Cork under switches

[oplholik]

Just wondering what you all do here. My LHS doesn't carry cork sheets or cork turnout pads, so I gues I'll have to glue several pieces of roadbed together and then cut it for the turnouts. Any one got any templates for N scale #4 turnouts or switches. Thanks.

Paul

 

[oplholik]

Just wondering what you all do here. My LHS doesn't carry cork sheets or cork turnout pads, so I gues I'll have to glue several pieces of roadbed together and then cut it for the turnouts. Any one got any templates for N scale #4 turnouts or switches. Thanks.

Paul

Umm, never mind. I called a HS a few miles down the frwy., and they will have the turnout pads in by Thurs. So I will wait and pick some up then. Whew, seemed like it would be a PIB to glue up roadbed pieces and then cut them out. Thanks.

Paul

 

[stationmaster]

I sometimes make my own, depends on how restless I am. Of course the yard(s) was a different story. And I would think tha my layout being HO, and not N, might make it easier to work out. But it's not hard at all. One of the easier ventures, actually.

Bob

 

[tankist]

i plan on making my own. seems more economical, especially in N.

 

[kenw]

Turnout pads? Never heard of them until now. I just use roadbed, diverge it with the rails and fill in the blank places with smallish pieces....

 

[stationmaster]

Here kenw, take a gander here:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/357-1501

Bob

 

[nephthyr]

I just googled for cork sheet, found a local dealer and had them ship me some. I placed the track on the sheet, marked where I wanted cut lines (about 1/4" from the edge of the ties) and then cut it using a utility knife. Finally I sanded the edges with rough sand paper to get a nice bevel. Rubber cork sheet is difficult to sand, but normal cork is quite easy. Sanding it myself also allows me to get a nicer bevel than the typical 45 degree bevel on commercial products which is a little too steep for my liking.

Anyway, using this method is easy for turnouts, especially multiple turnouts in a row or crossovers and so forth. One thing it lacks is drainage ditches, but this should be less obvious in n scale.

Just an idea. My 2c worth.

 

[kenw]

Here kenw, take a gander here:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/357-1501

Bob

curious stuff, bob. but I still think making your own is easier to say nothing of cheaper, altho I used the traditional split cork roadbed and in HO.