. track laying with flex track , i’m not that expearience to try such an endeavor. any help would be gratefull. bill banks at trains@w-link.net
Man, you G scale fanatics must be rich dudes. If your living in the USA fair enough, but the rest of us would have to win a lottery before we can afford the track. I cant afford over $20,000 to to have the track around the back yard, I would have to sell the wife off. Once I sell her off, no house, no section, so I’m no better off.
I have found a much cheaper way, give ne a yell and I can tell you how I have done it.
.
were can i get spikes from to make my own track?
Llagas Creek, MicroEngineering
They come in various grades i.e. Stainless Steel or blackened.
Just to give it a try, you could use the spikes that are used in electric brad drivers, they’re galvanized and shouldn’t rust.
Hey Tony,[;)][:)]
We’re all millionaires, living on large estates, having our gardeners do all the grunt work etc. etc. 
If I’d spend $20K on track I’d get shot, so we’re all looking for more reasonable ways (cheaper just sounds too tacky [:o)][:o)]) and depending on inclination, talent, time and finances we come up with something. One thing’s for sure, if you’re in to modelrailroading - regardless of scale - you better not count your time or you’re broke before long!
Where ever your buying from , STOP! they’re robbing you blind!!![:0]
Who ever said we were rich? I certainly am not. $20,000? I could probably lay a loop around my back yard for around $200 but it would be pretty simple. Laying your own track is a pretty good way of saving alot of money when building a larger more complex layout. your trading the out of box conveniounce of RTR track for a lower price by supplying your own labor to make ties and bend track. Making you own track sound VERY labor intensive, your trading your labor for a lower material cost, after all your only buying the railand your buying that in bulk.
Instead of buying ten 60" track sections ,50’ of track, at say $10 each for $100 total, you could buy a hundred 60" rails for that same $100 bucks, that when layed would equal fifty 60" sections or 250’ of track. 50’ -vs-250’ for the same dollars. Do the math, you’ll see the light too.
To Kevin Graham
I am up here on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and i belong to the LGB and Garden railway club located in Sydney, the man is Colin Everitt. They have their own die and draw their own rail and also have sleepers to go with them. They will also lend club members a bending machine as it comes in 12 ’ (3.69 m) lenghts I am using it at the moment and i recon its the best thing since sliced bread and about 1/3 the price of discreet sections.
I am committed to making my railway fit my garden not the other way around and being able to form the track to suit your requirements is the only way to go.
If you want Colins contact details please contact me direct and i will give them to you. My email address is iandor@bigbond.com.
Regards
Ian.
Nightingale, Tell me more about your methods/materials. I have been thinking about
forming my own track out of aluminum. Any thoughts others? I too have big dreams but no cash. iaviksfan@aol.com
Where does everyone buy their rails? I look in Walthers catalog and see only Lots of
money for 48’ ($58.00)
Kevin,
I’m in Adelaide, similar weather conditions. I have an article here:
http://www.trainweb.org/toenailridge/story1.html
on hand-building and hand-laying track using red-gum sleepers ripped down from a real full size sleeper. Use blue-tacks for nails, the track is now over 7 years old and has had less than 10% of the sleepers and nails replaced.
Get in touch…
nightingale:hello from the usa–im one of then G scalers.-- this is my first post here so with that said.-- i was amuse with your statement,(selling your wife off) it would be cheaper to let go of your plans to buit a train.but it wouldnt be no fun.i made a deal with my wife,she wonted a pond, i wonted a train, ill built you a pond if you’ll let me have a train-!-oh by the way i would like to put this train around that POND WELL YOU HELP ME?some $500 later i got what i wonted she got what she wonted i us her money and now ya-la train city.
toms g train