I figured it would stir some passions to even mention the difference in how flex track works. To each his own, but it's worth mentioning because people have different preferences and that can be an important and very early choice when starting a layout. Most of my track is narrowgauge and we don't need any easements, but on the occasions when they are called for the eye and hand can form them easily enough. Eliminating the snake wrestling is more important to me.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Once you have a Dremel - it becomes a FREQUENTLY used tool. Well worth it -
a Dremel is like the Sawzall of the hobby world not used for everything but is the ONLY tool for some jobs And like a Sawzall we keep finding more & more uses
not trying to sabitoge this thread but I do have a different yet somewhat related question
when laying flex track on a curve which side do you prefer to put the "sliding" rail on..inside or out?
dbduck not trying to sabitoge this thread but I do have a different yet somewhat related question when laying flex track on a curve which side do you prefer to put the "sliding" rail on..inside or out?
Easy answer for me which I came to naturally. Inside rail slides and sticks out since the inside rail of a curve covers a shorter distance. I cut off the excess rail that sticks out and I'm all set to connect the next piece.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I do the same...
BRAKIEJim,I built mt first ISL way back in '62 or '63 using "stiff" brass flex track with fiber ties so using ME flex came natual to me.
You are definitely more of a man than me! You had to learn to "wrestle the snake" as Mike put it. For an ISL where track is may be wavy as you look down it, hey, stiff track kinda works better there.
I bought some track online around 1990 and was sort of horrified to see fiber ties and held to rail with staples and thanks my lucky stars that was a "one off" and made sure I avoided it after that. Must have been left over from the early 1960's. Yikes! Maybe I can be thankful I was born after most of that was gone but the consequences are I can't claim to be be aclimated to laying track with bear skins and stone knives.
At least for track, we'll have to agree to disagree and I'll refer anyone back to Randy's well said defense of springy flex track. It's got the "bent stick" built in for nice smooth flowing.
It's kind of what sold me on Peco, too. I have been perfectly happy to use Atlas turnouts in the past, but I wanted to have more variety. And not have to play games with matching different brands every time there was a turnout. So I ordered some Peco flex. First order got mangled thnks to having the gorillas from the old Samsonite luggage commercials handle the package, but a repalcement shipment came through with perfectly good pieces. I found it to be flexible enough to curve smoothly like Atlas, but not quite as floppy. But far easier to form smooth curves than the ME I also ordered to try. So, since it was easy to work, and sine Peco has a huge selection of Coe 83 turnouts, it was a no-brainer. Plus I already have a lifetime suppyl of replacement ties, 5 sections of flex with most of the rail already stripped off - and plenty of rail to cut up into lengths to stack alongside yard offices and MOW shacks.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
riogrande5761Not so good if smooth flowing track work is important, but maybe for an ISL where track is often wavy, hey, stiff track kinda works better there.
Jim, One needs smooth track work on a ISL since there is a lot of back and forth switching action so,and IMHO that's where ME track shines..I can shape my curve off the switch and it stays in place unlike the Atlas spring back into shape flex.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
rrinker It's kind of what sold me on Peco, too. I have been perfectly happy to use Atlas turnouts in the past, but I wanted to have more variety. And not have to play games with matching different brands every time there was a turnout. So I ordered some Peco flex.
That does sound attractive although I'm used to matching different codes and brands, but still the less of that the better.
I found it to be flexible enough to curve smoothly like Atlas, but not quite as floppy. But far easier to form smooth curves than the ME I also ordered to try. So, since it was easy to work, and sine Peco has a huge selection of Coe 83 turnouts, it was a no-brainer. Plus I already have a lifetime suppyl of replacement ties, 5 sections of flex with most of the rail already stripped off - and plenty of rail to cut up into lengths to stack alongside yard offices and MOW shacks. --Randy
That all sounds good. Since I'm stock piling Peco turnouts, I'll be looking at their flex as well!
BRAKIEI built mt first ISL way back in '62 or '63 using "stiff" brass flex track with fiber ties so using ME flex came natual to me.
I built my first 2 layouts using it.
But I really like using the super flex (or floppy flex). I find it easier to work with.
Paul