fast tracks?

sorry, I don't understand the "not profile" part of your requirement. 

Are these what you're looking for:  https://www.handlaidtrack.com/wt-ho-c ?

edit: from that page: 

Tie Dimensions

• Scale Length: 8.5' (2.6m)
• Scale Width: 9" (228.6mm)
• Scale Height: 7" (177.8mm)

• Model Length: 1.17" (29.7mm)
• Model Width: 0.1" (2.5mm)
• Model Height: 0.08" (2mm)
•  

 "I don't understand the "not

Profile ties are thinner ties made to reduce the amount of ballast needed to fill around them. 

Andre, You can reduce the number of ties needed by stacking sheet balsa or cutting a block of solid wood to almost the stack size then gluing scale ties on the outside of the pile. I got a lot of S scale ties over a period of time  on ebay by looking for multiple bag lots , don't know if there are many HO ties listed as most folks use flextrack now days.  I could have sent you about a million plastic Atlas ties as I stripped code 100 rail from   flextrack to get my rail for turnouts and hand laid sections of track but I've thrown them all away now. :> ) .....DaveB

Ties

I have used Kappler ties for my projects:  https://kapplerusa.com/y2k/p-ho-ties.htm

Fast Tracks sells Mt. Albert ties, which are very similar:  https://www.handlaidtrack.com/wt-ho-c

Proto87 also sells ties, but they don't give any details on source or length of crossties : http://www.proto87.com/product1909.html

Thanks Guys!

One of the strengths of these forums: Helpful input.

Kappler is what I now remember I used "back when".

eastwind:

You're probably not old enough to remember Campbell's "Profile Ties". They were less in height in order to match up better with the flex and sectional track of the time. Back in my hand laying track era, I was way too anal to use them, instead opting for 8'6" ties with more prototypical height.

The other old farts understood my archaic term.

DaveB:

Absolutely. In the past I used a balsa wood filler (painted flat black) onto which I glued the ties. I will be doing that again with the added foible of gluing weight(s) to the underside of the load. In fact, all lightweight prefab loads (like coal/gravel loads) will get additional weights glued to their undersides. (EXCEPT for the older Choch pulpwood loads. Those things are heavy enough as is... they're great!)  I didn't build those grades on my line to go to waste! Wish I could figure out a way to make quickly added/removed weight differences between loaded/empty house cars. Thanks for the offer of free plastic ties... I have a supply of them too! However, I want the natural wood untreated look for fresh cut ties for the loads and tie stacks alongside the loading area, and I want them full dimension and not "profile" type like is in flex track.

dave1905:

Thanks! Kappler is who I used to use. I had forgotten about them. Their MSRP is a whole lot better than what I was seeing on eBay for Mt. Albert and other brands. Seeing a bag of ties for $35 + tax n' shipping was quite the shock! Last time I was consuming bags of ties, they were $4.95 a bag as I recall. How times have changed.

All fer now. Looks like Kappler will be my best bet. I think I'll only need one bag. However, before I order, I recall having some bags of ties up in the attic, but I also think they're Sn3. (Darn.) At any rate, I need to climb up there and see what I've got.

Thanks again for your help! I now have a direction to head.

Andre

E-Bay Prices Too High

Andre-  The E-Bay prices seem too high to me. On the Mt. Albert* and Kappler websites the ties going for around $22 USD per 1000 + shipping (Mt. Albert uses UPS & Kappler is $10 flat in the lower 48.  Mt. Albert also sells 16” bulk tie strips if you want to dig out your NWSL Chopper.   Your LHS may have or can get them- I picked up a bag at at Railroad Hobbies in Roseville, CA a few months ago for about $20/1000

Lou in Idaho

*Mt. Albert is a MRH sponsor. 

Results...

First off: I agree Lou. Seems stupid to pay those eBay prices plus the new eBay tax system plus outrageous shipping when one could go directly to the source and save meaningful $$.

Attic Adventure...

Well, I was right. It was Sn3 ties, bags of them. And of course, those ain't gonna' cut it.

While I was up in the attic, I decided to explore the remaining boxes that are still up there. In the process, I hoped I would find my original Model Railroader magazine that I recall purchasing from my new discovered hobby shop in Fort Smith, AR: The Golden Spike. I think I recall it being the April 1969 issue of MR, but I can't remember for positive so I was looking forward to seeing if my memory was correct. That issue is significant to me, in that I recall purchasing it my first trip to the Golden Spike, and that day I met the proprietor of the small hobby shop that would prove to become a life long friend (essentially like family): David McDonald. (And his wife Shirley, and three girls.)

Alas, though, I couldn't find it. Apparently at some point over the course of the past few decades, it has disappeared. (As have other items I tried to keep. Multiple moves suck.)

HOWEVER...

Did I ever score big time! While up there in the attic, I went through boxes I haven't looked into in YEARS and YEARS and found stuff that I can use for either of my eras (late 1880s or early 1960s) or both. I'm talking MAJOR finds. Here's some of the usable stuff I brought down from the attic:

I found:

* An entire unopened bag of Kappler standard ties plus a partial bag.

* Tie stacks I made decades ago.

* All sorts of tie loads, likewise made decades ago.

* Coal loads (13?).

* Handmade log loads.

* Pulpwood loads.

* Box of handmade "sand" loads that can be repurposed into gravel loads.

* Loose logs.

* Three TMI 36 hoppers, 2 w/loads.

* One NIB MDC Frisco GATX plug door boxcar kit.

PLUS, from a different apple box, I found many MDC/Athearn boxes parts n' stuff that I haven't inventoried yet. I also found some solenoid switch machines mounted to Rix Racks leftover from my previous layout, as well as some activation buttons. This is fortuitous because I have decided I need to power a total of four switches, two on the lower level stage and their twins at the same location on the upper stage. (However, I may use slow-mo gear driven switch machines instead.)

Anyway, that trip to the attic has easily saved me over $100 and saved me LOTS of time fabricating loads for open top cars.

Life is good! (Shame about that missing magazine, though.)

Andre

Treasure Trove

Wow, ties galore!  If that’s what you found in just one trip to the attic, imagine what you might find on your next one and there’s no telling what might be hiding in the basement.

Lou in Idaho

Hi Lou!

Well, the pickin's are gettin' slimmer and slimmer up in the attic. We typically don't have basements in my parts of the woods. Our home is sitting on a concrete slab.

I'm in the process of going through more than a dozen (2 dozen?) old Athearn/MDC boxes loaded with bits n' pieces I thought were important at one time. (I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to model train stuff.)  I am gleaning a few things from within those boxes that I still want to hold onto... but much more of it is hitting the trash can. For example, I really don't think I'll have a need for an Athearn box full of old Front Range parts for their crap trucks they used to ship with their Geeps.

For some reason, I'm saving a complete modified Front Range GP7 shell w/details added along with a modified Athearn frame that goes with it. The Athearn frame is the only frame that actually reflects the common frame for a steam generator equipped Geep. Perhaps someday I'll finish the shell and/or use the frame under a P2K or something. And so it goes.

Anyway... bogging down in all the tedious going through the parts. Took a break and put some filet mignon in the marinade sauce. Tonight we're going to dine off the grill. Grilled corn-on-the-cob, baked potatoes and filet grilled mignon.  Ummmm.

Andre

What Time’s Dinner?

I can bring genuine 16 oz. Idaho baking russets...

I agree with tossing out old stuff. I’ve made four major moves in nine years and still have several modeling boxes I still haven’t opened since the first move.  I keeping thinking I’ll need that kit, part, tool, etc. one day, but never do.  Have fun with the treasure hunt and keep that trash can handy.

Lou in Idaho.

Ft Smith

I lived in Van Buren for about 6 months in 1981.  If I remember, the hobby shop in Ft Smith was on the 2nd flor of a florist shop.

 "I'm saving a complete

Those Front range shells on  Athearn drives were great engines. I still have two of mine in SP black widow paint. I'll add DCC and use them if I ever build another HO layout.

Glad to see you solved the tie problem .....DaveB

Resin casting?

Have you thought about cutting down on the number of ties you need by making a few different stacks and making a mold of them in order to cast duplicates? 

A few days ago I discovered a bunch of hand-track-laying items in my stash of stuff. Since I don't do any hand laying I will probable list this over on HO swap today.

at least 4 bags of Kappler HO ties
4-6 bottles to tacks/spikes

PS: Laming I was also looking for a magazine of which I know I have (had) TWO copies. Could not find either one yet.