Are ribbonrail guages useful when laying track or is there somthing better out there?
I have never used one, but I hope to get a few. I have read they help a lot.
I have a couple of these Ribbonrail gauges in several radii (HO). I have found them useful in promoting a smooth continuous curve and avoiding tight spots.
I did not use them much when I was handlaying track, as I would spike down one rail on the curve and then spike the second rail in gauge with the first. Obviously, a smooth curve on that first rail was most important, so I would use care in that placement.
With flextrack, I have used the Ribbonrail gauges to bend the track into the appropriate radius before attaching the track to the Homasote. Sometimes a tight-radius spot can form that is difficult to visually notice, and the tool will help identify it. When I can take the Ribbonrail gauge and slide it around the whole arc of the curve without it binding, I know that the curve is smooth and tracking problems will be reduced.
Clearly, in that they are of a fixed radius, they can’t help that much in transition curves, but I’m glad to have them in my toolbox.
Bill
I just wish there was some place closer that had them in stock so I didn’t have to order from Walthers. The one size fits all shipping is annoying, far too much for a couple of pieces of machined aluminum, and even worse, Ribbonrail is like an hour from me. Seems silly to order from Walthers, but none of the local shops have them in stock. Of course they’ll order from Walthers for me, but at that point why bother?
–Randy
I have both the straight and curved Ribbonrail guides and have used them extensively on my RR. I really like the straight pieces as they make it much simpler to make the flex track lie still while it is tacked down. After using them for a bit, they develop a line down the middle from being dragged over track nails in the center of the ties. This made it much easier to keep my yard tracks parallel. We marked all of the track centerlines and then used the line in the guide to line them up. In case you’re wondering, I used two 10" and one 5" guide. As I moved from nail to nail, I left a spot in between them to set the spike. I found them very useful.
Mike
A quick search came up w/ Hiawatha Hobbies offering all the radiuses for Ribbon Rail at almost half the $$ of Caboose, Walther’s and other suppliers. $3.95 ea, May want to check it out…
All but a select few out of stock (they probably order from Walthers), and the price is exactly the same as the full MSRP that Walthers sells them for. $#.95 is the price for the 5" ones, $8.40 is for the larger ones.
–Randy