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Turnout Tie Track and electrical/DCC
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Prolific poster 2,043 posts Douglas Meyer Prolific poster 2,043 posts
Douglas Meyer

I have been looking for ties for use in makeing turnouts for a while. Today I was informed by MicroEngineering that they do not have any ties available and will not have any time soon. They said something about an issue with a supplier or some such.

So the question is two part.

One, where can I can ties for use building turn out,

Two, does anyone have any idea what color to stain said ties to get them to match (or at least come close) to the stained ties that ME sold?

A few points of info.

I am using Fasttrack Jigs, and microengineering track. So I need something that will work with the thickness of the ties used by them.

Note that the tie color is very close to the paint color Rail Tie Brown, However I do not feel like painting the ties (hence the stain issue, as you can dip them in and pull them out).  Also I am not in a position to pay the cost of that much paint at the cost of a small bottle these days. The same holds true for the laser cut ties that are sold. They look nice and I am sure they would work well however the cost is a bit higher then I can afford.

-Doug M

 

 
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CM Auditor Regular poster 349 posts
CM Auditor

Sources

Two of the best sources are The Brothers Warris at Fast Tracks for the PCB ties and their quick sticks  or for wood ties that match the thickness of the PCB ties, Trout Creek Engineering at http://www.troutcreek.com

Both have the products and provide excellent service.

 

CM Auditor

Tom VanWormer

Monument CO

Colorado City Yard Limits 1895
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Fast Tracks Regular poster 260 posts
Fast Tracks

Something new coming down the line...

Keep an eye open for a pretty cool new approach to PC board ties from Fast Tracks in the very near future...

If it is wood ties you are looking for, we stock a full collection of turnout and cross ties for all scales and gauges, supplied to us by Mt. Albert Scale Lumber...

http://www.handlaidtrack.com/Fast-Tracks-Unfinished-Wood-Ties-s/39.htm
Tim Warris

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Douglas Meyer Prolific poster 2,043 posts
Douglas Meyer

Ok, so the question is what

Ok, so the question is what to do about staining said ties (and yes i am talking about the wood ties. We (my father and I) picked up a bunch of the other ties from you (Fast Tracks) at the National Train show in Grand Rapids this summer.  Normally we use ME ties but as noted they are not currently available and they have not ETA on them.

-Doug M
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wp8thsub MRH Author 3,348 posts
wp8thsub

Alternate Ties

I've used HO scale 6"X8" stripwood to substitute for ME wood ties.  I normally stain with a strong mixture of diluted India ink or black acrylic craft paint, and get the final color from airbrushing or brush painting the track after it's completely in.  That's easier than trying to paint the ties individually.

Rob Spangler MRH Blog
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flyerm65 Active Member 70 posts
flyerm65

tie material

I have been using 1/16 X 3" X 36" balsa for the ties on my On30 railroad.  I use a tool called the stripper to cut the balsa to the tie width I want.  After staining, I slide the tie strip under the Fast Tracks turnout and cut off to the length I want.  The balsa is soft enough that, if need be, I can crush it slightly to slide under the rails.

Ed
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