Bill, Your turnout tie plates look great, and the dual track is certainly impressive! I paint my tie plates, as you suggest. Roger
From: scale S only Sent: Monday, March 26, 2012 8:00 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} Re: Flextrack Spike Heads [2 Attachments] [Attachment(s) from scale S only included below] Hi Ben (and Roger) -- Yes, I noticed that too (I’m dumb enough to use ties plates). Not all track got tie plates, but I would guess that most of it did by the time Roger is modeling. I use Evergreen .010 x .125 strip for turnout tie plates and point slide plates. I usually slip the strip under all the rails, spike through it, and then cut away what isn’t needed. That way, I am not having to cut a piece to exact size and then try to put it in the exact location and then not split it with the spike. Once painted, you can’t tell the difference between the Evergreen strip and the Grandt tie plates. Photos attached... Then there is the alternative – when you paint the rails, paint the ties just a fraction either side of the rail base to simulate the tie plate... Have fun! Bill Winans --------------------------- Very interesting, Roger. I see spikes, joint bars and some other detail and do-dads, but where are the tie plates? :) I love laying track, but tie plates were a step too far for me. My next layout will be with flex track. Ben Trousdale -------------------- Since I am currently building the turnouts for my Shops engine terminal, I have my inventory of various spikes laid out, so I took some measurements with my calipers: .... . Attached is a pic of a turnout under construction, showing some âMicro Spikesâ, some old Micro Engineering âSmallâ spikes, and some Tomalco track in the background. > Roger Nulton
