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The one thing that no one has mentioned here but has probably done several times over is to build a layout and then some time after decide to to either change something on the layout or even just rebuild a new layout. In doing so, there is always the question of how much of the track can be salvaged and used again, especially the flex track and switches. This is where the real value of the track shows itself. I mean, I have flex track and switches that were down on a layout for 15 years. I then pulled it up and the pieces that were atlas were pretty easy to reuse. . Not so with a few pieces of some of the other brand flex track I had. Not to mention that over the years, the pieces that were not made of nickle silver were always the hardest to keep clean. As far as the weathering look goes, this can be accomplished with just a couple of 98 cent cans of flat spray paint from Walmart. There's enough paint in the cans to do fifty pieces of flex track. The most economical way of buying flex track especially if one is going to be using a lot of it is by the carton. The same way with the cork. I'm doing a new layout. What it has cost me so far has been $28. This was for the price of the lumber to make the table with, some rail joiners and track nails. I was able to salvage almost all of the track and cork. All of the switches (turnoutts), a lot of the wire, and all of the stuctures. I don't know about anyone else, but I call this REAL value for the buck. Years ago when I bought the Flex track, the Atlas brand averaged out to be about 89 cents a piece. Not a bad investment when you stop to consider all the trains that have gone across it in fifteen years and now it is still just as good as it was when I bought it, and will be serving me again for many more years. The true test of value of any item is ultimately the test of time. I can't tell you enough of how glad I am now for spending a little more at the time I bought all of this to get mostly the Atlas rather than the so-called economical brand. Because in doing so, the layout I'm building now is only costing me a small fraction of what it would if I had to buy all of this over again. In the long run, the Atlas brand of track has proven the be the most economical, hands down.
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