Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Flex Track

12972 views
36 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, January 8, 2015 4:22 AM

mlehman

Another tip on handling ME track. If you're in the basement working on the layout  -- as many are -- then the top of a dryer or washing machine can help you out.

Hey, thanks for nothing, Mike.  My layout is in my basement, but the washing machine and dryer are upstairs in the laundry room.  Now what?  Super Angry

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 10,582 posts
Posted by mlehman on Thursday, January 8, 2015 7:21 AM

richhotrain
My layout is in my basement, but the washing machine and dryer are upstairs in the laundry room. Now what? Super Angry

Time to install an elevator -- or a second laundry room in the basement?Laugh

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, January 8, 2015 8:03 AM

mlehman

 

 
richhotrain
My layout is in my basement, but the washing machine and dryer are upstairs in the laundry room. Now what? Super Angry

 

Time to install an elevator -- or a second laundry room in the basement?Laugh

 

That's what I truly need - - an elevator running from the second floor to the first plan to the basement.   Yes

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,892 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Thursday, January 8, 2015 9:18 AM

Some of us do get stuck in our ways.  I learned how to lay track the old way back in the 70's and 80's by laying it on a center-line.  Because I lay track to conform to the center-line which I drew based on a curve drew with a trammel or from scale drawings, it's easier to use the springy flex track - it conforms quite nicely.  I have to battle with the stiff flextrack to get it to conform to curves - what stiff track I have now will mostly be used in straight sections in a yard.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Thursday, January 8, 2015 10:43 AM

riogrande5761
I have to battle with the stiff flextrack to get it to conform to curves

There is definately a learning curve the first time you use track that stays where you put it. I had a few GRRRRR! moments myself until I figured it out. The secret for me was working the curve from the end of the piece backwards instead of bending as you go. I should have probably looked for a video on how to do it first. Whistling I was ready to go right back to springy track when I first took a crack at the stiff stuff, but I stuck it out and now prefer the stiff stuff. It's splitting hairs for me though.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    February 2013
  • 4 posts
Posted by Mike P on Friday, January 9, 2015 7:46 PM

It is considerably more expensive now, but still on the lower end of flex track prices. I think it looks almost as good as the others, and it flexes really easily. Thanks!

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: S.E. Adirondacks, NY
  • 3,246 posts
Posted by modelmaker51 on Sunday, January 11, 2015 1:59 PM

I used ModelPower c100 track at a buck a stick back in the day, I thick it's $1.80 a stick now from Trainworld, they've also got c83 now. I liked it because it had better detail and smaller track spike heads. Upper photo is Atlas lower, photo is ModelPower.

Jay 

C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1 

Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums 

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!