OK, I’ve exhausted searches trying to find these in forum history and can’t find any reference in my books or magazines. I found the suggestion for re-railers on hidden track, which seems to be a great idea. But the concern that I realized during construction is how do I prevent my locos from derailing on hidden track and falling to the floor. A BLI DCC sound steamer, my one prized loco, doesn’t come cheap these days!
I can think the cheapest would be cardboard glued or stapled. Masonite, screwed, if you can in fact do that with plywood edges, seems to be very costly, a lot of work and perhaps overkill.
both of the methods you mentioned would work. With the masonite you can run some duct tape over the top edge so it’s not as hrd if something leans on it. You could even go to the hardware store and get some of that foam rubber stuff that they make custom grommets from and use that.
Now I model in N scale and I’m not sure if this will work with a heavier loco, like HO. Please try this at your own risk if you are not using as directed.
One that I like thats quite cost effective is those foam craft sheets that you can get at WalMart or any craft store. You’ll usually find them in the kids section. They come in 8"x11" sheets in many colors and you can buy bulk packs too. I get the bulk pack and cut it into strips lengthwise. Next I take some thumb tacks and tack the strips along the edge of the roadbed, sticking up a ways. then I cut one of the foam strips into smaller pieces and grab a hot glue gun. Now glue the short strips across each joint in the wall you’ve made. Wait 30 seconds, and,…Ta-Dahhhh!!! You’ve just made a soft wall that has a little give in it, but it keeps the train at least near the tracks.
I suppose you could modofy this as necessary.
Please use adult supervision. Not responsible for tampering or use of product if directions are not followed. Please do not destroy, mutilate, spindle, or otherwise misuse this product.
Larger sizes of that foam-core board are available at Office Depot, and they do glue up nicely with hot glue. I cut mine 1 inch above railhead height, which leaves ample room for the 0-5-0, when, as and if.
I was concerned about this potential, as well. I have a huge hollow mountain where the track enters and then runs perilously close to the back, open, edge of the layout to keep the curves wide. I knew that I was asking for trouble back there, even though it is perfectly flat Code 100 on good foam. So, I glued retaining walls out of foam, just high enough to catch a tumbling loco, but not so high that I could not fiddle back there with a full arm. Make a 1"-high berm of foam about 1.5" outboard of the tracks along the treacherous parts and you should be okay.
I suppose you’re right. I was thinking of some of my fast passenger trains, but you’re right, even the few times that they have left the rails they don’t go far.
I haven’t seen them in a while, but in the past I’ve used plastic painting shields. They are pieces of flexible plastic, about 3 or 4 inches wide and three feet long. You’d stick them between carpeting and baseboard to protect the carpet from the paint. They were cheap and very flexible.
I just stapled them to the side of the layout top, so that they stuck up about 2 inches or so.