Made some progress on my layout, first the table top got painted and dusted with glitter dust to give the effect of fresh snow. Then my Johnsons rubber road bed came in the mail. So it was fitted to the track. My ears say the noise level has been cut in half, more like running on carpet instead of a wood table top. I will put screws thru the rubber to keep the track from creeping, and not thru the metal ties as that would defeat the purpose of the roadbed. The metal ties are captive in the rubber, so the track will stay put. Need to make a shim for under the milk platform. For those that know, did they make special rubber roadbed for under the turnouts, or do they just sort of float like mine are now. Mike the Aspie.
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
Hi Mike.
I don't know the answer to your question, but just wanted to say the snow effect you are getting looks great !
Paul
Mike, it looks like you didn't waste any time putting your "new" B6 to work!
And that "Autism Awareness" diesel is spectacular, to say the least.
With "snow" on your layout it looks great, it'll be Christmas all year long!
Hi Mike,
Unfortunately, both Johnson's and Moondog Express are no longer around. I don't recall either making switch roadbed though. Ross and Atlas make fitted ones for their switches. Your best bet would be sheets from Woodland Scenics. Some folks have even had good success using rubberized carpet underlayment. Another popular tip for securing track without using screws is to use cable ties. You will get less noise transfer.
Rob
I was able to get enough roadbed for my whole little layout. I will make some for under the turnouts, probably out of sheet cork. The roadbed made a huge differance in the noise level. From one that was painful for me, to one that is like running tubular track on a carpeted floor. That I can tollerate, even without my ear muffs on. I can use screws just thru the rubber road bed to keep the track from creeping, a few pieces already have holes from this being done in the past. I do need to find a track for my milk platform that lacks the magnet in the middle, the pickup roller on my cabbose doesn't like going over it and makes the caboose bounce. Need the older version that lacks the electromagnet in the middle. Mike the Aspie
emdmike Need the older version that lacks the electromagnet in the middle.
Need the older version that lacks the electromagnet in the middle.
I learned a little ‘trick’ for that! If you don’t mind getting a little crafty, take some junk track, and make your own section. I haven’t made a proper one yet, but I did have success with doing something similar, to provide an uncoupling rail for the early postwar equipment, with the old ‘electro couplers’, and of course, they use the same contact shoe system to actuate the couplers, as operating cars do, to run their clever mechanisms.
"Unless bought from a known and trusted dealer who can vouch otherwise, assume every train for sale requires servicing before use"
Check your local craft stores (Michael's, JoAnn's, etc.) for rolls of cork sheeting. Looks good under the cattle pen, and helps deaden the viration noise...some...
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