Brian, you use 3" to 4" strip of carpet tape to secure both the road bed and the track along with an occasional screw where needed.
The Woodland Scenics roadbed I use comes in a 24 ft. roll. I cut it into more manageable 2 foot strips. After laying the track where I want it, I put a 3 or 4" piece of carpet tape at each end of the 2 foot strip and slide it under the track.
The screw I use at the apex of the curve just to hold it in place to line up the track and keep it still to start.
Do you use a piece of carpet tape for each piece of track?
For my Atlas O track I put the carpet tape strips under every other track joint. For longer 40" straight tracks I add some tape in the center of the length. It doesn't move and is easy to pull up if you need to make changes. No track problems for me since installation in 2004 and trains run very quiet.
I assume that you can ballast over the roadbed/carpet tape mix without any noticeable changes in the way the finished track looks. One of my concerns is using any sort of glue on the track... If I need to pull it up for some reason, it could be a mess. And as I'm sure you know, track these days is not cheap!
You're right about the mess with glue! I haven't got that far yet, but for ballasting I plan to also use the carpet tape. As taught to me by the late Kirk Mitchell from JusTrains, I'll use 1" wide carpet tape and attach it to the side profile of the roadbed. Then add some ballast and press it into the tape. The track ties will hold the ballast between the rails and outside the rails up to where the tape holds the ballast.
If you need to make changes or pull up track for any reason, you can vacuum up the loose ballast with a mini vac and save it for re-use, then pull up the tape. Track will be clean and reusable.
Thanks... more to think about!
Lots of fun!
BTW, I like your elevated sections of track! That's going to make for some some great scenary!
Thank you Paul! That's what I'm hoping for!
