Hello:
I am new to model railroading (enherited an n-scale set) and I'm working on my first layout. I did select pink insulation on top of wood as a base. I believe that you can only glue the tracks to the insulation since the nails won't hold. But, has anybody ever tried to use nails and glue the nails in? I was wondering if that is possible since I would like to be able to re-use the track.
Glad to have you aboard.
While I model in Twice-N (1:80 scale, aka HOj) the basic principle is the same. Use latex caulk to fasten your track. If you ever have to take it up, lifting it (gently!) with a drywall knife will separate it from the foam. Residual caulk can be rubbed off the ties, leaving the track as good as new.
Spread the caulk thin, set the track into it, then weight it down until the caulk sets up. I usually leave mine for a couple of hours, others advocate anything from fifteen minutes (fast-setting caulk?) to overnight. Canned goods make effective weights.
This is a technique I picked up here, back when I first joined the forums.
Chhuck (mmodeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Welcome. Before attaching your track you might want to consider roadbed under the track for a little more realistic look. There is the foam type from Woodland Scenics and others or cork. Cork can be attached to the foam (or plywood) using the same method mentioned above for your track. I understand that cork doesn't fair as well taking it up as track does (I've only put it down), though some seem to have success.
Good luck,
Phil, I'm not a rocket scientist; they are my students.
My experience is with HO, but I agree with earlier posts - eventually you will want to have cork road between your track and the pink foam substrate, and eventually glue (not the right word anymore) your track down so it stays in place (doesn't take much of a kink to derai).
What has worked well for me (again, in HO) is to spike the track temorarily (sp) on your extruded foam substrate. I use Atlas track spikes, which work for a while, but not a permanent solution w/o adhesive. Then try running some trains (even if it's pushing a few cars by hand). As a newbie, I learned a ton by doing this and ended up changing some details of my layout for better operations. I will bet an Athern 40' BB gondola that you'll end up changing elements of your layout 2-3 times before you are happy with it.
On another note - I've been using Liquid Nails for Projects to adhere layers of extruded foam, which works great. I've also started with this product for adhering cork roadbed to foam and track to cork (with spikes) but found it difficult (but not impossible) to pull track and cork up for a redo. I'm eager to try the laytex caulk that other posts have suggested.