Hi modelrailroaders. I would like to know how to put code track on to cork roadbed should I glue the piece of track to the roadbed or do I need to nail it down and one more question do I need to to glue the seprate small pieces of roadbed together?
Sincerely
Ryan LaPlaca
What do you mean by code track? Model railroad track comes in several sizes or codes. These codes are simply the height of the rail in inches x 1000. Thus code 83 rail is 0.083 inches tall.
People have used multiple methods for fixing track to roadbed. Using nails is the most common, although some have started using caulk like adhesives. You should glue the cork roadbed to your benchwork or table. Any wood glue works well for that.
It seems that a cheap tube of plain latex caulk will do a good job for most applications. Wave a thin bead of it down onto the cork roadbed, and then spread it as thin as you would soft butter if you were on a fat-restricted diet…and were adhering to it strictly. Press down the track, keeping kinks out of it, and then weight the track with sections of 2X4 with canned food on top. You would probably do well to use push pins or finishing nails to keep the tracks in place before adding the weights. They can be removed when the caulk is dry. Be sensible about the weight…it can be overdone. Also, try to distribute it evenly so that you don’t drive one part of the track downward more than another.
RyanLaP,
Are you real? I notice that you have posted a whole rash of questions over the past week the answers to which are only a matter of personal opinion or have no answer.
You draw the center line for track on the benchwork, then fasten each half of the cork roadbed so that the center follows that line. that same center helps you locate the track using the center holes in the ties (assuming your track has such holes). You can nail the track in, but don’t shove the nail in too deep or it will bend the tie and pull the rails together ruining the gauge. Another method is to use calk from a tube, as mentioned above. I spread the calk with an old credit card (or the many “fake” credit cards that seem to come in each weeks mail – I save them all) making sure there are no lumps and that the calk is nice and smooth. Warning – once glued, that’s it so do it right the first time. I spread a little ballast between the ties while the calk is still tacky
Nails can be pulled up, with care, and the track reused.
Does this answer your question? As to drawing that center line, do NOT freehand it. Use a straight edge for the tangents. For the curves, if you use sectional track use the track itself as a guide, or fasten a pencil to the end of a piece of string, other end has a thumb tack, for precisely the length of your radius. This might take some experimenting
Dave Nelson