well when working on the railroad im nailing in Atlas code 80 sometiomes i hit the track its N scale and it bows the track up or down a little dos this happen to you guys??? it dos not always make the train derail so is it ok if this happens sometimes?? Thanxs in advance Tim
Heya freek,
I’ve usually used the method of lightly tapping the spike till it’s close and then using a center punch to tap it on home. Watch you don’t get too tight and bend the ties.
dwRavenstar
I have done that to some of my industrial switching layouts and on 2 round the walls branch line layouts so my track would look more prototypical …After all the two types of layouts I mention should have poorly maintain track.
I always hammer on my track.
Makes life interesting.
The bigger the hammer, the more interesting it gets.
Of course, if I don’t want to hit the track, I might use a nail set punch.
I work in HO but I don’t know that it works any different for N scale. Like a lot of other modelers, I don’t spike the track. I glue it in place until it is ready to be ballasted. The ballast will hold it in place permanently. Occasionally, I’ll have a stubborn section of track on a tight curve that doesn’t want to stay put. In that case, I’ll use one or two spikes at key places to help hold it in place until I ballast. Then I remove the spikes. If you must spike, use a nail set to gently tap the spike until it is just touching the top of the tie.
You’ll help yourself in the long run by avoiding hitting the rail. Using a nailset - a very inexpensive had tool if you don’t already have one - after getting the spike started, works great.
If you find that the spike will not “hold”…it keeps coming loose, then use a pin vise with a small drill bit and drill a hole in the next railtie over and reposition the nail. Again, use the nailset to avoid hitting the rail.
Or you could do like Chip suggests. Then your track could look like that photo in the #6/#4 turnout thread…[:-^]
ok one more questian- can i get a nail set at my LHS???
Probably not, try a hardware store.
Bob Boudreau
Probably not, you’ll have more luck finding one at any hardware store. It’s a common tool for carpenters.
Regards
Ed
i just asked my Dad he said that he migt have a nail set if nothe will get one for me[^][:D]Tim
You can also use the flat end of a ten penny nail, the side of a pair of needle-nosed pliers, in fact anything that is more narrow than the space between the rails.