Flex Track

[g-pa1]

Can someone explain to me how to attach flex track to go around a bend and attach to another piece of 9" straight track? When I bend the flextrack one rail at one end gets very long and disappears entirely at the other end. Do I need to take out 5 or 6 ties and attach the two sections of track? I have yet to solder the two track sections together but if I did and then bent it into a curve wouldn't I have to cut ties away anyway? I just seem to be flex track challenged. Gene

[untabubba]

See, that's why I say I have to go buy some of this stuff. It's precut, at an angle, down the center line? Interesting! Marc

[beastranger]

Marc Picture your snap track with the sloped edges, this is what the cork will look like when seperate the pieces and put the square edges against themselves. It is split in two just to make it easier to go around curves. One thing to look for when buying cork at the LHS is that it is fresh and not dry. My LHS stores thiers in a tub so that it tends to dry out and become brittle. Believe me you will be able to tell the differance between a fresh piece and a piece. Punk

[untabubba]

Punk, I understand the idea of the sloped edges giving you a "ballast profile". So, the "original" cork strip is "square" on the outside edge with a "V" shaped groove running down the middle. You basically "rip" it along this groove and (as I said earlier) "reverse" the pieces so the square edges form a "solid" centerline and the "sides" of the "V" form the outer sloped shoulders. How interesting! I figured splitting it was to help with the corners. Fresh stuff should be very pliable, right? Marc

[ginzokid]

How many ways and times must we answer the same question, especially when you answer it yourself. You got it Marc. Yeah, and fresh cork smells "wet" too and has a darker color. You can buy it much cheaper by the box of 25 on line from Standard Hobby than by the piece at the LHS. Flex track by the box of 100 too. B-)

[untabubba]

Pete, I'm just making conversation here! :8} I can just see mice-elf in the LHS sampling the "bouquet" of the cork.....AHH, a very good year! Maybe I should sneak some wine in and dip it in it! :^O The weather here was so dank and bleak....not that cold, just dark grey, drizzly and chilly....that I just wanted to come home. I work late tomorrow, SO, no LHS till Friday earliest. :( Therefore we can "freeze" this discussion until I actually have some cork roadbed to work with. I do appreciate all the "cyber-help". In the meantime I'll review my various downloads and MRs. I know I have at least a couple articles about laying flex-track that use cork as the roadbed. Marc

[ginzokid]

It's not Portugal cork Marc. And would you please hire an exterminator. There are rodents all over your postings again. Also please refrain from the word "freeze" when addressing someone from the frozen north. Have some pity. B-)

[untabubba]

Pete, OOPS!! I forgot! I guess you have zero pity for a guy living in southeastern Pa that's whining about drizzle in 40*s! :8} Marc

[ginzokid]

Warmed up to -5 today. Enough said. B-)

[untabubba]

Brings a whole new meaning to "Ice Cubes"!! ]:) ;) Marc....toasty at +40!

[beastranger]

Marc Pete is right about Standard Hobby, look for the ad in MR. A case of 100 pieces (about 300ft!) of flex track is only about $159. You can always sell the leftovers on E-bay and actualy make money or keep it for layout "grande". When I got my case I also got their cork $9.99 for 25 . Punk

[ginzokid]

Kalmbach as just published a new book, Basic Trackwork for Model Railroaders, $19.95 at your LHS. Should answer all your questions about any type of roadbed and track. Also I suggest thatMarc should read the chapter in The Clinchfield book about track laying. B-)

[untabubba]

Punk, I don't need the track....not that kind of quantity anyway! Also, I don't need the "agg" of selling anything on eBay. (See Pete's many posts.) Now the case of cork could deaf-in-italy be a GO, but how will I know it's fresh if I can't fondle and smell it??? ]:) :^O ;) Pete, I am currently assembling all the printed material I have about model railroading into a sort of "half-fast" 😉 library. I have mags and books all around the house. Some down at the "big" layout, some under "my" end table, and a bunch in a basket in the...ah.....bathroom. I have on-line printouts on my desk. I honestly could not walk into my house and make a bee-line to the Clinchfield book.....I know I have it, but I'm not sure where it is! I'll find it and read it. I may check out the new Kalmbach book, but I have some good stuff I downloaded from MR's on-line stuff. Marc

[dl85vette]

I concur with Pete and Punk. $1.77 Usd for Atlas N scale flex when you buy 15 pcs or more. the LHS in Halifax wants 3.89 Cdn and 15% tax. 9.99 Usd for Atlas remote turnout, LHS 22.99 Cdn With an order of 10 turnouts and 15 flex track Plus exchange ratio and as much as $26 Usd for shipping, would you believe that I still saved 60 bucks Cdn. I saved over $120 buying from New Jersey. no wonder these guys have huge layouts in MR magazine. MTL cars go for 30-45 Cdn here. Even Atlas is cheaper paying retail prices off ebay. Can't wait to get posted outta nova scotia. home of 1 hobby shop. Dave done giping for the day. * Pete,I'll let you know when the moving truck comes, so you can sneak outta the maritimes with us.

[untabubba]

Dave, I am in total concordance here. The mail order houses beat everybody....even eBay frequently! I do have one LHS nearby that does discount slightly, but nothing like the mail guys! The other LHSs that are convenient are "by the book" MSRP places. Marc

[ginzokid]

Dave, I'm jealous. You have 1 hobby shop. What I have been selling on ebay is more than the part-time hobby shop we have here. I kid you not. She charged me $6.99C for a bottle of Testors paint last week. Hey, I was desperate. $13.99C for a 1oz bottle of Jet CA glue. Marc, If you order the cork from Standard at the $9.99 price, it is not Midwest, but some brand from Portugal. Sounds bad doesn't it. But, think of this. Where do the best corks for wine bottles come from? Portugal! I used this stuff for years and save a munch of bunny. Just don't get sucked into the ModelPower flex track. Yuck! Did I tell you that the bank will not accept your money order? It is not an international money order. Guess you better get Paypal if you want my stuff. I don't take personal checks. There is also the option of Bidpay..... Just kidding. ]:) Hee, Hee. B-)