does anyone know of a reference/ how to on how to hand lay track and turnouts? this is something i have always wanted to try and am now at a point where i want to give it a shot on a small diorama.
Your quickest avalable reference is the Search our Community block on the right-hand side of this forum. I just entered "handlaid track" (including quotation marks) and got back 31 pages of hits (including about a page of my own) ranging from Andy Sperandeo's suggestions to various people's reasons not to.
For a brief tutorial on how to hand-lay turnouts, the key phrase is, "definitely not patented" - the first-dated post, not the later references thereto.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with flex track and hand-laid specialwork)
No, I don't have the reference guide, but I do have the recommendation of "go for it"!
I learned to handlay track from Aubrey Olson (developer of those Caboose Hobbies ground-throws that are popular). I handlaid the HO code 70 track of all of the exposed mainline of my former layout in Virginia (used flex-track within the tunnels). I have always found hand-laying track to be very satisfying. Not speedy, but satisfying. The little tap with a light hammer here or there as one sights down the rail to keep everything straight, the sanding of the tops of the ties and the staining... I enjoyed it all. It brought me a great deal of self-satisfaction, which was more important to me than the "what? you're kidding me?" statements from visitors to the layout when they were told that it was hand-laid with individual spikes.
Good luck. Go for it!
Bill
Here you go.
http://www.gatewaynmra.org/handlaid.htm
http://www.westportterminal.de/howtoscrturnouts.html#top
http://www.westportterminal.de/H0-USA/turnout_1e.html
http://www.xclent.freeuk.com/jhwmodels/track/turnout1.htm
http://www.railwayeng.com/handlay6/hndly-h3.htm
These are some suppliers with tips and tricks too.
http://www.proto87.com/
http://www.cvmw.com/
http://www.handlaidtrack.com/
The last one has videos and P87 and Fast tracks has down loadable templates.
I personally love the Central Valley ties and switch kits.. That is what I am using for my layout.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Hand laying track is a skill I would encourage every modeler to learn, regardless of whether or not you chose to use it for all your track.
Understanding the geometry and methods of assembling track from scratch will allow you to solve any track problem and provide your own custom solutions to track arrangements when needed.
And if you are so inclined, and depending on the size of your layout and the time you have, it can be great fun.
I was taught the skills of hand laid track by the several founding masters of the Severna Park Model Railroad Club, some 35 years ago and have built several layouts with hand laid track.
Today I use commercial track, mainly Atlas, as I am building a rather large layout, but when needed I use my track laying skills to construct special trackwork.
Good luck, you have been refered to some very good info.
Sheldon
A lot of people use fastt racks for their handlaid. I never tried it but people here who have swear by it.
Here's thier site.
Springfield PA
tommy2tap does anyone know of a reference/ how to on how to hand lay track and turnouts? this is something i have always wanted to try and am now at a point where i want to give it a shot on a small diorama.
One of the best articles on building your own HO turnouts was written by Tony Koester in the December 1989 issue of Model Railroader. It was a really detailed step by step piece. Knowing how to lay your own track is a great skill to have and I encourage you to give it a try. Also, with the turnouts it often takes a few tries to get the hang of it so don't give up if the first one isn't perfect.
Lance
Layout Construction, Design, and Track Plan Books
http://www.lancemindheim.com/bookstore.htm
I have two fast-track jigs for a #6 regular and curved turnout and the #19 crossing. For the rest of the track I am using Central Valley tie strips to lay my own track. I can then use any code rail and switch tie spacing.
Chris
Check out my railroad at: Buffalo and Southwestern
Photos at:Flicker account
YouTube:StellarMRR YouTube account
I started hand laying track many years ago while working on the NMRA MMR certificate. At the time I had quite a bit of the layout already laid with flex, but was working on a new stretch of mainline and a yard, so I laid the wood ties, spiked the rail to the ties, gauged, all on homabed roadbed. I got fairly good at doing switch points which in my opinion is the hardest part of the whole thing. I still buy a commercial switch sometimes when in a hurry, but most of the later part of the layout was completed with handlaid. It is still holding gauge after all these years, I got my certificate, and life is good.
I would strongly encourage any modeler who wants to try building their own track to do so. Some three point gauges, spikes, ties, and away you go. Switches become much easier to make after the first 3 or 4.
Bob
Bill: We share the same experience; Code 70 handlaid, flex-track in tunnels, etc. The satisfaction of looking at one's work and knowing "I did it myself" cannot be surpassed. My road still exists, the Goldfield & Hangtown, which appeared in the January 2011 MR, with other pictures posted in the MR gallery. I have also done three double-slip switches, as well as over 60 hand-laid scratch regular turnouts. Doing it yourself provides a wonderful feeling of accomplishment, and I highly recommend it to anyone.
Hamltnblue A lot of people use fastt racks for their handlaid. I never tried it but people here who have swear by it. Here's their site. http://www.handlaidtrack.com/
Here's their site.
I heartily recommend the above site. Tim Warris, (one of the owners) has a great number of video's showing many "How-To's" on how to use their jigs for turn-outs, track work, soldering etc. You can also download and print out their many crossings, turn-outs both straight and curved in most of the scales used to assist you in scratch building anything track related. The best part is, they are free. Fast-tracks also sell just about anything that you need to hand lay your track. It's worth a look.
Good Luck.
Blue Flamer.
I first hand laid my track in 1975, before Fast Tracks existed. I had nobody local to teach me so I used Birth of a Turnout by Jack Work in the April 1963 Model Railroader as my tutorial and guide. My first turnout worked well, and my second and subsequent turnouts looked better.
Copies of past articles can be ordered from Kalmbach for a reasonable charge.
I find hand laying track to be rather therapeutic rather than frustrating. I have patience for the track that there is never time for in other aspects of my life. The relaxation and positive attitude make hand laying faster than I would have expected. Typically, I need two 2 hour evenings for a complete turnout from bare Homasote to finished, weathered, ballasted, wired, working product.
my thoughts and experiences, your choices
Fred W