[dspender]

I am new to modeling. I have built my layout on a 4' x 8 ' surface. All of my track will be elevated above the layout. The elevated track base is made of
1/4 " plywood. I have glued brown corkboard track bed to the plywood.
How do I secure the track to this. I thought I could drill small enough holes through the track ties, through the cork track bed and into the 1/4" plywood to hold the track in place. However, my smallest drill bit is 1/16" and the black nails I bought from the hobby shop slip right into the holes, providing no friction to hold the track.

 

[slohmoh]

Have you tried chucking up a nail and using it as a drill bit?Or you could use a short piece of piano wire the same way,just go slow not to much pressure.
I have tried both methods with good success.Hope this helps and good luck

 

[dspender]

Thanks. Are there any drill bit sizes appropriate or any nailer tools in hobby shops or catalogs

 

[shaygetz]

I use Aileen's Tacky Glue, available at Wal-Mart, it dries waterproof and holds it firmly in place. I run a bead down the center of the cork, then smear it out. Then I put the track in place, pinning it at all the holes until the glue dries. I then pull the pins and ballast as usual. When I'm finished, there are no track pins to transmit motor noise to the plywood.

 

[MacDaddy55]

Adhesives!

Ditto Mr. Shay! I use Wood putty down the seam of the cork, allowed to dry it really gives the track nails something to bite into. My wife gets tons of Elmers from the School she works at and ever so often brings some home....Perks Baby...Perks! Use that for the Cork to scenery/Roadbed adhession...works great!:thumbsup:

 

[Big Ed]

Ditto Mr. Shay! I use Wood putty down the seam of the cork, allowed to dry it really gives the track nails something to bite into. My wife gets tons of Elmers from the School she works at and ever so often brings some home....Perks Baby...Perks! Use that for the Cork to scenery/Roadbed adhession...works great!:thumbsup:

Hey put that glue back!
That's what makes our taxes go up, here in Jersey.:laugh:

The new Goveners going to change that though.

 

[tjcruiser]

Dspender,

You can buy drill bits in a whole range of sizes that are smaller than 1/16" ... way down to "almost can't see it" size. They're usually numbered as 00 to 80, I think. Any hobby shop should be able to set you up.

For the really small bits, people use a twist drill, which is a non-powered small-screwdriver-sized gizmo ... it has spiral grooves cut around its shank ... by pushing down on the end, the spirals twist the chuck-end to turn the a tiny drill bit. Works nice.

Good luck!

TJ

 

[dspender]

I think this is what I'm looking for. CAn you tell me how the numbering works, ie is 50 smaller or larger than 80? What would be the equivalent of 1/32 drill?

 

[imatt88]

Sounds like you guys are talking about a pin vise.

Aircraft modelers use them to drill out guns on aircraft and such..

slohmoh, you have the Lake Superior and Ishpeming logo in your avatar...where are you from?


Cheers, Ian

 

[tjcruiser]

Dspender,

Scroll down on this link to see small drill bit sizes in decimal inches:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drill_bit_sizes

#80 is tiny. Smaller numbers (like 50) get progressively larger in size. A #68 bit is 1/32" (0.013") in diameter.

Many hobbyist buy a whole small-bit set, 00 thru 80. However, I have only about 8 or 10 sizes (stepped accordingly) in my inventory and can tackle most of what I've needed to do.

TJ