I am desperately looking to get some ME Gauge H0 Code 55 Flextrack. Any idea where I could find stock of this (I tried most internet shops) or anybody here having some private stock not needed anymore? Pls help, I’m stuck with my layout building!
Many thanks
really nobody who could help me out?
You sure that track is even offered in HO ? Nothing showing via google for HO…plenty 55 for N scale.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=micro+engineering+ho+code+55
Some show here, don’t know if they really have it. I thought someone posted about it in the last week or so, and found some, but I can’t find it…?
Trainmaster in Duluth, GA (see their web site at http://www.trainmastermodels.com/) got me some Micro Engineering code 55 dual gauge track a couple weeks ago. They send in orders to their suppliers on Thursday, and they get a delivery early the next week. Give them a call.
many thanks for your responses. It really looks like this track is completely sold out and not manufactured at this moment. I have tried so many shops now, I do not know what to do else. Unless a miracle happens I will probably end up hand laying code 55 H0 track for the next decade…[:(]
I know a saw a post on some forum last week where someone actually found some. Unfortunately the search here doesn’t work that well, and I think the subject line a a type in it, just to make it more challenging…
Found it! Look at this thread. Don’t know if they still have it, but it was only last week…
It looks like Caboose Hobbies has some in stock - www.caboosehobbies.com.
As I recall in the other posting (which I contributed to) the person was looking for the M-E pre-weathered code 55 in HO, and I think Caboose Hobbies and Walthers were both sold out of that. I know Walthers has their Code 83 pre weathered flex track because I just bought some there.
Be aware of a couple of things. First the M-E weathering is a patina not a paint. That means it conducts electricity just fine BUT if you want shiny railheads you need to use a motor tool with a wire brush and what you would be removing is not paint but actual metal. As a result I use the pre weathered track only for lightly used spurs and branches, not main lines. Of course a mainline with such light rail was perhaps lightly used anyway.
The other thing is that M-E sells its weathering patina fluid in bottles. You can apply it to shiny rail using a Q-tip but it takes several applications before the rail gets as dark brown as their own pre weathered rail. But this means that if you can find their Code 55 in regular rail not preweathered you can darken it yourself (also turnouts, guard rails, rail joiners, etc) using the chemical. And with care you can limit the darkening to the sides of the rails.
Dave Nelson
According to Jim Six and Tony Koester, Micro Engineering wore out their molds for their code 55 toe strips. They’re in the process of cutting new molds for the ties, but nobody knows when they’ll be ready to start making more C55 track.
So you’re not alone in trying to scrounge up some of this stuff. LOTS of proto modelers are doing the same thing as you guys: searching every LHS they can find looking for whatever scraps they can find. I was lucky enough to find 20 or so pieces a year ago, which is just about what I’ll need to do all of my stub sidings (my mainlines are code 70, which is still available). Start scrounging now, as I’m sure the price of the new C55 track will shoot up, due tot he costs incurred in cutting new molds (which aren’t cheap)
The other thing with MicroEngineering is they are not big on advertising. You will find they often skip one or more months at a time in the modeling magazines where they don’t run any ads, and they have no web site.
Makes it really hard to figure out what’s going on, that’s for sure. It’s too bad they are such a recluse of a business, they make really good stuff. But I guess it must sell well, even though they don’t seen to care all that much about keeping the hobby market informed or making themselves easy to find.
Sorry for not having responded for a while, but I wanted to thank you all for your help and advise, especially Jeff for pointing me to Vic’s Hobby Supply in Portland - they ordered for me newly produced Code 55 H0 Flextrack from ME - whiched arrived yesterday here in Germany safely!!!
The price for the track has not changed, so no worries there. It was pre-weathered track which is not available anymore at this stage (according to Walthers) but they will shortely deliver the non-weathered track.
The look of the Code 55 track is excellent compared to Code 70 or 83 - and RP25 wheels are a perfect fit for them. As well they fit my plans for a pre 1900 layout perfectly! I just have to ajust the tie spacing properly.
Allow me please two new questions:
I have read here about latex caulk being a great glue for fixing track on foam. However, I translated “latex caulk” to German which didn’t make any sense to me. Does anybody know a different name for this? Or what does it consist of?
bending ME Flextrack. I am familiar with the stiffness of the ME Flextrack, my question is related on how to re-bend it to a perfect straight track? I hope you understand what I mean (it relates to flextrack which is already bended a bit and I want to put it back to a perfect straight fit).
Many thanks again from Germany![:)]
Painters use latex caulk to fill cracks around windows and such. You want the one that is latex or acrylic rather than silicone, which will be more likely to be used around bathtubs and such. So I’d expect to find it in the paint area of an OBI or someplace like that. (I lived in Germany for a year and a half, so I can find my way around, though speak very little!)
Looks like this:
http://www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?product_id=23
Some use clear, some use white, some use grey, to hide it under ballast.
Latex is rubbery and features water clean up rather than chemicals or solvents. There are for example latex paints and latex gloves (medical gloves). Maybe these examples suggest a German equivalent.
Dave Nelson
Thanks for your responses Dave & Jeff.
I know of course latex based glues which are specially offered in Germany for usage of fixing ballast but they are quite expensive here (but they have other beautifull stuff too, like to scale ballast etc have a look even its all German the pictures are great www.asoa.de/spurh0.htm ). As have been mentioned in some postings here, your latex caulk seems to be very cheap that triggered my question. I will have a look at OBI (good choice and thanks for the link Jeff[bow]) etc to see whether I can find something similar here.
Many thanks, Tobias
Totally agree with you about looks of the code 55 in HO, especially for a 1900 or earlier layout. I ended up using code 70 for the main line and 55 on other track for the standard gauge, with code 55 and 40 for the HOn3 trackwork. Railroads are set in 1900. Code 70 rail is actually a bit heavy for the era (as is code 55 for narrow gauge), but I wanted more contrast between the standard and narrow gauge. We really could use an inbetween size to represent the very common 60 lb rail of the 19th century.
As for curving or straightening Micro Engineering track, I’ve found making some plywood templates is the easiest method - both curved and straight. Simply lay the template on a flat surface and slowly work the track against the template edge. You do have to take care to keep the track flat while you are doing this.
An alternative for HO standard gauge are the RibbonRail gauges which are designed to be placed between the rails to hold the track straight or to a specified radius.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W