Beginner question about laying down track

[Anonymous]

Ok, I am a beginner and am getting ready to put down my first layout. I am using a layout out of a book.

My question is this. I know that I should lay down the roadbed first (I have decided to use cork), but am usure of the best way to get the cork to follow the exact path of the trackplan.

I read somewhere, that should trace out the centerline of the trackplan, but I am still unsure of how to do this?

Please help???

[Anonymous]

Mark,
I'm guessing you're using sectional track, probably Atlas. If this is the case, take the lazy approach. Lay the track and hook it all up with rail joiners, then do a rough trace of the track and then remove the track and lay the cork. The reason I suggest this is you might find the track doesn't lay exactly as shown in the diagram. This way you'll know exactly what you are getting.

Another thing you can do, is with the track down... put dots in the center of the track all around where there is track, then connect the dots. This will give you your track center line, then lay the cork on the center line.

[Anonymous]

That's kind of what I was planning to do.....that is putting the dots in the center and connecting the dots. Just wanted to see if there was a better way.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Well firstoff regardless of your subroadbed (the stuff below the cork) whether foam or wood get a marker or something and draw your trackplan. I suggest using rulers to make your turns uniform (ie. if you want an 18" radius take the marker and hold it at 18" etc....)

Once you have your track plan drawn use a strong glue (one that comes in large quantities not a little bottle of something outragiously strong like crazy glue) and glue small sections (so as the glue wont dry before you get there) along your marked trackplan. Place the cork on top of the glue and press down. Use very small nails or tacks to keep the cork in place (temporary).
Then place the track ontop of the cork by again using very very very small nails you can get at a hobby store or glue...then ballast.

Hope this helps

[Anonymous]

Fear not Mark, first lay your track out but do not glue or nail it down. Mark the center lines between the ties. Remove sections of track and draw a solid center line. The cork is pre-split in the center, seperate them. Gluing the cork to the sub-roadbed gives the smoothest roadbed. Tacks or staples make bumpy roadbed. Follow the center line with straight edge of cork. You may have to use weights to hold the cork down while the glue sets up. Do one side at a time. Turnouts are a bit tricky and dificult to explain, so I'm going to cop-out and suggest pre-shaped cork for turnouts.
Since you are just begining, start out with a small easy to fini***rack plan. Read some of the replies to my question, How Many Layouts Have You Built and What did you learn from them". There is pretty good advice there.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by platypus

........Then place the track ontop of the cork by again using very very very small nails you can get at a hobby store or glue...then ballast.
Hope this helps

[2c] When using micro nails or track spikes, pu***hem just deep enough just to hold the track in place, being careful not to pu***he ties down as to bend or break them.

[IRONROOSTER]

I find push pins work very well for holding down the cork while the glue dries. One thing I do after the glue has dried is to go over it with a suraform rasp/plane to smooth the joints and take down any highspots. Use the longest one you find at least 6" (9" is better). When laying the track, I drill holes just a hair smaller than the track nails so that they push most of the way in and then tap them into place using a hobby hammer and nail set. This avoids kinking the tie because I hit the nail too hard.
Enjoy
Paul

[ClinchValleySD40]

Better than nails, if you have a tube of caulk lying around the house, try a test section. Spread a bead of caulk down the center line, spread it out with a putty knife and place the roadbed or track. Super quick and easy, very forgiving if you make a mistake to take it up and redo it. The cheapest adhesive caulk ($1.50 tube in my area) works just fine.

[pbjwilson]

I'm a caulker too. It's a great , economical adheasive. Fills gaps in scenery and holds scenery(small bushes etc.) in place, and dries fast.