ScaleTrac

Dan,

 

If you look at the under side of the track ties you will find the nail holes. Use a small drill bit (like a 1/16 to open the holes you want to use. Then fasten down the track with small flat head wire nails or use small screws. I like the nails because they are really not that noticeable one the track is down.

 

Note, once the ballast is in, you can remove screws and nails as needed, the ballast will maintain the location.

Thanks Al. I did see the holes but wanted to make sure. Thanks in advance.

Dan

Hi Dan,

 

I prefer to use track screws whenever possible because they will never work loose and get picked up by speaker magnets.  Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of good screw options for ScaleTrax.  A #2 wood screw fits well in the holes Al mentioned.  Commercially it's very difficult to find any #2 wood screws other than brass.  Atlas sells #2 x 3/4" steel blacked track screws with a pan head and sells them as track screws for their own track.  These work fine with ScaleTrax as well, but I never cared for the look of the screw heads sitting on top of the ties.  When I started my current project using ScaleTrax, the NorthWest Trunk Lines, I wanted something better.  I had a batch of #2 x 3/4" blackened steel flat head screws made.  These require you to counter sink the top of the tie, but fit flush when installed.  Here's a photo of the screws I had made.

 

 

In my mind the results were the effort.

 

 

The minimum production run was 100,000 screws.  I have a few left over for anyone who's interested.

 

 

Has any on tried hot gluing the track down? After ballast is applied, no one notices. David