2-Rail Tie Template

I just used a piece of Microengineering flex track upside down and that made a great tie spacing template.  Laid the ties in between the plastic ties and then stretched a piece of masking tape down the length and then pealed out a perfectly spaced tie strip ready to take it directly to the layout or you can just roll it up and store it away for later use.  Therefore, you can make up these little rolled up tie sections while watching TV and have them ready for when you glue them down to the layout at a later date.  Just follow centerlines drawn on the subroadbed.  No need to draw any tie spacing on paper or make one.  Just need one section of 3 ft. flex track, maybe borrow/buy it from a buddy.

Scott

I attached a 1x2 on the top and on the edge of a 2' piece of 4" to 5" wide ply. I then glued ties to the top of the ply, backing up to the 1x2.  I spaced these ties about 21 scale inches apart in prototypical fashion.  After the glue dried, I painted the jig with primer and then with a gloss coat of your favorite color which in my case was whatever was handy.  Let dry.  I have had this for 20 years now and it still comes in handy.

Now you can put your ties in the jig and run a strip of masking tape over them, pull the tape and place where they are needed on the RR.

Simpler to do than explain.

Ed

I made a tie jig similar to Ed's   1/4" x 1/8 x 1-1/2" stripwood (1/4" is scale 12" wide) placed on 22" centers were glued to a 1x3 to be used for the tie-to-tie spacing.  This left about 1 scale inch 'slop' so that a 9 inch wide tie would come out of the jig easily.  22 inches is a common prototype tie spacing.

I cut blue tape about 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide, lay it on the ties after placing them in the jig.  The tape will pick up the ties pre-spaced ready to glue down. 

i just glue mine down by eyeball.  Pretty happy with the results.  The big deal is getting the tops level.

@bob2 posted:

i just glue mine down by eyeball.  Pretty happy with the results.  The big deal is getting the tops level.

Yes!  If you need a spacer, just make a single block that goes in between the ties; glue one down, use spacer to set next tie, glue it down.

Templates.....and just what do you use for curves then; eyeball it.  This is not hard.

Yes - more important it getting the top level to put the rail down cleanly.  2"x4" with beveled ends with sandpaper attached; if using commercial ties this goes very quickly & easily.

@Jim Scorse posted:

I made a tie jig similar to Ed's   1/4" x 1/8 x 1-1/2" stripwood (1/4" is scale 12" wide) placed on 22" centers were glued to a 1x3 to be used for the tie-to-tie spacing.  This left about 1 scale inch 'slop' so that a 9 inch wide tie would come out of the jig easily.  22 inches is a common prototype tie spacing.

I cut blue tape about 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide, lay it on the ties after placing them in the jig.  The tape will pick up the ties pre-spaced ready to glue down. 

Jim, do I see about 26 ties per foot on your template? And, does this calculate to the 22" prototype tie spacing?

Thanks,

Ralph

Ralph:  Will you be using number 8 turnouts?  I wanted to do the same as you and drew a tie layout template for a number 8 Pennsylvania RR turnout.  So far I have only drawn number 8's.   Right-O-Way sells very nice O scale point rails and frogs for a PRR number 8 turnout.  If you're not modeling the PRR don't worry, the differences between the PRR turnout and other roads are subtle and 99% of the people who see your layout won't notice the difference.  If you use my template and Right-O-Way parts you'll have a turnout where the point of the frog, ends of the frog, ends of point rails, etc will all be placed relative to the ties as the PRR drawing shows.  I'll get some pictures later today of a few I am laying now on my layout. 

It was a lot of work to get the first drawing done but from there I can flip the drawing to do lefts and rights, copy and join several together to do a crossover, ladder, etc.  I save the drawing as a .pdf and e-mail it to Staples and they will print out a crossover for about $5.  Well worth the time and frustration trying to lay them without a guide.  If you'll be using number 8's send me an e-mail.  Jim

Turnout templates can also be found on the Fast Tracks website.  The templates are free to download, and come in a variety of sizes and styles.  They also have tie spacing fixtures available in several increments.  Lots of other stuff there too of course, all the way up to the machined aluminum switch building fixtures.

One thing I keep meaning to ask about, but never seem to get around to, is how the Right-O'-Way castings work with the switch building fixtures.

Jim

Check the NMRA specs for track work.  There is a wealth of info there.

Ed

@RailMan posted:

Ralph:  Will you be using number 8 turnouts?  I wanted to do the same as you and drew a tie layout template for a number 8 Pennsylvania RR turnout.  So far I have only drawn number 8's.   Right-O-Way sells very nice O scale point rails and frogs for a PRR number 8 turnout.  If you're not modeling the PRR don't worry, the differences between the PRR turnout and other roads are subtle and 99% of the people who see your layout won't notice the difference.  If you use my template and Right-O-Way parts you'll have a turnout where the point of the frog, ends of the frog, ends of point rails, etc will all be placed relative to the ties as the PRR drawing shows.  I'll get some pictures later today of a few I am laying now on my layout.

It was a lot of work to get the first drawing done but from there I can flip the drawing to do lefts and rights, copy and join several together to do a crossover, ladder, etc.  I save the drawing as a .pdf and e-mail it to Staples and they will print out a crossover for about $5.  Well worth the time and frustration trying to lay them without a guide.  If you'll be using number 8's send me an e-mail.  Jim

Jim, thanks for the offer. Yes, they are #8 turnouts but I should have said that I'll be using OscaleTurnouts which are the PC type of turnout. I'll just need to locate them on the ties, add rail details, and spike it in place. So, I won't be hand laying turnouts in the truest of definition.

Hudson, etc

"but I should have said that I'll be using OscaleTurnouts which are the PC type of turnout."

Yes, you should have.

Ed

A lot of effort in not necessary here.  Pay special attention to the switch stand ties.  Otherwise, glue stick your switch template to the roadbed and place the ties.  The Switch Tie Jigs would save you some time throughout the project, however you can also just throw them down and life will be good:-)

@HudsonORailRoader posted:

Jim, do I see about 26 ties per foot on your template? And, does this calculate to the 22" prototype tie spacing?

Thanks,

Ralph

Yes.