Hey all,
On my layout that I am building, I am going to use handlaid code 40 track, I was originially going to use PCB ties to hold the rail in place. I am now questioning if I should be spiking the rail down (with PCB ties on the turnouts), because a) it is cheaper, b) it looks better c) it's easier to paint ties. My only concern is the flanges on older equipment not working well. Using the PCB ties will run the old "pizza cutter" wheels just fine on the code 40, but not too sure about the spikes. I am even questioning if it will run new Atlas, Kato, etc rolling stock and locomotives (I am more concerned about atlas because the the flanges seem to be deeper on their rolling stock). Do you guys know if it will work, and if so, do you have any examples?
Thank you in advance!
I would suggest using Micro Engineering "Micro" spikes, but they are out of production.
ME small spikes will probably be too big.
Maybe some of the HO "scale" spikes from Proto87.com would work.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
While it may be impracticable for N scale, I used gelled contact cement to affix pre-soldered-together lengths of rail onto Central Valley tie strips. The tie strips do have spike detail, which assured that the rails would be properly gauged. I used mostly 15' lengths of rail, in conjunction with sheets of waxed paper placed over the tie strips to prevent accidentally mis-locating the rails....it wasn't at all complicated, as I could remove or re-locate the waxed-paper as I worked.
If you had (or could make) a number of gauges to set the proper spacing of the N scale rails onto your ties as they're being applied, it would solve the issue of track spikes causing potential derailments, as the gelled contact cement makes an extremely strong bond.
I'm guessing that it might be a little more fiddley in N scale, but my thought was to offer it as a possible option.
Wayne
Proto87 Stores (proto87.com) makes some very near scale spikes in HO, that might be usable. I know Andy's spikes work for NMRA flanges on code 55 rail in HO/HOn3.
Fred W
I'm wondering if I misunderstood your original post: are you using N scale code 40 rail, and using it to create hand-laid N scale track, or is the code 40 rail being used to create hand-laid HO scale track?
If the latter is the case, I would suggest that you use Central Valley tie strips, as it has moulded-on tieplates and spike heads, completely to-scale.
My apologies if I'm incorrect.