10 TIPS for laying model railroad flex track like a PRO!

Рет қаралды 41,538

Күн бұрын

Hello friends and modelers! In this video I share with you 10 tips for laying flex track that will prevent derailments, save you money and leave your track looking like a master modeler has laid the track.
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Potato Deal: Craig McArthur - Free to use courtesy of KZfaq

Пікірлер: 70

@AndyDorsch Ай бұрын

If you want to see the next video in this series, follow the link to my tips on ballasting video - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/n9d8iMijrMyrYYk.html

@jasonboche 10 ай бұрын

I've built two significant railroads in the past two decades and can vouch that these are all great tips. Thank you for sharing with the hobby.

@danshelledy 10 ай бұрын

A very experienced modeler said to stagger the joints of the left rail verses the right rail when using flex track on curves. This worked very well to eliminate gauge problems. He also recommended sodering all joiner connections.

@OtterCreek Жыл бұрын

Great video Andy!

@AndyDorsch Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@farmerdave7965 Жыл бұрын

I'm glad I live in a desert. It saves a lot of problems.

@AndyDorsch Жыл бұрын

No need for a dehumidifier!!!

@SpaceDad42 11 ай бұрын

Except our monsoon season!

@ilvchevs1 Жыл бұрын

There's a great looking workbench at the end!

@larrydee8859 Ай бұрын

Thanks again Andy, for another great track video. Back in the 70s there were tips in the model railroad magazines, about Laying flex track, but your lecture here is better than any that I've ever seen, regarding lane flex track. Years ago I did this but no one had mentioned about the need for a really fine mist spray for adhesive. You have a lot of good extra tips as well. Thanks again!

@AndyDorsch Ай бұрын

Thanks for the info!

@boomerdiorama Жыл бұрын

Love the track-laying tips. Good sound advice. Thank you for the shout - out Andy! Cheers ~ Boomer.

@AndyDorsch Жыл бұрын

Thanks Boomer!!! And no worries about the Shout Out!

@boomerdiorama Жыл бұрын

@@AndyDorsch Have fun working on the "Hawaii" tan Andy. 😁

@tombarnes7196 6 ай бұрын

These are good tips. I would highly recommend PVA (Elmers) glue instead of LocTite. In the event of a need to move/adjust the track, a little water and about 10 minutes softens the glue and allows you to readjust switches and track. (Ask me how I know about this!) Thanks for sharing!

@nickrails 3 ай бұрын

Indeed - I found a new Olfa 18mm snap off blade carefully run under the ties will lift track and turnouts from PVA pretty easily without needing to soften or dampen the glue (although I havent used the damping technique you describe for small adjustment). Scrape and sand the surface down (you can sand into a cork surface without problems) and you can re-lay the same (or new) track. I've lifted multiple turnouts like this and re-layed without damaging the turnout or the cork bed

@RichardBough-yk2ei 26 күн бұрын

Thanks for the Bonus tip on humidifier i never thught about that and i live in Western Sydney Australia where it can get up to 40 Celsius in Summer

@larrydee8859 Ай бұрын

Thanks again Andy for another great video! Great modeling tips.

@AndyDorsch Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@wrfreemo2006 Жыл бұрын

Great set of tips for trackwork, Andy! I'd add one more - chamfer the inside rail ends so that a wheel cannot find a square edge to ride up on. This is especially useful with joints made on curves.

@AndyDorsch Жыл бұрын

I have never thought of that. What do you use to add the chamfer??

@wrfreemo2006 Жыл бұрын

@@AndyDorsch I use a mill file. If you chamfer the foot of the rail on the sides as well, then rail joiners tend to slide on a little easier. A friend recommends a "track use only" mill file so that it remains sharp.

@HumancityJunction Жыл бұрын

A dehumidifier is a good tip, I have one and in the summer it is very helpful.

@AndyDorsch Жыл бұрын

It really is!

@Tmstrains Жыл бұрын

Fantastic tips! These will undoubtedly come in handy as I start to build my layout over the next few months. Thank you so much for sharing! 😊

@robertallen5531 10 ай бұрын

Awesome tips. Thanks

@TwoRailfans Жыл бұрын

Great tips. We are about to lay a lot of flex track and this was very helpful.

@everettthepetractionguy4222 Ай бұрын

I was trying to figure out how you lay straight tracks as straight as possible on a layout. I'm glad I found this video. Tip #9 will certainly come in handy when I start building a layout. 👉 05:43 Those 3 foot flex tracks were very difficult to keep straight while laying them on a layout. 🥴 I'm really glad I found this video. 👏

@AndyDorsch Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! And I'm glad I could help! If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!

@Route9Signs Жыл бұрын

Great tips. Been listening to the podcast lately and I love it.

@dougs6460 5 ай бұрын

Tip #1 - my track had more waves in it than the ocean. I went at the cork with a block and 40 grit paper, 1000% better! Not perfect, but good enough for the girls I go with!!! Thank You!

@krisnelson1807 Жыл бұрын

Great tips!! Will be a great help as I build my layout in the coming months. Thank you!

@AndyDorsch Жыл бұрын

Good Luck with the layout build!

@michaelwhitham4501 2 ай бұрын

Hi mate I like the tip about soldering the curve joints of flex track but what about allowing for expanding due to weather conditions etc I like the idea of soldering the curves but I’ve also seen you should leave a gap between each joint to allow for movement

@tonyslight826 7 ай бұрын

Great tips mate thank you i never thought about a dehumidifier before and my layout is in the loft no heating I'm gonna get me one of those. Thanks Andy.

@user-cb1qw7nk9h 6 ай бұрын

Thank you, Andy!... great content..

@lucgagnon5241 6 ай бұрын

Pretty interesting ! Especially the ruined ties and the side rail plates.

@schadowolf Жыл бұрын

Great tips and video! Subbed.

@tunglam5113 3 ай бұрын

thanks for sharing

@mikejameshupfer 9 ай бұрын

Thanks, those are good ideas.

@kenshores9900 5 ай бұрын

Great tips good video.

@michaelwhitham4501 2 ай бұрын

Ah my bad I’d commented before I’d got to the end of your vid

@sparky107107 Жыл бұрын

thanks for the tips

@AndyDorsch Жыл бұрын

No problem!

@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267 Жыл бұрын

Some great tips , going to subscribe your channel

@williambryant5946 Жыл бұрын

Good video. Great tips! 👍

@AndyDorsch Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@eottoe2001 11 ай бұрын

TY.

@shelleycogswell2162 2 ай бұрын

Thanks. I can use these tips.

@AndyDorsch Ай бұрын

Great!

@larryjanson4011 11 ай бұрын

i have a yard stick made out of alum, fits perfectly between the rails. another one fits perfectly for track spacing. rail to rail for yards. tie to tie for mainlines.

@ericgraham8824 4 ай бұрын

Great video. Awesome. New Sub

@AndyDorsch Ай бұрын

Thanks for the sub!

@akenedy Жыл бұрын

Hi Andy, beginning at time point 5:24 in your video, you are showing two different styles of track. The track on the left side has incredibly detailed wood grain on the track ties, while the track on the right has barely any wood grain detail at all. I really like the look of the more highly detailed track on the left. Could you please reveal the brand and rail code of that track on the left. I am currently planning my first HO scale railroad and want to make the right choice for the bulk purchase of flex track that I'll need. Thanks, and great video deserving of many thumbs up!

@AndyDorsch Жыл бұрын

I use Code 70 microengineering.

@thecnwmondovilinepaulscota7304 Жыл бұрын

The only tip I didn't follow was soldering the wire on the bottom. Might do that as I expand. Thanks!

@AndyDorsch Жыл бұрын

Glad it helped

@Tom-xe9iq 9 ай бұрын

I might suggest that for Tip#6, instead of a tube adhesive to use PVA glue instead. It has saved me heartache: simply add a little water and within about 10 minutes with a putty knife and some patience the track can easily be moved. Let it dry and it is hard as nails and clear again!

@denniswilson2690 4 ай бұрын

Great Video! Question I saw a recommendation that you paint the cork roadbed same colour as your ballast before ballasting. Will paint affect the cork roadbed later on? Your thoughts.

@Danthehorse 6 ай бұрын

Why go to rhe trouble of cork, why not use ez track or Kato untrack? I'm a newb so, sorry if it's a daft question. Very nicely explained btw, I like your calm and to the point style. You make this all sound accessible and not overly intimidating.

@franzbrunner499 6 ай бұрын

happy new year -basic question -if i don't want to make a professional layout (landscape, cities, bridges etc), just track to run trains, what option would you recommend as trackbed except cork? thank you

@mschultheis1 11 ай бұрын

Great tips Andy. Tip #5 on track alignment references using PC Board ties to attach the rail to and then glue down. It appears you are soldering the rail to the PC Board. If this can be soldered, it must be conductive, so how do you keep from shorting across the rails? I have an alignment problem I am trying to fix and this seems like a great solution- except I can't figure out the shorting issue.

@bensevier1561 10 ай бұрын

The PCB ties have a thin layer of copper on top the resin base. Use a needle file to wear away a strip of the copper, usually in the center of the tie. Verify there's no short across with an ammeter (or other test tool). Easy to do.

@svengazibo Жыл бұрын

When is it appropriate to nail or spike flextrack as opposed to using glue or caulk? I've had good luck with caulk but if I spike then ballast I'm thinking that might hold it down nicely, too.

@AndyDorsch Жыл бұрын

You can use spikes as an alternative to glue if you are unsure if the track placement it permanent. It's much easier to pull up a nail then chisel glue or caulk. Also if curves are being stubborn, you can throw a spike in there too!!