MTH Scaletrax Questions

The "updated" Scaletrax switches have not been manufactured yet so any that you buy today will be the "old design."

Good choice Paul - Go ahead and get started if so inclined. The current crop of switches are normally trouble-free and the ones that do need modification are few. You should be able to do a search here and find some of the excellent tips posted by Dave and Ted Hikel on how to do it. Essentially very simple - you look to see if the rails are touching around the frog or the points and insert a thin piece of plastic to insulate them from each other. Once done they are good forever.

Scaletrax is great looking track. If you keep watch you can find it here and on eBay fairly often. We built our layout with probably 70% 'previously owned' track and switches. 

You don't necessarily need to mount the track to cork roadbed. You can go direct to foam. I'd advise anchoring it to the foam with liquid nails for projects or other foam-compatible adhesive and/or ballasting the track to the foam. You can use nails to temporarily hold it in place while the adhesive sets.

The cork is just to give a nicer ballast profile to the track.

Agreed, all existing switches MAY have the problem of a slipping rail making contact with the frog.

It is an easy fix as detailed above.

On a side note, I recommend putting the track on a roadbed for one reason.

Switch selection is still limited to #4, #6, O-72, O-54, And O-31 in left and right hand.

Ross switches are awesome, the rails are shaped the same as scaletrax (a bit larger) and can mate up.

Put Woodland Scenic 5mm foam or other 5mm roadbed under the track.

Put 2mm cork sheet under the Ross switch. The railtops line up.

<end soapbox> 

Yes, I like Scaletrax. See www.toytrainsontracks.com for why.

No I am not associated with them but I have several of the videos they sell and like them.

Thanks for all the great replies!  This is what I love about this forum... Everyone willing to share their experiences!

I have Scaletrax on 1" and 2" foam around the layout.  I recommend using the cork roadbed.  It provides a better look once ballasted and also provides some rigidity as I like to use nails in the track.

The nice thing about using nails in cork and foam together is the track stays in place, but the nails easily remove if you need to change the track layout or replace a switch.

I took some quick pics to share. 

Ron 

We would also recommend using a roadbed of some type over the sheet foam. Our experience with pink foam (2") was that it seemed to actually amplify the sounds which surprised us. I had originally placed carpet foam on the plywood with the pink foam on top. Even when using cork roadbed the foam seemed to boost the sound. 

We eventually used the carpet foam in strips under the cork which proved dead quiet. The 2" foam was great to be able to sculpt below grade which added a lot of scenic variety to the overall look.