i am just starting to get back into model railroading and a friend gave me a large amount of 36” code 100 rail pieces that he purchased over 25 years ago. I would like to mount the rails so I can create my own flex-track. The only item I’ve seen available to do this is on ebay called track tie strips but it is labeled for code 55 and code 83 use. Does anyone know what I can use for code 100 rail? Does any current vendor carry a similar product?
thanks,
jeff
to the forum
I'm surprised there are code 83 tie strips. Actually I am not seeing anything on Ebay in HO scale except short pieces of Central Valley and 25' strips of Atlas and Varney fiber ties, which you don't want.
Looks like it's wood ties and handlaying for you.
If the rail is steel and not nickel steel, I would send it to the recycle bin.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Jeff-F I would like to mount the rails so I can create my own flex-track.
Now THERE is a challenge. I don't know what track/tie strips you are seeing. Like Henry all I know is the old Atlas fiber tie stripes which came in large rolls, about the size of a roll of masking tape. It was, I think, the same stuff Atlas itself used for the "flex" track that they sold at the time (Code 100 brass rail) but a few observations. First, that old Atlas flex track was notoriously hard to curve, even harder to curve to a smooth consistent radius. Second, people didn't use the tie strip to make flex track, they used it to hand lay track with spikes. First you'd put down the tie strip perhaps with nails or adhesive, then follow up with rail and spikes.
To make curvable track (a better term than flex track in this circumstance) you would need whatever tool or device Atlas had back then that attached rail to fiber ties with staples from below that curved over the rail web, but not so tightly that the rail couldn't slide over the tie strip.
In the "new" plastic flex track the rail is held in place with plastic simulated spikes or for the old Atlas flex track, the things that look like shoeboxes cast into the plastic ties. I assume Atlas itself slides the rail into the 3' plastic tie strip. They then evidently attach one of the two rails, so it is only one rail that can slide - making it flex track.
The only plastic tie strips I have seen are for bridge track (closer tie spacing) and that is not meant to be DIY flex track. I am not aware of any commercial product that is meant to enable you to make your own flex track.
Dave Nelson
dknelsonI don't know what track/tie strips you are seeing.
Central Valley tie strips
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
Ah I see. I didn't realize they intended to let you create your own curvable track, I just assumed you laid the ties to your desired curve and then threaded the correct size rail into it.
The CV tie strips are billed as being suited to particular sizes of rail -- of course the key is the width and outline of the rail base not the height, but Code 100 rail base is different from C 83, 70 and 55 etc. I assume CV sees no reason to offer the product for Code 100 in HO because their target market doesn't use Code 100, or rather the extraordinary attention to scale accuracy of the CV system is not consistent with using Code 100. As their webside says, with tongue in cheek: The tie plate detail is designed for code 70 and code 83 rail sizes. With extra attention to gauging, code 55 can be used. Code 100 - sorry, but, we can recommend a large company in New Jersey who can help you!
dknelsonAh I see. I didn't realize they intended to let you create your own curvable track, I just assumed you laid the ties to your desired curve and then threaded the correct size rail into it.
Strictly speaking, I believe that you are correct. But I think that this is the product to which the Original Poster is referring.
I had to hunt through my scrap-loads (loose material) for gondolas to find a piece of code 100 rail. It's just a bit too wide to fit into the Central Valley tie strips.
I used CV tie strips, with Micro Engineering's code 83 rail, for much of the track on the upper level of my layout, and like it a lot, although I did alter the installation instructions a bit.
Wayne
Correct me if I am wrong but the 8' and 9' references to tie stips refer to the tie length, becasue they go on to state The 12" sections can be glued together to make continuous lengths.
Please post the name of the NJ Company if you go that route
BigDaddyPlease post the name of the NJ Company if you go that route
Always hard to tell on the Internet, but you probably realize that it's a tongue-in-cheek reference to buying flextrack from Atlas.
No I did not know. That's funny.