| A model train track is the heart of your model railway | | | | points (turnouts) that are as complex as your |
| system. Spending time to get this aspect of your | | | | imagination can dream up or can fit a tricky piece of |
| hobby right from the start will avoid countless future | | | | network where a commercially available point cannot. |
| running problems. There are many choices relating to | | | | Points or turnouts are an important aspect of model |
| track work that need to be made which will ultimately | | | | train track that needs some thought given to. If you |
| affect your whole set up. | | | | wish to run long, large locomotives which have many |
| Things to consider before you start laying track could | | | | driving wheels, you may have trouble in running if you |
| include: | | | | choose small radius points. Check with your local |
| 1) Gauge of track | | | | model railway outlet or on some of the informative |
| 2) Flexible, set track or Scratch built | | | | forums on the internet regarding the minimum |
| 3) Standard or Fine scale | | | | recommended radius for your locomotive. |
| 4) Complexity of track plan | | | | Commercially available points can come in two types. |
| The scale you decide to model your train world in is | | | | Electro-frog and Insul-frog. We are not going to go too |
| usually dictated by the space you have available for | | | | much into detail about the differences between the |
| your model layout. There are limits to how sharp you | | | | two in this article as this is more of a electrical wiring |
| can make a curve. Make the curve too tight and the | | | | topic. Electro-frog points are slightly more difficult to |
| model train is likely to derail. The NMRA (National Model | | | | wire so Insul-frogs are usually recommended for |
| Railway Association) suggests a minimum radius of 40 | | | | beginners. |
| Inches for HO and 21.5 inches for N. You can go | | | | Once you've laid your network of model train track, |
| tighter than this but make sure you test you rolling | | | | ensure that you test it thoroughly. Only when you are |
| stock before permanently fixing your track down. | | | | satisfied that trains are running trouble free in both |
| Another point to consider is whether you wish to use | | | | directions, you may then want to consider adding the |
| Set-track, flexible track or scratch-build your own. | | | | final touch to your track-work, ballast. |
| Set-track is a term used to describe the short fixed | | | | Ballast is the lumps of stone that you see between the |
| pieces of track which you usually get in a train set. | | | | tracks on a real railway. This ensures that the rails |
| Model train track of this type is rigid and cannot be | | | | stay correctly positioned and avoids movement by the |
| bent to suite your plan. There are a wide variety of | | | | passing of heavy trains. There are many products on |
| shapes and sizes however for you to create | | | | the market that simulate the ballast in the scale you |
| interesting and complex track networks. This track | | | | are modeling. They come in a variety of sizes and |
| system is usually the one most beginners start out with | | | | colours. |
| as all you have to do is join them and fix them to the | | | | Ballast should be laid and fixed with a diluted PVA glue |
| baseboard. | | | | and water mix. Usually a 50/50 mix of PVA and |
| Flexible track is a system of meter-length rails which | | | | water is sufficient. Spray the ballast with a fine mist of |
| can be curved and bent to your precise needs and cut | | | | water before applying the glue. This will aid in the glue |
| to any length you wish. This allows for natural and | | | | absorbing into the ballast and ensure a good solid |
| realistic looking curves. Flexible track takes additional | | | | setting. Another trick to aid in the absorption of the glue |
| skill and experience to cut and lay to ensure smooth | | | | is to add a tea spoon of dishwashing detergent to the |
| running of locomotives. This is why this option is usually | | | | glue mix. It is important to be very careful when |
| considered a step up from the beginner's level. | | | | applying ballast to point work. Many enthusiasts keep |
| For ultimate freedom in track design, some enthusiasts | | | | ballast clear of the moving point blades as any glue or |
| decide to scratch build their own tracks. This can | | | | stone can affect the operation of the points. |
| involve cutting small timber sleepers (or ties), laying rails | | | | An alternative to stone ballast is a product called |
| and pinning them to the sleepers. This is time | | | | ballast underlay. This is usually made from foam and |
| consuming but can be very rewarding, producing | | | | simulates the ballast without the need for complex |
| realistic looking track. One of the greatest benefits of | | | | gluing however the end result is far less realistic. |
| scratch building model train track is the ability to create | | | | |