Please recommend an instructional source or manual for hand laying N Gage track.
Basically hand laying N gauge track is the same as what I’m doing in HOn30. Check out Railway Engineering for some great tips and other info.
The differences are in the rail size or code, not scale. Codes 40 and 55 are easy to kink using spikes. I glue code 55 rail to the ties with Pilobond contact cement and using spikes, not fully driven down, to hold the rail temporarily in place on curves while the glue cures. If you’re using code 80, you could use spikes. Just be careful not to spike the rail down too hard.
I’ve tried hand laying HO track before and gave it up. You’re doing N-scale? Buddy, my hats off to you. I like a challenge, but with my nerve damage and arthritus, I have to stick to ready made track with raodbed already attached, because it’s hard for me to hold onto a track nail or keep a hammer balanced. I usually end up hitting the track and have to replace it.
See http://groups.yahoo.com/group/handlaidtrack/. There are guys in the group hand-laying N with code 25 rail. I’m sure some of the group members will be glad to answer any and all of your questions. Just remember, there are probably as many different methods to handlay track as there are prefab makes of track. Use what works for and satisfies you. The 3 major methods of fastening rail are spiking, glueing, and soldering.
Gary is right - the smaller the rail, the more folks avoid spiking. In addition to kinking, the size of spike heads used to be an issue. Proto87 Stores now has HO scale size spikes which will allow use of spikes on all sizes of rail down to code 40.
yours in handlaid track
Fred W
These guys are the kings: The San Diego Society of N Scale.
Large layout, all handlaid track. They have their methods posted on their website:
You also need to ge the Kalmbach book on track. In it there’s an article from MR magazine about handlaying an N-scale turnout.
It seems most N-gaugers don’t spike. They either solder to PC ties (I think this is most common), or use the glueing method.
I’m learning to handlay in HO. It’s fun!