Handlaid Vs. flextrack essay?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have to write an argument essay and wa thinking about writing it one handlaying track Vs. flex track. I think I am going to argue the pro side of handlaid track. I like it myself and so i think it would be easier to argue a paint I agree with. I have come up with some points but do not have very many. What would be some good pro’s and con’s for both sides.

Please name all the pros and cons you can think of, even if they are obvious.

Thanks!

2

The greatest “Pro” for handlaid is the ability to build a turnout (any frog #, size, curved etc) and also odd angled diamonds. Ties can be placed more realistically and stained weathered much easier than painting and weathering plastic.

Another pro: when I install my bridges, I have the ability to carry the bridge rails out on to the handlaid ties and spike them into position (same for guard rails) this allows for a very secure anchoring of the bridge, power feeders behind the abutments and the bridge can be removed easily if ever needed.

Cons: Very tedious and time consuming. Even though I like handlaid, it doesn’t have the prototypical detailed look as some of the new flextrack. The offerings in some of the newer turnouts (DCC friendly) make flex more attractive to many also.

3

More years ago than I care to remember, a club I was part of had this same discussion. The layout being built was split into two sections and the flex-track guys were finished and running while the handlaid guys were still trying to lay a main and the sidings had not even been started. At this point, the handlay guys conceeded and the layout finished with flex.

4

I have all pros for flextrack (hey, Ilike things to be simple.)

  1. Idiot-proof (almost.) There’s almost nothing to it. Cut to length, trim bottom of rail, cut off the last tie, add rail joiners, use tacky glue, connect.

  2. With handlaid track, it can take a while. If you apply yourself, you can lay a lot of flex-track in one day. Very quick.

  3. Easiness. Your average guy can master laying flextrack in less than 30 miniutes, while hand-laying can take a while to master.

  4. Easily bent. Flex-track can bend like nobody’s business. I don’t know what hand-laid can do.

Hope it helps.

5

Caveat - I hand-lay specialwork, but use flex for ‘plain’ track.

Handlaid:

Pro:

  • Can more accurately represent older or poorly-maintained prototype track.
  • Can be easily adapted to fine standards or unusual track gauges.
  • Specialwork assembled from raw rail is much less expensive than the commercial product. Straight track also, but not to the same extent.
  • Pride of accomplishment - “I built that…”

Con:

  • Time consuming.
  • Requires rather more manual skill, and attention to detail.
  • Supplies are not as easy to find at the LHS - may have to be ordered.
  • Cannot accurately reproduce certain kinds of prototype trackwork - eg., concrete ties.

Flex Track:

Pro:

  • Can be laid quickly.
  • May represent certain kinds of track more accurately.
  • Can usually be found wherever model railroad supplies are sold, especially Atlas Code 100.

Con:

  • More expensive.
  • Plastic ties require finishing - they do not look like wood (or concrete, for that matter.)
  • Unskilled or careless soldering can damage ties.

Most of the cosmetic differences (except tie type) can be eliminated with careful finishing - painting rail and ties, proper ballasting, etc. The real tradeoff is time versus money.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with flex and hand-laid turnouts)

6

younger as a kid, I didnt have the money for lots of switches and flex track, and I liked code 83

because it was more realistic and could run deep flanged locos like AHM RR. My big layout I had going was 100% handlaid.

I had to abandon that layout, but I go for the detail first of flex and available turnouts, but my module I am making is about all handlaid using handlay turnout kits. Normal turnouts could not work for the design. I don’t see any specific pro’s-cons between flex and handlaying, its just the matter how you want to lay your track and use the means to do what you need to do.

The club I was in used flex track but made their own turnouts, they knew the problems of turnouts and save money on turnouts, and built their own turnouts. All rail frogs and the points stayed the same polarity as the adjacent rails, no shorting. Smart. Pre-DCC. Best running layout ever, they solved a lot of the problems known in the hobby.