The New Northern Central

[nickelplate759]

Assuming that it's the middle track in the picture that you worked on - I think the effect is very good.  I especially like that some of the ties are visibly crooked.

Only you can decide if it was worth the effort though.

[wazzou]

I count at least 4 instances of ties butted up tight with one another. 
I know how that happened but I would just remove one of them in these cases.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I count at least 4 instances of ties butted up tight with one another. 
I know how that happened but I would just remove one of them in these cases.

Oh yeah. Sorry, those are still to be worked on. It's just the third from the bottom that's been worked on.
And yeah, those definitely have to go.

[wazzou]

Oh yeah. Sorry, those are still to be worked on. It's just the third from the bottom that's been worked on.
And yeah, those definitely have to go.

In that case then, the ties that are slightly eschew of perpendicular are all done so at the same angle (direction). 
I would vary that somewhat.

[davefoxx]

Ed,

It is worth the effort, if that is a look you want to achieve.  No manufactured track, Atlas, Peco, MicroEngineering, or otherwise, will give you the irregularity that you seek.  Those crooked ties with varied spacing are noticeable.  Looking at this from another angle, the perfectly manicured flextrack ties, if installed without your modification, is reeeeeeally noticeable.

Hope this helps,
DFF

[Angus Shops]

I did this on all my secondary tracks (ME) - cut all the bits between the ties, removed every 8th. tie or so, and spaced out the rest. It’s a bit of a pain on curved tracks because because ALL the ties tend ‘diagonalize’ as you bend the track. Also painted the ties with lighter gray and brown tones (randomized). Completely worth the effort.

[Jbub]

Yes, the effect is very noticeable and I agree with DFF, if it's the look you want to achieve then DOOOOOO IT! Another thought though, in some of the pictures the ties look to be completely covered in dirt. That could save you some work by just burying the ties in some places and messing with the spacing in others.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ok! I wrote up my technique along with some handy tricks.

https://conrail1285.com/improving-atlas-code-55-track-by-making-it-look-worse/



Thanks everyone for the comments!

[Chris333]

[davefoxx]

I'm still laughing at that hours later, @Chris333.  Thanks!

DFF

[chuck geiger]

Ok! I wrote up my technique along with some handy tricks.

https://conrail1285.com/improving-atlas-code-55-track-by-making-it-look-worse/



Thanks everyone for the comments!

I have a whole section on the new project where the tracks are buried in dirt. Gonna be a challenge but
been researching grout, sifted, sand, painted dirt, bringing up to rail level with balsa.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I have a whole section on the new project where the tracks are buried in dirt. Gonna be a challenge but
been researching grout, sifted, sand, painted dirt, bringing up to rail level with balsa.

I highly recommend checking out craft foam. I've used it a good bit for similar things where foam core is too thick.
https://www.joann.com/primary-colored-6x9-foam-sheet-value-pack-50ct/16281826.html

I think you can get individual colored sheets too.

[chuck geiger]

Use it as the build up filler so not all dirt? Yes I used it for roads years ago.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Use it as the build up filler so not all dirt? Yes I used it for roads years ago.

Yep.
Or, honestly, the good old go-to light weight spackle.

But if you have a lot of space to bring up 2mm at a time, it's a good option.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Poor @mu26aeh , he's gotta deal with this ***** again....



This scene was occasioned by the fact that I finished getting all of the yard bowl tracks abused and glued down. It was a major milestone.

https://conrail1285.com/a-major-milestone-in-windsor-st-yard/



I still have a bunch of ancillary track to glue down, and things really don't work that great for switching with switches just flopping around, but it was nice to finally be able to kick a few cars around.