Material for ties and spikes

[FJ and G]

I'm modeling in O scale. Have used lauan (?) 1/4-inch plywood in the past for ties but spikes hard to pu***hru. Someone mentioned using balsa wood? Would that be best? Any cheap sources? Same question for spikes (O-scale).

[Sperandeo]

Hello "Fonda,"

I build my track in HO using sugar pine ties from Mount Albert Scale Lumber. They are excellent for this work (they smell good too!) and they are available in O scale from this supplier. As for spikes, I use Old Pullman's HO spikes, and they would probably be close to scale size for O.

Here's how to reach these two firms:

Mount Albert Scale Lumber Co.
18647 Centre Rd.
Mount Albert, Ont., Canada L0G 1M0
905-473-3161
www.mtalbert.com

Old Pullman Model Railroads Inc.
8195 25th St.
Vero Beach, FL 32960

Good luck,

Andy