I am about to start my first tabletop layout, probably a standard 4x8. I am heavily invested in MTH Realtrax as for the past few years I’ve only had the opportunity for temporary set ups on the carpet. As I have more than enough track for the 4x8 I’d like to stick with the Realtrax but I notice in these forums tubular/Atlas/Cargraves and the like seem to be used much more frequently. Realism and tradition probably explain part of that but it made me wonder if there were some clear drawbacks with using the Realtrax on a layout. Could any of you share your experience/knowledge with using Realtrax on a layout? What are the greatest benefits and/or drawbacks? And, how did you attach it to the surface of the layout? Thanks.
The advantages and disadvantages are so minor that I always use the track I have. Realtrax can be a tad difficult to assemble and dissasemble(especially the last /first piece respectively in the loop). Tubular can be a tad less noisy (but Realtrx is nothing like Fastrak). If you purchase the little plastic track clips then Realtrax stays together better then any other.
Once in a while a fastrak joint (actually 2) will not make contact. If two center joints do not make contact you will have a dead section between. Easy enough to fix usually by adjusting the copper fingers.
On a permanent layout Realtrak is the best track with built in roadbed (in my opinion).
I like the built in roadbed…others may not.
Again, I use whatever track I have. Before I moved all my Realtrax was on my permanent layout so I used Fastrak on my Christmas layout. This years Christmas layout is Realtrak as I had plenty to recycle from my old permanent layout.
Jim H
For me I guess it depends on your persoanl preference. The layout I am building has both Gargraves and Fastrack. My layout contains 5 sheets of 4x8 plywood with a rail running around the outskirts of my basement approxamilatly half way up the wall. On about half of my layout I used Gargraves only because when I first strated doing this project 1 1/2 years ago I wanted realism which Gargraves gives. But then again I like Fastrack also because of the ease of setting it up and it really doesnt look bad. I also have a 5 foot long wooden trestle I built that has Gargraves track running across it. I dont think having Fastrack running across a wooden trestle would look to real. My motto is heck with it if its right or wrong. If Im having fun with it then I must be doing it right!!
One other thing. You really do not need to “attach” it to a permanent layout. It will lay flat just fine and will not move if you use the plastic track clips. If you want to attach it I would use the nylon zip tie method explained somewhere here before. To use zip ties feed the small end in through the track mounting hole through the foam and/or plywood base. Then on the bottom of the base attach another zip tie head.
Jim H
Realtrax can and will be hard to snap together [or the newer sections seem to be]. Be sure the copper tabs all connect. I soldered mine together once I got the layout like I wanted it. Ran it for a while to be sure before making it permanent. Switches are a pain. They work and then they don’t. Hard to snap into track sections [newer ones. I cut the plastic tabls off of some to get them to mate]. Earlier Realtrax and switches were a lot better quality. Once assembled, runs good and no problems [unless a switch acts up]. I, like you, had invested in lots of Realtrax waiting to build a layout. If I had to do it over, Fasttrac. When I started buying Realtrax, Fasttrac did not have its switches and etc. Now they have a great setup. Realtrax is a lot quiter.
Just one side of my layout shows you what Realtrax will look like.
Check your Realtrax center rail. If the top is blackened you need to take it off. One of those pads with a scrubber on it or fine sand paper will work. Do NOT use steelwool. If you do not take it off you will be cleaning rollers forever. This has been done to newer track but a lot of early track is still for sale. Other makes do not seem to have this problem. I have seen people leave the store with a set one day and back the next because the engine won’t run. The rollers were covered with the black stuff from the center rail.