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Problems Lining Up Track
David asks readers:
“My attempts at laying the base cork using the track centers is roving problematic, because I’m finding it hard to mark the actual line with my track in place on the plywood. I think I need a tool to mark the center line. Trying to line it up by eye is near impossible. I thought maybe attaching a pencil to a two wheel truck might work if I could mark a dot through the mounting hole of the truck. Does anyone have any brighter ideas? What do other use to solve this problem? I hope my question makes sense. My scale is HO.”
3 Responses to Problems Lining Up Track
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I use a layer of Homasote on top of 1/2 ply for my table tops. It makes spiking, nails, etc, easier. It’s heavier, but it is nothing like working with glue and plywood. I also use cork in my staging tracks and some sidings (because I got a bunch of it in a lot of other stuff at an auction).
I pin through the roadbed (could be done with cork too), using those tall T-shaped foam/craft pins. I push the pins through the roadbed before it goes down, it is easy to hit the center of the track center line (Sharpie® or other permanent marker).
But enough about me; you said you were laying cork on plywood. When I’ve done that before, the cork roadbed splits down the middle, and you reverse the two halves to make a roadbed, so you are only lining up one “half” (or side) of the roadbed at a time. That should make hitting your mark easy enough (and glue to plywood should be easy-peasy).
I am not experienced in using cork roadbed, but I would guess that by temporarily laying the track in its intended place first, then drawing a pencil line along just outside the ties, you would have a sufficiently accurate guideline. If it will eventually be covered by ballast, perfectly accuracy is not required.
David,
I made a radius stick and it has a mount board that screws down to the table . I use a yard stick mounted at the radius point and a pencil at the mark I want on the plywood for the center of the road bed. Works well for laying flex track. If you are using sectional track set the measuring tool to a fixed set of sectional track and them place that radius on as I said for the flex track
If you need longer than a yard stick get a four footer or make a measuring stick long enough.
Since my layout sections are like modular this measuring stick will sometimes have it’s radius point off the table. That is why you have a mounting stick to hold the radius point. Also while you are working these marks from a straight section to the radius curve you want track to blend into the radius and not to suddenly make the radius. That is like making a turn in your car and you jerk the steering wheel. By blending into the curve it makes a smooth transition. Watch a Lionel train run around a sectional track. It jerks into the curve. from Newman Atkinson