I’ve been working on the layout laying some Atlas Code 83 track and have came to the conclusion that if if the underside of the plastic ties had a dried adhesive that gets sticky when wet. So when the track is cut and laid in place, just use a misting water spray to wet the track and leave it until dry. This doesn’t seem like a hard product to add as a modification for track manufactures, I would sure buy a product like this to make track laying go faster. Any thoughts from other track gang members. Bruce Petty
Pricing??
I though that you were using Micro Engineering track. BTW, how are you doing the benchwork and supports for the “Coast Line” on your layout? Looks like it should be simple.
I use both Micro Engineering and Atlas. Just have to do the Coast Line with the Atlas to match the Burbank Jct. module. The 7 foot center of the room crossing will be hinged at both ends and built drop down unit. Not laying a lot of track, but being somewhat of a lazy model railroader and always looking for easier method.
Bruce,
I think your idea is a good one IF…the track is only sold in places like the southwest and the eastern portions of CA, OR, and WA, where it’s dry. You might run into problems with the track sticking where you don’t want it to in places where the humidity is much higher. Interesting concept, all the same. [:)]
Tom
Not to mention the deleterious effects on trackwork when you come along later and do things that require re-wetting the area… ballasting, ground foam, etc.
You could use an alcohol-solved adhesive and avoid humidity and many water-related issues, but would still need to make sure you didn’t use alcohol as part of a ‘wet water’ mix for ballasting & such.
Sounds like a good idea, but I’d be concerned about:
- The adhesive unintentionally becoming activated while in storage (if it were water activated), and what it would do to the track (or what is stored with it).
- Shelf life of the adhesive.
- Reusing track once the adhesive is set.
- Cost it would add to track.
Seems to me that a simple bead of caulk would do nicely and cost much less.
Good points. Maybe water activated adhesive isn’t the way to go, but with the thousands of types of adhesives on the market there should be one that would work well. How about a two part glue where the second part can be brushed over the track to activate it. The activator would be a liquid in a bottle purchased with that type of adhesive track. I carefully cut track, curve and hold in place by pins. Be really be nice if I didn’t have to pick it all up so to put the glue down. This type of track could be its own product line.
Instead of adding adhesives to the bottom of the ties in manufacturing, leave things the way they are and let the modeller add their own adhesive.
True, there’s really nothing stopping a DIY solution right now. I’m thinking if you got one of those narrow foam paint rollers and a small tray, you could roll contact cement or something similar onto the bottom of the ties and get much the same effect…
Personally, I don’t shape, cut and pin my track THEN take it back up to put down adhesive, so from my perspective caulking the track down is really just as easy. I just lay and smooth a bead of caulk and lay the track right into it. That’s one of the advantages of caulk - plenty of “working” time if you have to adjust.
Agreed. That’s why I think contact cement wouldn’t be the wisest of choices. Your track would have to be already rigid (or soldered together) and you’d get ONE shot at alignment and/or getting it right. The caulk is the better way to go, in my opinion…
Tom
All I ever did when I used flex track was to use small nails or tacks to hold the track in place temporarily. That done, i would put white glue down between and under the ties then add the ballast. Once this had dried, I would take the nails out and let the glue hold it all.
'zactly. If I could think of a better adhesive for track than plain old painters caulk, I’d already be using it… “preapplied” to the ties or no.