I have read with great interest on everyone's comments about the ready made track. What I would like to know, is how and where a person might find materials needed to hand lay track?
Thank-you for your time and a Merry Holiday Season to one and all..........
I is kind of new to this...........................
track and turnouts? I've used Central Valley and Proto87. But you can buy ties from Kappler and spike the rails.
Wolfgang
Pueblo & Salt Lake RR
Come to us http://www.westportterminal.de my videos my blog
FAST TRACKS
http://www.handlaidtrack.com/index.php
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
I purchased mine from Walthers Catalog in the track and accessories section, under ME Micro Engineering Company. They have both weathered and non-weathered rail in in all scales. I bought weathered Code 83 and have handlaid all of my track, and enjoyed doing it. The ME section also sells weathered and non-weathered ties (I bought the weathered), and spikes which I also used. I found several of their three-point track guages to be very helpful to keep track in guage while spiking. I also purchased one of their rail cutters.
I don't believe Micro Engineering has a web site, but www.walthers.com gives entry to searching the Walthers items for info and ordering. I also bought a pair of pliers for driving the spike into the ties but I do not remember the company. It has a needle nose but a T-slot to place the spike in, and then use the pliers to push the spike in. Works a little better than just needle nose pliers.
You probably already know that several of the Kalmbach books provide excellent instructions on hand laying track.
Have fun, Hal
Xuron makes a pair of Spike Insertion Pliers for about 20 bucks.
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=82839
tetters wrote: Xuron makes a pair of Spike Insertion Pliers for about 20 bucks.http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=82839
Or you can attack a pair of yard-sale needlenose pliers with a file or Dremel tool and get the same result for about 19 bucks less.
Having hand-laid 'plain-Jane' track in the past, I now prefer flex for that purpose (I am building a large layout, and prefer to use my hand-laying time on specialwork.) Once properly painted and decorated, it's hard to tell the difference. Of course, someone building a museum-quality diorama might well have a different point of view.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
tomikawaTT wrote:[Or you can attack a pair of yard-sale needlenose pliers with a file or Dremel tool and get the same result for about 19 bucks less.
Been there, done that.
Thank-you one and all for the infor......................
tetonjack