I have completed the installation of my HO roadbed (cork) on 2â foamboard and I am not sure what to do next. I would like to temporarily lay the track work and see how the trains run. However, I am not sure how to temporarily hold the curved flex-track (Atlas) in place.
On the other hand, should I carve my foamboard terrain and paint everything a light brown before I lay the track permanently?
ED
Lakewood, New Jersey
Hi!
My layout experience is with cork roadbed over plywood, and therefore have no advice to offer regarding the use or processing of foam. However, I suggest you pick up a box of bulletin board "push pins" at an Office Depot or similar store, and use them to temporarily hold your flextrack in place while you experiment.
Also, I personally prefer to paint my cork roadbed before laying the track - typically with a light grey color. Others prefer not to do so, which shows its an up for grabs decision.
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
If you're only wanting to temporarily lay the track to see how the trains run, I have a couple of suggestions:
As far as carving and painting your scenery, I've done it both ways. If you have your roadbed in place where you want it, it's easier to scenic and paint BEFORE you lay the track (it keeps paint, plaster, etc. from getting all over your track). Besides, you want your ballast over the trackside scenery, anyway.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
A very light film of caulk is what you are looking for. Don't do the turn outs if you know you will be pulling all up. If you just want a quick loop to run trains for a day then I used pins. I put one on each side of the outside rail using the T to hold down 2 ties.
I hope this helps
ratled
Modeling the Klamath River area in HO on a proto-lanced sub of the SP “The State of Jefferson Line”
Since you emphasized temporory, and are in the same leaky canoe I've been paddling, here's my method:
Once the alignment proves out with my designated derailment tester, I pull the track nails, lift the flex, caulk the roadbed (grey latex caulk) and re-lay permanently. Temporary alignment includes all routes through the sites of hand-laid specialwork, which gets built in place as part of the final installation.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - on Atlas flex with hand-laid specialwork)
It seems that you are pretty committed to the location of the track if you've laid down the cork, so I recommend just laying it permanently (flex track is really not intended for temporary installation). My approach is to put on my OCD hat (obsessive compulsive disorder) and lay the track as if I'd be struck dead if there is ever a derailment. I generally use track nails, but from what I've seen of the acrylic/latex caulk method, it looks better (especially for foam). It seems that push-pins work well to hold it in place while the caulk dries.
Once the track is down, I run trains on it for months (really); that way I can find and fix every trouble spot. Then I cover it with masking tape and do the scenery (supporting structure through ground-cover). Next the tape comes off and the ballast goes on. Then I run trains for about a month (off and on), so I can find and fix any little globs of plaster or wayward balast particles without having to work around trees, buildings, etc. Once I'm satisfied that the track is bullet proof, I do the rest of the scenery (a never-ending process).
Phil, I'm not a rocket scientist; they are my students.
Thanks so much for your suggestions and imput.
This Forum is the best. I don,t know what I would do without it.
Ed
eds-trainsI have completed the installation of my HO roadbed (cork) on 2â foamboard and I am not sure what to do next. I would like to temporarily lay the track work and see how the trains run. ... I am not sure how to temporarily hold the curved flex-track (Atlas) in place.
should I carve my foamboard terrain and paint everything a light brown before I lay the track permanently
Go with the long T pins to hold your track down, they go through the cork and deep into the foam to give you a good, temporary hold. I used them and test ran the trains before perminantly attaching it with latex caulk.
Good luck,
I have started the temporary track installation using the âTâ pins. This is working well for me. I cut and trim the flex-track to the previously laid section. I have soldered the feeder wires to the bottom of track joiners.
When I am satisfied with train performance, I will remove one section at a time, relay it using acrylic adhesive, and solder the joints.