Eric, I'm new to your blog, but wanted to let you know that I very much appreciate it. I put up a simple layout and finally made myself put the trains away to make some progress on the layout rather than playing with the trains (my youngest daughter won't like that). I finally got around to putting roadbed down, painting the track and did a small ballasting test. I couldn't be happier and wanted you to know that your tutorial was invaluable in getting there. Thanks!
thanks that's what i was thinking of using and I think I'm gonna use your method of ballasting it looks really prototypical and nicely done, heck I might even post some videos of it and my new PRR T-1 Duplex I'm getting for Christmas! Can't wait!!!!!!!!
@rs700301 I chose Atlas because I like the fact that it's solid rail track and I also like the size of the ties. There's no wrong choice, however. Gargraves makes great track so you can't really go wrong. It's all just a matter of personal taste.
In a nutshell, they did 3 rails for electrical reasons. First, the 3-rail design makes building a layout easier, and since o-gauge trains were originally meant for kids they wanted setup to be as easy as possible. Secondly, the 3-rail design made it easier to have fun operating accessories and so forth. Basically, they did 3 rails because it was more practical. If you don't like 3-rail O-scale, they also make 2-rail O-scale.
Well, realtrax already has the ballast done for you. But you could probably do some weathering to the realtrax to make it look a little more realistic. I think there's an article on that in one of the more recent issues of OGR magazine...
@magicrick63 The cheapest earth colored latex paint I could find. It doesn't have to be high quality paint, just some inexpensive latex paint. I got mine at Home Depot. the brand was Glidden, I forget what the exact color was but you just want to use some brownish color.
Hey Eric. I'm going to try your car weatherIng techniques soon but I was wondering today - how do YOU go about weathering your rails? I would really love to see that. Still looking forward to the new reviews. Hope all is well.
Eric. I see that other people have asked this but on their website, you can buy 1/4" flexbed or 3/8" flexbed. Which one did you use? I would like to know because I will be building a layout soon.
thanks for posting. excellent video. very instructional. well, hobbies depend upon your pocket book. this is one way to go. there are other ways, some lower, some higher, in costs. for the record... standard track ballast in NA is about 18 inches thickness, which in o-scale requires 3/8 inch road bed thickness. the angle of the bed side is about 45 degrees. the bed used here would not be proper o-scale.
@Por2gesDiesel I weather my rails with the techniques used in the book "Realistic Modeling For Toy Trains" by Dennis Brennan. You can buy it from Kalmbach Books.
Great info..Thx. I have to lock this in my to keep files. I see that you used 1/4 for roadbed, what are the other thickness that you use? Plywood and other things.
Hi Eric: Great job, do you do this for each piece of track on your workbench then move it to your layout? Also do you have a video of how to mark your layout for track laying, determining the radi etc.?
I want to use all my old supersnap track on building a layout.. Do you have a recommendation of want additional track matches up well with the supersnap?
Can I use Atlas O gauge track (like you have) directly on carpet? I mean 027 was meant to used on carpet. Does the Atlas come apart too easily if you are running trains. I am bored to death with the traditional tubular track. And no I dont like fastrack
Eric,
I'm new to your blog, but wanted to let you know that I very much appreciate it. I put up a simple layout and finally made myself put the trains away to make some progress on the layout rather than playing with the trains (my youngest daughter won't like that).
I finally got around to putting roadbed down, painting the track and did a small ballasting test. I couldn't be happier and wanted you to know that your tutorial was invaluable in getting there. Thanks!
Anyone watching this 10 years later
Me
Me
Seeing Eric without a beard was strange!
yes
Yep
Eric good evening I like having this very excellent part one part two I like them 👍
Great video! Very useful for all scales.
Superb basic demonstration.
Man, it’s gonna take this guy 10 years to build this layout at this rate!!
Very good video, learned alot. Just getting into trains.
OMG THIS IS A VERY YOUNG ERIC, BEFORE HIS 2020 FOOT INJURY THAT CANCELED THE LAST DAY OF THE CHRISTMAS BONANZA
thanks that's what i was thinking of using and I think I'm gonna use your method of ballasting it looks really prototypical and nicely done, heck I might even post some videos of it and my new PRR T-1 Duplex I'm getting for Christmas! Can't wait!!!!!!!!
Yes. Realtrax is basically just an echo chamber so you have to have something to absorb the sound and vibrations.
@rs700301 I chose Atlas because I like the fact that it's solid rail track and I also like the size of the ties. There's no wrong choice, however. Gargraves makes great track so you can't really go wrong. It's all just a matter of personal taste.
In a nutshell, they did 3 rails for electrical reasons. First, the 3-rail design makes building a layout easier, and since o-gauge trains were originally meant for kids they wanted setup to be as easy as possible. Secondly, the 3-rail design made it easier to have fun operating accessories and so forth. Basically, they did 3 rails because it was more practical. If you don't like 3-rail O-scale, they also make 2-rail O-scale.
Well, realtrax already has the ballast done for you. But you could probably do some weathering to the realtrax to make it look a little more realistic. I think there's an article on that in one of the more recent issues of OGR magazine...
Thanks. Gonna use some of this deaden the sound
For the roadbed? It's 1/4 inch thickness. You could use it with Gargraves too.
Commenting on every ericstrains video 43
The plywood is 3/4 inch for the main level and 3/8 inch for the upper level. Homasote is 1/2 inch i think.
It's a tutorial video, which means I'm trying to explain everything as much as possible...not see how fast I can get through it.
Excellent job!
@magicrick63 The cheapest earth colored latex paint I could find. It doesn't have to be high quality paint, just some inexpensive latex paint. I got mine at Home Depot. the brand was Glidden, I forget what the exact color was but you just want to use some brownish color.
Hey Eric. I'm going to try your car weatherIng techniques soon but I was wondering today - how do YOU go about weathering your rails? I would really love to see that. Still looking forward to the new reviews. Hope all is well.
It's on the expensive side as far as track goes. They like to raise the price every now and then. But, it's good track.
The one in the video is the 1/4 inch high-rail O-gauge flexxxbed.
To get Atlas O Nickle-Silver track at a low price, it will take a lot of web searching for that low price.
MTH ScaleTrax is similar looking.
Where can I get these rail length in India; I wish to make tracks with these rail lengths for my model railroad road.
Eric. I see that other people have asked this but on their website, you can buy 1/4" flexbed or 3/8" flexbed. Which one did you use? I would like to know because I will be building a layout soon.
thanks for posting. excellent video. very instructional. well, hobbies depend upon your pocket book. this is one way to go. there are other ways, some lower, some higher, in costs. for the record... standard track ballast in NA is about 18 inches thickness, which in o-scale requires 3/8 inch road bed thickness. the angle of the bed side is about 45 degrees. the bed used here would not be proper o-scale.
@Por2gesDiesel I weather my rails with the techniques used in the book "Realistic Modeling For Toy Trains" by Dennis Brennan. You can buy it from Kalmbach Books.
Great info..Thx. I have to lock this in my to keep files. I see that you used 1/4 for roadbed, what are the other thickness that you use? Plywood and other things.
Hi Eric:
Great job, do you do this for each piece of track on your workbench then move it to your layout? Also do you have a video of how to mark your layout for track laying, determining the radi etc.?
I use the 1/4 inch O-gauge flexxbed.
I want to use all my old supersnap track on building a layout.. Do you have a recommendation of want additional track matches up well with the supersnap?
@austrobb I use 1/4 inch roadbed.
Wow, lots of different choices for Flexbed on their site. Which one is shown in the video? I think I'll be using it.
Hey Eric which you think would be better 1/4" or 3/8" flexx roadbed ?
how much does Atlas O cost? it looks awsome.
OMG YOU LOOK SO DIFFRENT
Great videos! What was the name brand for this 3 track seen in the video? thanks guys.
It's from Atlas
I love the track you use but its so expensive i don't think its in my price range at all, i believe im stock with the classic 3-rail look
I'm laying 3 tracks on my layout how far apart do I need between them.
Question, how hard is to convert a 2 rail o scale to 3 rail?
Watch Model train fun's video on converting 2 rail to 3 rail.
I got a question which flexbed do you buy?
Can I use Atlas O gauge track (like you have) directly on carpet? I mean 027 was meant to used on carpet. Does the Atlas come apart too easily if you are running trains. I am bored to death with the traditional tubular track. And no I dont like fastrack
how tall is the roadbed 3/8 or 1/4
No, realtrax is track on hollow plastic roadbed. There's no sound deadening qualities built into realtrax.
i used a cheep cat litter as balest and u can get it in big and small chunks. it looks good and it is cheeper.
why do o scale tracks have 3 rails i never knew why and if i get o scale i really dont want 3 rails it make it no look real
I think I commented on your videoS
ballasting three rail track is putting lipstick on a pig