Closeout Items?

[qantaqa]

During my web meanderings, I came across some fairly deeply discounted items listed as "yard sale" over at:

http://con-cor.com/yardsale/yardsale.htm

Not much Z that I could find, but some N and more HO... the page is a little awkward to navigate, and I was quoted about 3 weeks for shipping...  seems like there's a lot of decals and some other fine detailing parts.  Sorry if I'm completely off-base here, but I love saving money more than I like having things NOW, ya know?

[3rdrail]

Look at the date those were posted. Con-Cor has been very lax about removing items that have been sold out for a year or more...

[qantaqa]

yeah... I was noticing that... I guess I'll find out how much of what I ordered is still gathering dust in a few weeks.  mostly roadbed, a few hoppers... hit and miss...  I tried to only order from what had large(r) quantities...  they claim about a 60% success rate.  I'm at such a transition point, layout-wise, that all I really want is the roadbed.  to hand-lay or not to hand-lay, that's where I'm at... code 80 or otherwise...  so far i've only had recommendations to not hand-lay, but I'm still deciding

[Mark5]

that page is HOPELESSLY out of date ....  :

[tom mann]

so far i've only had recommendations to not hand-lay, but I'm still deciding

I would order a fast tracks kit and try it out myself.  People will usually recommend the "easy way", because they are afraid to try out the "cool way" (and thus look down upon it, too).

[qantaqa]

Someday I'll be cool enough to try hand-laying some track, but currently my wallet and I are having some disagreements about the best way to proceed in the short-term, and my artistic sense (or lack thereof?) is playing both sides of the field, egging the argument on...  The section of rail i'm working on currently is to be hidden by a "hill", so I am content using flex on cork.  The turnouts I'm using temporarily are atlas's custom (except where hidden) and can be moved to the future hidden staging area, I think.

Speaking of the cool way, ballast-wise, WS's "fine" ballast almost seems too small for N to my inexperienced eye, but I was gently chided at the hobby shop by a fellow N scaler for attempting to purchase "medium", although just a few weeks ago I was taking a fresh air break while riding Amtrak from sacramento to seattle, and i seem to remember 1.5" - 2" ballast in use... too bad I didn't grab up a piece for inspiration...

What's some preferred materials?

[tom mann]

WS fine is actually a mix of the perfect size and pieces that are too big.  I like it, it is my favorite ballast right now.  Because it is slightly oversize, it has a depth to it that actual scale ballast does not have.  To my eyes, the scale sized ballast (granite or limestone based) ends up looking like tile grout.

[Walkercolt]

Tom, your right. It's a case of "scale effect" vs:"actual scale". Kinda like oversize rivets on N-scale equiptment.

[Mark5]

another one of these "eye of the beholder things"  :

I don't like the WS ballast ...

[qantaqa]

thanks I think I'll give it a try... what's the worst that'll happen - it looks like junk (undoubtedly due to my application) and I'll tear it out and replace it.  use the ballast to pave a gravel parking lot or something...
thanks for your feedback.

meanwhile, more cork to lay... btw this is as "scenicked" as i've ever been... aside from some huge chunks of spackle a few layouts ago... warning: expect ongoing questions :p

[qantaqa]

Ok.  Down time from a back strain has led me to watching fast tracks' instructional (inspirational?) vids.  I am now convinced that hand-laid is *the* way to go -- Thanks Tom... (and you had best.. thread.. ever.. right too.. why do we Manns inexplicably have similar hair styles?) and everyone else that's offered suggestions.

when hand laying, do y'all spike or glue the rails down?

[tom mann]

when hand laying, do y'all spike or glue the rails down?

Can you solder? ;D  Chris333 has built more track than anyone here (probably combined), and he solders.  The available spikes are big and too tedious to use (imho).

[DKS]

when hand laying, do y'all spike or glue the rails down?

Definitely solder. As Tom said, spikes are too big and it's way more work. Plus, the tiny rail profile doesn't provide much surface to glue. Use a PC board tie for ever X wood ties (where X will vary depending on technique/prefereces).

[Mark5]

back in the 7os, I handlaid all my track in code 40. Turnouts were made from pcboard cut into ties, and rail. Had to use solder to make the frogs and to attach the rails to the pc ties. For non turnout track I used rail Pliobonded (glued) to RailCraft wood ties. The gluing process involved heating the glue.

I went off to college in the late 70s and had to dismantle a rather large layout I had under construction.

I experimented a bit in the 80s while still in a rather transient mode. Tests I did with the smallest RailCraft (now Microengineering BTW) spikes led me to conclude that code 55 could feasibly be spiked down. In fact my intent was to do this on my "next" layout.

By the time I was settled down enough to consider a layout again Atlas was introducing it's new Code 55 line. 

Since my kids are not quite fully grown and I have other demands on my time - I simply don't have time to handlay track these days. 

[qantaqa]

I can solder. ;D

has anyone tried not linking rail segments with connectors - just solder?  and what's the preference for maintaining insulation between blocks? just epoxy/other, or nonconductive inserts, or nothing?

thanks, everyone!