Midwestern Model Works Redux

[bob turner]

Peter - maybe your problem is that FastTrack sounds like Lionel, and all your buddies, including me, skipped it.

As to the above post - not sure what to say. My recreational reading does involve lengthy text, but I kinda have to know where I am going before I tackle it.

Does that help?

[herronpeter]

Kinda, Bob.

Someone once suggested that my sorta "how to" posts would be better suited to a blog than a post. I agree with that but don’t really want to start and maintain a blog so I'd rather post them, but based on the lack of any positive or negative feedback I’ve decided to just "keep my mouth shut like a good little boy". Talk about a run-on sentence!

Peter

[up148]

Thanks for the write up Peter. Having never used Fast-Track or even built more than a few modules, I've never read/heard the down side that you point out. This is good to know and I appreciate it. Regardless of how anyone chooses to hand lay their track knowing your experience is good information.

Please continue to post these tutorials. I hope to jump back on the DD40 project soon and I'll post, but I've been dealing with some life matters that take precedence.

[herronpeter]

UP 148, I hear you about life issues interfering with our modeling and hope it’s not too serious and soon behind you.

It seems at this age it’s always something. My latest “life issue” was very minor but damned painful infection under my right thumbnail and rendered me one handed-really hard to work on anything! Good thing I enjoy reading!!!

Anyway if you have any questions about the hand laying track using Fast Track components presses feel free to pm me!

Peter

[E7]

Anway if you have any questions about the hand laying track using Fast Track components presses feel free to pm me!

Peter

Peter, From all I've heard about hand laying track (personally, I'm not into S&M), I find it extremely difficult to associate the word FAST (like used in "Fast Tracks") with the practice! Maybe you're trying to pitch "Fast Tracks" to a "SLOW" guy. LOL!

And if you have ANY doubts, yes I am kidding you!

Rich

[bob turner]

The thing that slows me down is driving spikes. Picking one up, gripping it, pressing it in - all take time. The rest of it goes quickly.

[E7]

I can see some advantages.....like being easier to stagger track joints, but as long as there is flex track......the time I see stated that it takes to do hand laid is a real inhibitor.

[up148]

I can remember back in the early 90's purchasing a Kadee HO track spiker, which for code 100 or even code 125 rail, was workable in "O" scale IMHO. They were tough to find in good condition even back then and I imagine much tougher today and finding the spikes could be real frustrating. I used it a little and like anything else it takes time to acquire the "touch" for setting the spikes correctly.

Back in the mid 80's KTM/USA (not the old KTM) came out with their own version of an O scale track spiker, but I never saw one in person and by the time I saw their catalog (mid to late 90's) they were long gone and manufacturing musical instruments.

I later tried my hand at (real) hand laying track on a small module. All the negatives about gripping spikes, bending spikes, splitting ties and more was real.....and a very slow process, but fun on a small module.......for awhile. Much better tools exist now, but few IMHO would speed up the process, maybe just make it easier to do it right.

[herronpeter]

In my second "post" I detailed how I used 3/32 thick balsa glued to the underside of the PCB ties which in turn were glued to the road bed. I then glued a wood tie to the roadbed equidistant from the PCB ties. These are the only ties I spike. There is about 1 3/4 of an inch between this spiked tie and the glued down PCB ties which is plenty to hold the rail in place. This cuts down a lot on spiking as you only need to slide the rest of the ties in between the rail and roadbed. Once ballasted they aren’t moving.

As to spiking I agree that picking them up and loading them into the spiking pliers is the slow down part of the job. I’ve found magnetizing the pliers and spreading the spikes out on a scrap piece of plywood or Homasote or Masonite makes it easier to pick them up one at a time. Also, I have seen spikes made on frets that hold then like the nails used in an air nailer and you grab the head with the spiking pliers easily and snap them off then install them without actually having to handle them. I have not found out who makes them, sells them, or how much the cost. I’m guessing it would be 3 times quicker using them if only I could find them.

Peter

[E7]

Some enterprising modeler needs to invent a mini version of the pneumatic nail gun.

Peter, I hadn't read all your above post when I pulled the trigger on this one!

Rich

[herronpeter]

Hey Rich, Kadee had one but folks I’ve talked to said the time you saved using it you lost in tinkering around with the adjustments for the ohmph of the drive. Too much and you squashed the rail into the tie and too little the spikes were loose. Getting it “just right” required constant adjustment.

Peter

[herronpeter]

Actually I just re-read UP148’s post and he used one and commented on its “finickyness”. Sorry UP I missed that.

Peter

[E7]

Peter, Pondering the subject a bit more, my experience is on the carpentry end, and there is in that case the brad nailer. (should be called a bradder, it ain't firing nails!).
Anyhow. That makes me think the "spiker" is doable, but there's just not enough of an audience to get the thing produced. (Meaning a well functioning version.)

Rich

[bob turner]

I just ground a pair of ridges in my pliers, and made my ties out of white pine. It was a struggle, but I could move as fast as I could grab a spike. Maybe every tenth spike would bend, then get discarded. Three big loops, and two turnouts.

[bob turner]

I almost hate to be the one breaking the recent silence - but I note that once again I have pissed off the MMW proponents. I gently suggested that shipping delays were irrelevant if you have no models to ship. I was attacked rapidly for my negativity and overall despicable character.
I assume that means there is a crate of MMW product sitting on a dock somewhere in the Orient, and they cannot find a container. So, folks, as soon as MMW finds that elusive container, deliveries to their long-patient customers will presumably begin.
Yippee!