New type of track

[FJ and G]

I invented my own style of track.

Best part of all, it was basically free and fun to make, using just 027 tubular.

Dave Vergun

[ChiefEagles]

Pretty good job on that and the layout. [if I remember correctly, the layout is now gone?????]

[ChiefEagles]

Pictures of Daivid's new "home built" track.

[ChiefEagles]

Remeber, click on picture to enlarge.

[FJ and G]

Thanks, Chief!

The 1st photo is a closeup of the frog after I polished off some of the J.B. Weld bodyfiller, shown in the 2nd photo.

Basically, I've taken a toy rail 027 track and made a hi-rail track out of it; the center rail, which you cannot see too well in the 2nd photo, is made out of 14 gauge single strand wire, mounted on copper nails.

I'd like to discuss how it was made for those of you who are interested. All materials are from home depot.

For baseboard, I used 1/4" lauan, a type of laminate plywood. It would be better if I had had it, to use a sheet of styrene, as it is even thinner. But, you don't want something that will be too floppy. The alternative is to construct the whole thing without a base.

Next, I traced with a pencil the switch route. In this case, it is a #7; a radius of turnout that is imposssible to purchase ready-made. BTW, this turnout was built a week ago. This weekend, I built an even longer one, a #8.

Then using a table saw, I cut ties from the same lauan board. Tie width is 5/16. The whole ccutting process took about 2 minutes.

Then, I laid the long strips of ties on the base and using a pencil, marked off the length. Using a pair of lineman's pliers, i snipped the ties to proper length.

Then, I took a dab of black paint and about 5 parts of water and dumped the ties in a bucket and shook them until I got a nice dark stain. paint is latex.

After the ties dried, I attached them to the base with wood glue.

Then, using some salt & ppepper gravel that I procured from a rock quarry, that appears scale size, I dumped this on and used a paintbru***o work the ballast in.

Then, using a spray bottle of wood glue and water, and some soap, I sprayed & let dry until the ballast set.

Then, using just 1 3 ft section of 027 track, I was ready to lay rails.

I cut the rails to size with a Dremel & cutoff wheel, then using a Dremel and grinding attachment, I ground the points and stock rails (where points meet) and heel and toe of the frog. I found that the work goes much faster using a bench grinder (just a matter of minutes).

Then, I attached the rails to the ties with Marine Goop, a waterproof strong glue. In some places, such as at the sides of the point rails that pivot, I used HO spikes. I also put in a couple of HO spikes in a few other areas, forcing them in with needle nose pliers.

Using J.B. Weld, a type of autobody filler (again, found at Home Depot), I mixed the contents and dumped it into the frog. After 4 hours of dry time, I cut a flangeway with a Dremel cutoff wheel.

Forgot to mention that the first turnout I made used a handmade track gauge, but the beagle subsequently got a hold of it (with my pencil as well), and chewed them up. So the 2nd turnout I measured, just using a freight car truck.

Also forgot to mention that before placing the rails on the ties, I painted them with a rustish color latex.

The turnout throwbar I made from 12 gauge single strand copper wire and soldered the points to it.

Also, forgot to mention that all the rails were disassembled from their metal ties and bent by hand.

For the center rail, I punched into every other tie a copper roofing nail. Applied a dab of resin flux to the top of the nail head and then soldered brass 14 gauge wire for the center rail (left over from Romex cable that I used to wire my basement).

Total time to complete everything was about 2.5 hours; not including drying times (when stuff dries, you can do other stuff). it would be easy to make an assembly line process to make dozens of these in a day.

The hardest part of everything was cutting the flange just right in the J.B. Weld. i made a few mistakes and simply poured more Weld in the frog. J.B. Weld dries to a hardness that is harder than plastic (they use it for body filler).

Now, I will try my hand at a crossover and perhaps some curved turnouts.

BTW, the center rail, made of 14 ga wire, is the thinnest center rail you can find and is barely noticeable. Simply solder new sections of wire for each track section (for making blocks or insulated sections); and for long sections, use as long a length of wire as you wish.

It is extremely stable and will not kink or bend once it is in place.

There you have it.

Dave Vergun

[TexasEd]

cool