Model railroading might be the original nerd hobby, but just because it’s been around a while doesn’t mean it’s decreased in popularity. More and more people are picking up the hobby for the first time, and it can be a little discouraging when your trains aren’t running smoothly. Follow these tricks to get smoother model railroad tracks.
Leave Plenty of Space
The first thing to keep in mind is that your trains are slightly wider than the tracks they travel on. When you’re laying down track pieces, it’s a good idea to keep them a little over two inches apart during parallel sections, and up to two-and-a-half inches apart for curves. This way, your trains will have plenty of room to maneuver.
Measure Twice, Build Once
Taking the time to meticulously lay out tracks may sound tedious, but it’s well worth the effort. Small inconsistencies in placement and leveling can turn into major headaches that make it difficult to enjoy your track design. Plan everything out and measure twice before placing so you don’t make costly mistakes.
Utilize Pushpins
Once you start laying down pieces of roadbed and track, you can use pushpins to hold them down while the glue sets. The pushpins will keep the track pieces from moving and improve the hold of the glue. This method is even easier if you use cork as your roadbed material.
Use Rail Joiners
Rail joiners are small pieces of rail that you can use to connect pieces of track. However, if you try to use them right out of the package, you’ll end up with tiny bumps along your track. Consider using a razor or craft knife to carefully scrape away excess glue on the ends of the track pieces before adding the rail joiners. This process will help you get a smoother model railroad track.
Install Wiring
Depending on which type of model railroad layout you’re using, you may need to place electrical connections on the opposite side of the track from the wiring. To do this, use a craft knife to cut a gap in the cork roadbed so you can run wiring underneath the track. Once you’re finished, it’s easy to disguise the wiring so no one else will knows it’s there.
Laying down model railroad track can be a time-consuming process, but it pays off in the long term. Use these tricks to get a perfectly smooth layout you’ll enjoy for years to come!
