In this episode, David’s projects include repairing benchwork, installing a bridge, and laying curved track sections. Tune in for David’s tips and techniques for making flowing, smooth curves with Micro Engineering Flex-Track.
State Line Route in N scale: Bridge installation and laying curved track, Episode 7
By Jenny Freeland | September 24, 2021
Thanks David for the excellent series. I’ve already added some items to my cart at Walthers to build a small diorama based on the State Line Inspiration video. Maybe it will make the magazine!
Jim Rohrbach
David had said earlier to use a new saw blade, which is a good idea. You can go to Harbor Freight and buy a $12 blasting gun, fill it with baking soda and set your air compressor to 90 pounds. You can blast the pitch right off the tips if the teeth and have a new blade. You need to do it whenever you see any pitch buildup because it causes heat and heat ruins the teeth.
A thought. Since the top of the bridge abutment will be level with the top of the cork roadbed – why not turn the abutment up-side-down and draw your cut line along the top of the roadbed?
ME track holds the curve you bend very well. Track nails are not necessary! I only use tacks or pins to keep in place while the glue dries. Once ballast is on, it aint gonna move!
Also, straightening ME track is easy – just use the clothes pin on the inside of curves and finally a straightedge to finish position.
I much prefer Atlas flex track myself – so much easier to get smoother curves than ME, Walthers or Peco flex that is stiff.
Would be curious on how to straight ME track. I wanted to use it on my layout but chose atlas. ME once bent is nearly impossible to straight back. It has too many kinks for track level photography for a modeled class 1 main.
when are the n scale locos coming out
Awesome – smooth track, joints and you ran a train!! Looking really nice over the bridges.
Great tip on pre-curving the track before laying it. I presume this would also work with code 100 H0 track, albeit with a bit more effort (a bigger clothespeg)!
i have tried it in both N and Ho scale, and it works great !
Nice work, that was fun to watch. Nothing like a first run!