Anyone using these Ties??

[JamesP]

I went the cheapskate route and cut my filler ties out of scrap 1" x 6" pine.  First, I ripped 1/8" thick strips from the board's 3/4" dimension.  Then I cut the width of the strips down from 3/4" to 1/2".  Finally, I sawed them 2" long to match the O27 ties.  This was all done on a table saw.  After painting w/ flat black paint, I glued them under the track.  My layout is clockwork only, so it uses a mixture of Marx O27 windup track, Marx 3 rail switches and Lionel O27 track w/ the center rail removed to kind of match the Marx windup track.

This is the Marx O27 windup track w/ extra ties - note that the Marx ties are black, that's why I painted my ties black to match:

 

This is Lionel O27 track with the center rail removed, and weathered to make the rail look rusty.  I intend to paint the metal ties black (one of these days!) to match the filler ties:

 

Hopefully the gaping hole left by the removal of the third rail won't be as noticeable once the ties are painted black, with a bit on black on the "ballast" under the ties.

I realize homemade ties aren't for everybody, but since I used scrap lumber my entire cost for the ties was about 4 bucks for the flat black spray paint.  Just watch your fingers around the table saw... Safety First!

 - James

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Those look good but the cut pieces of 1/4" molding we used in the old days are still cheaper. I've helped cut and paint a good many of them.

[handyandy]

I made ties for my O-27 layout out of 1/8" x 1/2" x 36" balsa wood strips from a craft store.  Cut to same length as the metal ties and sprayed with Krylon brown camo paint.

[KRM]

Bob and Steve ,

 Thanks I will need a ton of what ever I use. I have a lot of track down.

Tks,

 Kev

 

[steve24944]

Kev -  No I did not post any pictures - I have thought about getting a photobucket account, but have not done that yet.  

The Home Depot I have been to has a small selection of small wood pieces - some in 4 ft lengths,  look in the isle where they have the wood trim,  they might have something that size.

Steve

[lionelsoni]

I use "Popsicle" sticks, which you can buy in bulk at craft stores, for O27, sawn into 2-inch lengths.  They are slightly narrower than the O27 ties (after the rolled edges are hidden under ballast), but not enough to be obvious; and they give the impression that all the ties are narrower and not quite so far out of scale.  (A scale tie would be only 3/16-inch wide.)

[KRM]

Steve,

 Was that you that did the post with the pictures of them awile back?

I have 027 track so a 1/4' thick is too thick I would need 1/8"  Do they have anything that thin?

 I have placed a order for some samples

Thanks guys,

 Kev

[steve24944]

I have traditional O gauge tubular track.  I found wood strips at Home Depot  1/2" x 1/4" - 4 ft in length.

I cut them to 2-1/4" long in a miter box to match the metal ties and paint them black.   Placed under the rails and ballasted the track looks pretty good.

The cost was $1.70 each 4 ft length and you get 21 ties from each 4 ft length, that's about 10 cents / tie, plus the cost of black spray paint.

Steve

[KentJJ]

The CTT 2011 Readers' Choice project layout used these products under Lionel O gauge tubular track. See the March 2011 issue (pg 53) of CTT to see how we used the rubber ties to dress up sectional track and help mitigate rail noise in our office environment.

http://ctt.trains.com/sitecore/content/Magazine%20Issues/2011/March%202011.aspx

http://ctt.trains.com/Operating/Layout%20Visits/2011/07/July%202011%20RCRR%20video.aspx

We're look to start a new project  layout soon, and I'm planning on using ties from Three Rail Plastics again! -- Kent

[KRM]

Thanks guys!!! no free samples, got to give them $2.00 for 6 just to look at them. Must be good, would think they would send you some to look at. I could use 1000 to 2000 but will hold back now tillI see them and maybe only do 2 per track section.

It is good to be king!

Tks,

 kev

[jwse30]

I use them on my layout too. I use the brown O27 sized ones. Here's a picture I took when I was putting them in as kind of a before and after:

 

 

Under the track is grey stained cork roadbed, then the 3r ties, then the track. There's  6 or 8 ties per section depending on the track.  I used clear silicone adhesive to glue them into place. They stay in place this way, but can be peeled up without too much trouble too.

 

When I first heard of this company (10 years ago or so) I requested a sample from them, and received a few ties and a price list. The price list had several other colors available in packs of 10 to help identify blocks. I thought it was a pretty clever idea.

 

J White

 

[phillyreading]

I use all three sizes as I have some A.F. trains as well. Also easy to place and if needed easy to cut, for around accessory or power clip-ons. Question about 3R plastics, did they buy out Moondog Plastic ties?

[Kooljock1]

You bet!

 

Jon 

[Seayakbill]

Yep, I bought a package of them to put underneath my 027 tubular track. Serves the purpose, fills in the gaps.

[KRM]

Been looking at these and would like feedback from someone who has them or has seen them.

 Tks,

 Kev.

 

http://www.8thstreet.org/3R/examples/index.htm