Hello all
After ballasting several sections of track, my trains seem to make a louder noise than usuall going over them. I guess this is because the track no longer has any play and the vibrations of the train are being transfered streight to the plywood base.
Is this the case or did I do something wrong. Thanks in advance.
Joe in Atlanta
Yup, the glue makes the track more like a single entity with the benchwork. Didn’t you use any roadbed?
Joe,
You’re probably right. You’ve glued the track down and the sound will carry better to your sub-roadbed. Did you use cork roadbed? That will help a bit. Or foam. Track glued right to the plywood tends to be noisy.
But you didn’t do anything wrong really. I think that Homosote is/was popular because it tends to dampen the noise.
Also if you got ballast particles that come in contact with the wheels it will be even nosier (or derail.)
Thanks for the responses.
Yes I did use cork roadbed and made sure that all ballast was off the ties and the rail. The sound is not bad just not what I was expecting.
After ballasting, today I attempted painting some of the rails a rust color and then did the “Gleam” treatment. The noise is still there but I can tell the cars roll better.
The paint sets off the ballast and looks awsome. Thanks to all here that post these tips for us newbies!
Joe
Joe: I saw this on a friend’s layout years ago. He had quiet running until the train got to the scenicked, ballasted station area. You have put a solid unit from the track to the sub-roadbed, negating all the time and expense of adding cork or rubber.
Suggestion: put a bit or wax paper at the side of the roadbed (tuck it under if you can) before you ballast. Remove when the glue is dry.
BR thanks I will give it a try!
Joe
I’m going to experiment with strips of that rubber weaving mat that is sold at department stores for use under utensil trays, in cupboards, and under place settings. One way or another, I am going to silence my trains so that their digital sound and wheel clicking are the only things I hear. The rest is not realistic to my ear, and competes for the intended sounds that I want to control.
Our LHS suggested using baby oil on the cork before ballasting. Haven’t got enought done to tell if its going to help but it can’t hurt
I’ve found that using matte medium, instead of white glue helps to prevent this problem. The matte medium dries more flexible than the white glue, keeping it from acting likean amplifier.
That noise is common with “tabletop” plywood layouts. The plywood makes a great sounding board (mechanical amplifier). The ballast pretty much undid any cushioning the cork gave. Buildings and scenery help on the top side. The bottom side is the hard side to “fix”. More braces help as do using screws instead of nails. Gluing something soft, like ceiling tile, to the bottom will also help. Using a cookie cutter layout or foam instead of a big slab of plywood is the real answer, as unpopular as it might be. Fred
Tr y this INSULATE the flat area. We used a piece of insulation UNDER a flat section and it did quit it down. The Matte Medium is the over all answer since it is flexable. Put the cork and track down with clear latex then the matte mediun is the best SO FAR.
claycts
When you say to “Put the cork and track down with clear latex” are you refering to laytex paint or some sort of laytex glue?
Thanks
Joe
Just be sure to dilute your white glue with about a 4 to 1 water ration and also should use cork roadbed. Like you mentioned, the sound is nothing to worry about. Real railroads don’t have complete silence when operating, so don’t worry about it.
Latex caulk. Not only is is every bit as fast if not faster than using nails, it never dries solid like white glue or construction adhesive and so serves to deaden some of the sound.
–Randy
Actually I have track glued directly to both plywood and foam, and the foam is far louder than plain plywood.
I think he means foam roadbed, like WS. That stuff is much quieter - in my LHS they have the sample piece from WS that has a piece of wood with a strip of cork and a strip of their foam roadbed side by side. The foam absorbs more sound.
–Randy