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Track Spike Holes

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  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Track Spike Holes
Posted by C&O Fan on Monday, September 17, 2007 8:45 AM

Is there an easy way to fill the holes once i've ballasted the track and removed the spikes ?

TIA

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Amish country Tenn.
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Posted by loathar on Monday, September 17, 2007 8:51 AM
Just curious why your removing the spikes? A dab of body putty and a little paint will hide the holes.
  • Member since
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  • From: Austin, TX
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Posted by Don Z on Monday, September 17, 2007 8:57 AM

Terry,

Why do you remove the spikes? The holes can't be very large and I would guess you'd have to strain the eyes to find them once the rails are ballasted....I guess this problem could be eliminated by using latex caulk to glue down the track. Do you spike in the middle of the tie or next to the rails? A friend of mine spikes and he places the spike on the outside of the track through the ties just as the prototype does. Once he ballasts the track, the spike heads are just about invisible.

Don Z.

PS Are you coming to Round Rock next month for the Austin Model Railroad Association Train Show?

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
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Posted by C&O Fan on Monday, September 17, 2007 10:10 AM

 loathar wrote:
Just curious why your removing the spikes? A dab of body putty and a little paint will hide the holes.

Cause their big and ugly and really show up when i run my Train Cam around the track

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Posted by C&O Fan on Monday, September 17, 2007 10:14 AM
 Don Z wrote:

Terry,

Why do you remove the spikes? The holes can't be very large and I would guess you'd have to strain the eyes to find them once the rails are ballasted....I guess this problem could be eliminated by using latex caulk to glue down the track. Do you spike in the middle of the tie or next to the rails? A friend of mine spikes and he places the spike on the outside of the track through the ties just as the prototype does. Once he ballasts the track, the spike heads are just about invisible.

Don Z.

PS Are you coming to Round Rock next month for the Austin Model Railroad Association Train Show?

Mine are in the middle so they show up and look bad

Not sure if i'll make it for the Show I'm trying to talk Tom P into comming down here Nov 18 th

to help me run trains for the layout tour

I've been up there twice He owes me !!!! LOL

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Culpeper, Va
  • 8,202 posts
Posted by IRONROOSTER on Monday, September 17, 2007 10:20 AM

I assume you're talking about the track nail holes in the center of the tie.  You could try to get  a furniture repair stick in the same color as your tie and just swipe it across the holes.  These are a waxy type substance designed to hide furniture nicks and come in a variety of colors.

Good luck

Paul 

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Posted by C&O Fan on Monday, September 17, 2007 11:02 AM
 IRONROOSTER wrote:

I assume you're talking about the track nail holes in the center of the tie.  You could try to get  a furniture repair stick in the same color as your tie and just swipe it across the holes.  These are a waxy type substance designed to hide furniture nicks and come in a variety of colors.

Good luck

Paul 

Whoo Hoo !

That's what i'm talking about  !

That does sound easy !

Thanks Paul !!!

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Monday, September 17, 2007 11:15 AM
Use an older Xuron track nipper to cut off the heads as flush to the tie surfaces as you can, and then weather the tracks between the rails like Joe Fugate suggests we should.
  • Member since
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  • From: Southwest US
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Posted by tomikawaTT on Monday, September 17, 2007 11:27 AM

Put little dabs of 'rusty steel' paint on the nailheads and all the rest of the ties and pretend they're date nails.

OTOH, if you own an jeweler's microengraver, you can carve real dates into them.  Just remember that ties don't last forever.  Keep the dates in line with your operating era.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: New York City
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Posted by sfrailfan on Monday, September 17, 2007 1:30 PM
We spike at the rails too, not in the middle. Irregardless, locos with sound; and the speaker in the fuel tank will grab any loose spikes because of the magnet. - it happened to us : ) causing a rather unhappy derailment.
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Southwest US
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Posted by tomikawaTT on Monday, September 17, 2007 2:14 PM

 sfrailfan wrote:
We spike at the rails too, not in the middle. Irregardless, locos with sound; and the speaker in the fuel tank will grab any loose spikes because of the magnet. - it happened to us : ) causing a rather unhappy derailment.

That's why the first thing that runs (slides) down my newly-spiked trackwork is a big, powerful under-track uncoupling magnet, still in its original packaging.

I also use it to retrieve dropped screws from hard-to-reach locations.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

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