APPENDIX 3: TRACK
Note: These comments
are mine alone. Other comments are welcome and will
be placed here.
Regarding the comments below, Walthers shows HO track back in stock in November, 2019. I'll update the comments below when that track is available for review.
Track I recommend avoiding:
·
Precision
Scale: Out of gauge, does
not work with semi-fine scale (0.088”) wheels. I would also add that the track is also poorly made and
unattractive.
Track that I'm not familiar with:
Flex track that has been acceptable
on modules I’ve observed:
·
Walthers/Shinohara: Flex
track, code 83 and code 70
· Micro Engineering: Flex track, code 83, code 70 and code 55. Preferred by some for appearance, the rail cross section is more delicate than Walthers.
·
Atlas: Flex track, code 83.
Track that requires care with
installation:
· Central Valley track is a craftsman
product that requires careful assembly. The rail is glued to well detailed tie strips. Since the glue bond can weaken at high temperatures, keep
Turnouts:
· Fast Tracks turnouts (#4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and many others) are also craftsman kits that require very careful assembly. They are economical only if a number of the same size turnout are required. When well made and installed, they are extremely smooth running and reliable.
· Atlas produces DCC friendly turnouts (Wye, #4, 6, 8) that are better
looking than earlier versions.
· Micro Engineering
turnouts are good looking but limited to #6 only. In a few instances they have proved to be a bit fragile.
· Old
Walthers and all Shinohara
turnouts require modification to make them DCC friendly.
Unfortunately, the newer DCC friendly Walthers turnouts (#5, 6,
8, 10) are not as good looking as they could have been. While I use these turnouts because I appreciate their robustness,
I replace the throwbar with a PCB throwbar and spread the switch rails a bit to reduce the
"shark jaw" appearance. I
also fill the frogs so that dropping of semi-scale wheels is minimized. The very small jumpers on the bottom of the turnout are fragile
and should not be depended upon.
Careful inspection with a NMRA Mark IV gauge is required to
insure that all aspects of the turnout are correct.
Railbars:
· Details
West rail bars can be used to improve the appearance of track. I advise against using code 83 rail bars with code 83 track since
the railbars fill the flangeway and result in bouncing of rolling
stock. On code 83 track, use code 70 railbars
instead. They nestle nicely
against the web of code 83 rail.
· Careful
attention to right of way details and a good ballast job help to “make”
a module. I use Walthers and
Shinohara flex track and
Arizona Rock and Mineral ballast. After ballasting, I weather and blend colors with an airbrush to
adjust the overall appearance. I have often been asked at shows if my Walthers and Shinohara
flex track is hand laid. I
think this indicates that a good job of installing, ballasting and
painting/weathering the track makes it very hard to determine what brand
of track is used.
[Appendix 2: End Plates] [Contents] [Appendix 4: Shandin]
Gary M. Green
gary@regalvalley.com