I'm in no way interested in hand laying track at this stage in my modeling, but I don't mind snapping out extra ties in flex track and manufactured turnouts. Would removing every-other tie render a more realistic look or is that a waste of time? Has anyone done this? What are your results? Got pictures?
Tie count
- Thread starter LoudMusic
- Start date
Before I got too involved in On30, I took the easy way out. I slipped about 1/3 of the ties off HO Micro Engineering flex track. At that time I just used plain jane HO switches and figured I'd bury them in dirt to hide the ties. Next time I'm rooting around in my boxes of old projects, I'll see if any of that track is still intact and shoot a couple of shots for you. 
RMC in the early 70's had some nice articles on modeling in On2 1/2 (On30).
Cheers,
Greg
RMC in the early 70's had some nice articles on modeling in On2 1/2 (On30). Cheers,
Greg
Are you planning to use HO track or On30 track? Micro Engineering flex track and Peco On30 track have more prototypical tie spacing when they come from the factory. Also the ties are longer and larger than HO.
jcoop: I can agree with you on the PECO track. Their ties are much too wide for US prototype. Micro Engineering is much better scalewise. I still don't like the short ties that you end up with by using HO flex track. Of course, here we go again with the cost factor. HO track is much cheaper than On30.
Removing 1/2 (every other tie) of Atlas code 100 flex seems like the most cost / time / effort effective route. But I may look into some On30 before I spend hundreds of dollars on any track.
Has anyone removed ties from turnouts? I'm quite sure it's more difficult, but surely it's possible and doesn't damage the turnout.
Has anyone removed ties from turnouts? I'm quite sure it's more difficult, but surely it's possible and doesn't damage the turnout.
LM...
Here's a tutorial from our esteemed Academy that shows you how:
http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=7791
Andrew
Here's a tutorial from our esteemed Academy that shows you how:
http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=7791
Andrew
Even if you don't want to go to the extent of replacing all the ties, the tutorial at least identifies the critical ones you should leave...!
Andrew
Andrew