Hey Y’all;
For that 8 foot indoor display and running shelf for HLW Sparky trolley loco I want to assemble the track myself using rail on wood ties.
Have built HO gauge track with different ties for HO, On30, Gn15 so understand the principles.
Have so far had only Bachmann trans set track in G
8 foot shelf takes 16 feet of rail, what do I want?
Where does one get just rail?
later,
Forrest
Okay, will check there.
I’m looking for just rail and being a rank amateur at large scale haven’t a clue where to get just rail.
Have heard there’s aluminum rail, brass rail, and something else.
This is a short indoor segment which will be painted and ballasted and I’d like something where railhead would look silver like real thing.
Forrest,
You might also check out ‘Switchcrafters’ at http://www.switchcrafters.com/
They make code 250 and 215 Nickle Silver switches. They don’t offer the rail as a stock item, but for the couple of lengths you need for your ‘diorama’, they might make an exception. If not, the have aluminum rail that is not expensive and can be purchased in small quantities.
Bob C.
But they do have aluminum rail: Aluminum Code 215 rail (16X6’ =96’)$45.76; Aluminum Code 215 rail (6’ piece)$3.25, aluminum is acceptable.
That code 215 looks about like what I want: have a really short segment of rail about 5 inches tall which in 1/24 scale would be 5/24= .208 inches, making the .215 rail pretty close.
It’s probably around 70 to 75 pound rail in scale as a wild guess.
Wonder how well the aluminum would take red oxide enamel rusty metal primer to look like real track?
Shelf is only going to be 12 inches wide, so no switches will be needed. It’s mostly to be an exercise in making functional catenary.
Ahh, they have ties and tie plates.
Probably use fish tank gravel for ballast.
Forrest - Another great source, that carries Llagas Creek and many other brands of handlaying supplies is California & Oregon Coast Railway: http://www.cocry.com I have very little hand-lay experience. Built a short display track once with Llagas nickel-silver track, cast tie plates & spikes. It took paint fine. I think the aluminum will too.
Forrest, Llagas Creek aluminum rail takes paint quite well…
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/richard_smith/2009/15-EndView-BEnd-Web.JPG)
The track above is Llagas aluminum, although code 250 rather than 215. I have painted alumiunum rail that’s been outdoors since 2004 with very little paint deterioration so indoors shouldn’t be any problem at all. I paint the rail first with Bondo red primer (a rusty color) and overspray with 3 different Krylon earth colors.
Forrest Scott Wood said:
… Ahh, they have ties and tie plates. Probably use fish tank gravel for ballast.
Chicken-Grit for ballast. Sample of my phototrack
(http:///F-PIX/PhotoTrack03.jpg)
In action
(http:///F-PIX/C_2012a_s2.jpg)
Thanks guys!
Rails look good.
Chicken grit - being out here in the boonies in a little town of 8700 or so, that ought to be easily come by.
