QUOTE (Julian2011 @ 15 Sep 2012, 17:02)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Anthony,
That nice David Todd chap put me onto something in your thread here, the Tracklay system.
I had been working out how to lay the Gaugemaster Ballasted Underlay stuff on a small layout I am designing, as the 2x baseboard tops are 3mm ply. I don't want to glue the track to the boards direct and the idea of a large bag of loose ballast and chasing round over 75 ft of track, with a pipette, does nothing for my enthusiasm.
I was not aware of the Tracklay System before and it looks more straightforward to fit than the Gaugemaster Underlay, although a little longer time to do.
Their website suggests after sticking the track to the Tracklay they should be pinned down to the baseboard. I would prefer to use a bead of glue, perhaps Copydex or even PVA, along the centreline, under the underlay. I am not sure how yours has been attached to the baseboard but guess pins as you are reusing some track and didn't say anything about peeling it up or easing any glue. Do you think that the Tracklay would be OK attached to the baseboard with Copydex along the centreline and then the outside edges would also help attach it where the side ballast is glued?
Question 2, which Tracklay do not address in their website, is passing the Droppers through the Tracklay to the centreline to a hole through the baseboard. There is plenty of thick foam on the Gaugemaster to hide the Dropper wire, is that also the case for the Tracklay or do you have to glue and cover the wires in ballast?
Thank you for reading.
Julian
Gaugemaster
thread:- http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...mp;#entry270846
I hope Anthony doesn't mind me putting in my 2c here, but I've also been using tracklay and have a couple of comments.
regarding the dropper wires, the foam is very thin and very flexible, so you can simply make a cut in from the side of the tracklay to the point where the dropper wire contacts the rail, and maneuver the wire into position through that. the tracklay can be then made, with a bit of care, to mould around the wire, making a virtually seamless join once it is ballasted. that's how I did it anyway. I found I had to add the dropper wires before attaching the tracklay to the underside of the track. I will be interested to hear how Anthony approached this.
the adhesive top side of the tracklay is quite good, and it is easy to make adjustments to the underside on points etc, such as cutting small holes for point motors etc, but something has to be done to the point tie bar (correct term?) as otherwise it will not move back and forth properly (due to the sticky tracklay). I simply put a coloured piece of paper under it.
anyway, the main thing I wanted to say was that you should be careful what size ballast you use. unfortunately I chose to use fine ballast, without realizing that the nature of the tracklay would mean there was only a thin film of ballast on top of it. if you use this system you should go for a bigger size like Anthony has.
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