I wrote to Train-Li asking for specs about this product the first day this thread started, so far no reply. So, does anyone on this forum know if this stuff is suitable for outdoor use? Is it UV resistent, heat/cold resistent. etc?
Walt: I could easily be wrong on this point, but I’ve not seen any nylon product stand up to outdoor use for any real length of time. However, with the modern marvels of chemistry anything is possible. I did read where the ties are made of the same plastic as trash cans, so I’m guessing the ties will stand to weather (think that is a safe assumption). So the question is (as I see it) ‘why would part of a product be weather (UV etc.) resistant and part not.’ I’m guessing the rails would have some form of modern chemistry additive.
I could not figure out the excitement at first, then after a while I checked the pricing on the web site… there were significant errors, The site had 10 pieces of 5 foot rail for $7.50… but the error has been found, and it’s now $37.50. With ties, this works out to $2 a foot. You can get Llagas aluminum code 250 for about $2.60 a foot.
The tie strips are made out of HDPE in very sturdy quality since they serve a double purpose , for our ProTrack Brass, Nickel, and Stainless Steel. The rail is made out of PVC a much sturdier material than Nylon.
The LLagas Creek price for 250 is in quantity of 10 3.17 per foot otherwise $3.50. Our price with no quantity is 1.99 foot. If you go quantity then there is discount price as well. So no matter how you slice and dice it 44% more cost effective.
Currently the rail is code 332 - you can expect the 250 version to be more cost effecive as well.
So it is all about apples and oranges. tha tneed to be compared.
I assume this is Alex that wrote the message I’m replying to. Please also clear up the issue of weather or not this new track/rails are suitable and or intended for outdoor use… I think we all agree that the rails will probably be weaker than metal, but, can they be used outdoors INSTEAD of metal rails?
First of all - yes I am Axel under the more general Train-Li-USA so that everybody knows for whom I am speaking.
We have asked the plastic experts who work with us. The answer is that the PVC we are using has many properties that make it an excellent choice for outdoor use:
PVC repels water and moisture. (Nylon which is mentioned here in the beginning e.g. has a tendency to absorb moisture and will flex and soften)
PVC by nature has good UV characteristics
PVC can be glued and welded.
PVC is impervious to many acids and chemicals, (thus used for pools)
I know of many PVC pipes on the outside - I actually have a few on my house for one function or another. One is actually sticking out south side on my roof for about 20 years and it hasn’t crumbled yet.
Thank you for your input, it’s greatly appreciated. I’ll probably order some of this track to see if it will be suitable for my purposes. I run battery/RC so this would appear to be ideal for me.
So thanks again for coming onto our forum to clear up all the uncertainty that developed since we were made aware of this product.