I have become more interested in hand laying track recently. The reason is simple, there are no commercial turnouts that fit some of the sections of my new layout. I have hand laid some track previously but never have hand laid a turnout (especially a curved turnout). Hand laid track looks great but it misses the prototype track spikes and metal plates. I can live with that. But, it certainly takes a long time to get the job done compared to flex track and commercial turnouts![:|]
Thoughts and experiences of fellow model railroaders would be appreciated.[:D]
Building a small N gauge layout, plan to handlay all track including turnouts. A short stint of C70 for the main, C55 for the main branchline track, and C40 for sidings and such. I also plan to do it with wood ties and spikes, no PC ties and solder here with some tooth picks glued on. Should be a nice challenge.
I hand-lay all of my specialwork, both to assure quality and to fit track geometry that the commercial turnout builders have never attempted (Like three way switches with all three routes curving to the left…) For plain-jane trackwork, I use flex, for these reasons:
- A lot of my prototype’s rails were laid on concrete ties. Concrete tie flex is available. I’ve never seen or heard of hand-laid on concrete ties.
- I am building a large model railroad (double garage filler) with a lot of track, much of it hidden. The hand-laid plain jane track in hidden places (staging yards) was once display shelves; raw rail spiked directly to pine planks. I see no advantage to building more typical hand-laid track (other than specialwork) where no one is supposed to see it.
- As was noted, even inexpensive flex has tie plate detail. If you hand lay to prototype standards, with all the appropriate hardware, it would be more expensive than flex and take approximately forever to complete any significant length. If you don’t, flex looks better.
Count me firmly in the camp of those who lay flex for speed, and hand-lay specialwork for quality.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
About 60 percent of my layout is handlaid track and switches. I got started doing it when working on the NMRA MMR program, and part of the requirements for track was handlaying track and building switches. The rest of my track was already laidd with MicroEngineering track.
I got my MMR, but more, I got the satisfaction of doing the work. Of the 210 plus switches on the layout today, about 110 are handlaid, mostly in the visible areas, the manufactured switches (shinohara and Peco) are in the staging and helix areas. I am glad I learned how to do it, even though today I am not because of arthritis in my fingers making handlaid very uncomfortable.
Give it it try, you might like it.
Bob
Chuck,
I tend to agree with using the inexpensive flex track for a majority of the layout. I am 3 years into building a layout in a 20 foot x 30 foot room. To this point, I have used code 83 flex track and turnouts for the mainline and code 70 for industrial spurs and the main yard. It is the yard that is giving me some problems with turnouts. My yard is curved, which makes it more visually appealing and a better use of the available space. But, there is one section, part of the classification tracks that requires a code 70 curved turnout. I have used code 83 curved turnouts on the mainline and arrival/departure tracks (also code 83). But none fit ( have the appropriate radii for the classification tracks). I have not come across any curved code 70 turnouts. The curved code 83’s by Walthers are not of the appropriate radii, leading me to hand laying them. Looking for help and guidance in that area![:$]
Handlaying turnouts/crossings can save money, provide items not commercially available, be better working, etc.
Handlaying the rest of the track offers none of these advantages unless you glue the track to the ties and skip the tie plates, then it can save some money.
OTOH there’s a certain satisfaction to it. For a small layout you should try it. Since my next layout is basement size I’ll use flex track, but handlay the turnouts so I get better operation there.
Enjoy
Paul
Craig
Have you looked at the Central Valley ties? That is what I am using for my RR. Self gauging tie plates and all hand laid. The 8 foot 6 inch ties are my heavy branch line and the branch line ties are yard and spurs. The turnouts are done with no expensive jigs with just a couple of files and a simple home made jig to make all metal frogs from rail. I purchased some (150) tie bars and frog detail parts from P87 stores. With rail and ties it costs about the same as ME flex. Only it can be ballasted before rail is down and detailed for realistic looks. I can also change rail code when it calls for it. Code 70 heavy branch and code 55 and 40 in yards and industries. Using P87 solder able joint bars for rail joiners for the different rail codes adds a great deal of eye caching detail not seen on many layouts.
Pete
After some initial testing, I began hand laying my track when starting my new layout. I do all the track and the turnouts, etc. Bought stained ties, glued to homosote, with bought painted rail and spiked. Love the results and have a lot of satisfaction.
From threads in this forum… I think it is a personal issue. Some love to do it, others consider it a waste of time. For some its hard, for others its a learned skill and fun. There have been many threads on how people do it. I suggest using the search to find them… for there is a lot of good advice already on the forum
Have fun spiking… Hal
Bob,
I am interested in the NMRA AP certificates leading up to MMR. I have one certificate, Association Volunteer. I have six merit awards in the structures category. That was back in the mid 1990’s. We moved out of Asheville, NC to Roanoke, VA. Roanoke was a “desert” with respect to model railroad clubs. The James River Division met 4 times a year at different locations. That did not work well for me. I am back in NC in the Winston-Salem area. I have new interest in the Achievement Program and would like to obtain the certificate for Civil Engineer. So, hand laying a turnout or two might just be what I need to move ahead.[8-|]
The bad news is that I have not found the moving box with the six merit awards for Structures.[:'(] I have built about 8 Fine Scale Miniature kits and kit bashed a few others. I have scratch built about 10 other structures. So, if I can find the merit awards, I think I could get my second certificate.[:D]