Track
The ability to build realistic Flat bottomed track is seriously restricted by the delicate nature of the clips securing the rail to the baseplates/sleepers. For example the dia of the Pandrol® PR clip material is only 3/4" which translated into 4mm is 0.25mm. This does not provide much strength in any plastic, unless the 3 dimensional shape of the clip is compromised in some way. The same is true of nearly all the clips which have seen use on flat bottomed track. It is for this reason that I have chosen to use soldered track construction as standard on all my systems.
CC01T Inclined 1 in 20 spacers.
CC03T BR1 etched baseplates with elastic spikes.
CC04T BR2 etched baseplates with Macbeth spikes.
CC10T 1 in 20 track gauges P4, EM, or 00. For use either with EMGS code 83, or Peco and P4 Track Co. Code 82 rail. Gauges vary for the different rail suppliers.
CC11T PAN11 cosmetic baseplates, supplied with CC01T spacers.
The use of soldered track construction is already widely used and well proven, particularly in fiddle yards where cosmetic appearance is unimportant. Some criticise the finished appearance of PCB compared with ply, but if you actually observe the prototype carefully, one can only conclude that the grain on ply sleepers is far too coarse.
There are two fundamental problems with PCB sleepers:
1. The rail must have a spacer between it and the sleeper, preferably with a 1 in 20 inward slope (except vertical rail as used on modern switches and crossings)
2. The copper cladding needs to be "broken" to insulate the two rails. The execution of this is often very visible, which is consequently unacceptable.
To every problem, there is a solution:
1. Inclined etched spacers are either built into the design of the baseplates/clips as on my BR1 and BR2 baseplates, or provided separately in a user friendly manner when using cosmetic castings of baseplates as in my PAN6 / PAN11 and adjusment switch slide plates. Further, my simple fold-up stainless steel track gauges will hold the rail at the correct 1 in 20 inclination during assembly, as well as assisting with the centering the rails on the sleepers - this is one bonus of flat bottomed rail.
2. Depending on the situation, I have used two systems of "breaking" the copper cladding, which are both simple and effective:
a) For plain track I use the system established to finalise tab removal on my FFA/FGA kit. A fine mini sanding disc is used in line with the sleeper length, before assembly; the copper is feathered off where it is removed and the break is completely invisible after painting. The critical part is avoiding grooving by using only light pressure and continuous gentle movement in the operation. The minidrill is preferably mounted in a drill stand and the sleeper held against the rotating disc to give maximum control.
b) Alternatively, for cosmetic baseplate fitting, the track can be assembled, and a very light cut made (track cutting disc in a minidrill) just inside the rail, so that it is invisible from the normal viewing side of the track. The cosmetic baseplates are secured with cyanoacrylate or epoxy with a sufficient film thickness to prevent a short circuit (a simple short circuit "tester" can easily be set up to confirm satistactory results) ; If you want belt and braces, then a small square of tissue paper can be located under the cosmetic baseplate; the chosen adhesive will soak through the paper to provide the bond, while at the same time ensuring positive insulation. This second system is ideal for the complex insulation required on the crossing end of turnouts,
The photographs of track on this website demonstrate the effectiveness of these processes.
Painting: My own personal preference is to spray a dark rust colour over the whole track, and brush paint the indiviual sleepers with dirty greyish black. It is a lot easier to apply a sleeper colour paint to the edge of the baseplates, than it is to attempt individual baseplate painting. The top surface of the rail is cleaned with the edge of a knife blade. Any further weathering is completed after the ballast has been applied.
Turnout components to follow later.
CC13T Adjustment Switch.
For those wishing to understand the development of modern track in the UK, I have written 3 parts, so far, of a series of articles. These were originally published in DEMU Update, but are now available on the Manchester Model Railway Society (MMRS) Web. See Links.
