Wood ties

I use Micro Engineering wood ties, but I've heard they're having supplier problems. Another source is Mt Albert scale lumber.

An alternative to wood ties are the Central Valley plastic ties strips (with special tie strips for turnouts). They recommend gluing the rails in place using Barge cement (use the older yellow can Barge cement, not the newer Blue stuff).

As for spikes I've used Micro Engineering small spikes. But their heads are way oversize so I use diagonal nippers to chop off excessive spike head. Alternatively, proto87 stores sells some spikes including ones that are scale size for HO (practically invisible). If you're looking to make really good looking track they also sell scale tie plates and jigs to place them.

PC ties are a strange concept. If you solder sparingly they look OK (but not perfect) when painted and weathered. They'll hold track firmly in gauge, but if you discover you somehow got the gauge or alignment wrong after laying the track you can reheat the rail/tie joints with a soldering iron and nudge the rails into correct position. I find PC ties especially useful for building turnouts -- no more depending on sloppy fit spikes to hold points or frogs exactly in place.

Hand laid track is far from dead.

Cheers,

Charlie

   My layout is hand laid

My layout is hand laid code 70 except for some manufactured code 83 used for hidden staging. Most was done in the late 80's using a product called Homabed, a homasote roadbed product. I used a Kadee spike gun, which is sort of like a staple Gun. The spikes look like staples when you load the gun. I glued all of my ties to the homasote with regular Elmers Wood Glue. The head is set up with a guide that you would gently slide up against a tie, and there is a slot in the head that goes over the rail. When the gun is squeezed just like a regular staple gun, the spike (staple) is cut in the center, and a spike is driven through the ties into the roadbed.

Unfortunately, my spiker died for about the 6th time and when I sent it back to Kadee, I was informed that it was beyond repair this time. Unfortunately,Kadee no longer manufactures this spike gun. I would love to get another because you sure can turn into a track laying animal with one of those tools.  I have used spikes from Walthers for recent track work. They have some decent spikes and the heads aren't too big. I really enjoy hand laying rail and turnouts because you can build everything right where you need it instead of having to make adjustments to work with manufactured turnouts. Check a Walthers catalog to see who makes the ties. Mine weren't Campbell, but due to my CRS, I can't tell you what brand they are. There are a few manufacturers. I have been building my own frogs and find they aren't too difficult after you have a few under your belt. I keep a lot of stock rail on hand.

spikes, glue, and solder

thanks for the thoughts, this is really helpful.  im not so much concerned with the size of the spike head as i am with the ability of the track to stay in place and keep its gauge.  in fact, too small of spike and i really cant see it well enough to spike the rail.  i think ill skip the pre-fab switch making approach. in the past, i had good luck building switches in place.  i think the fast tracks point making and frog making jigs that hold the rail while you file looks helpful.  ill keep you posted on my progress....