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Have looked through as many past threads on this subject as I could find.

Seems easy for 027 Track - I have already done it.

But for O Gauge tubular - not easy to find something affordable and suitable.

1.  3R Plastics ties - only available in 027 and also rubber or plastic - I would prefer wood

2.  1/4 x 3/4 in. x 96 in. Solid Pine Screen Molding (which can be cut narrower on a table saw) is NOT 1/4".  That and lattice molding are actually 3/16 which is not thick enough.

3.  Kappler Scale Lumber makes O Gauge ties, but those are even thinner

4.  Northeast Scale Lumber sells bags of ties WITH NO THICKNESS specified.  I wrote to them and asked, but they never responded.

5.  Midwest Lumber 1/4 x 1/2 x 24 Basswood Strips # 4069.  This LOOKS like it is 1/4" in the photos, but is out of stock everywhere and those who claim to have it don't respond to email inquiries.

Any suggestions?

John

      

Last edited by Craftech
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I have several bags of Moondog rubber ties that are new old stock (Moondog went out of business in early 2000's).  As I understand it, these are a little thicker than the Lionel metal ties so they help deaden the noise and vibration some.  As you can imagine, these are difficult to find after all these years.

If you have an interest it purchasing these, please contact me using the email listed in my profile.

Good luck in your search,

Don

On EBAY search rubber track ties by 3r plastics. A bag of 25 is $5.00.

Brown railroad ties for Lionel O27 track by Three R Plastics

$14 + $11.10 shipping. Listed as "New" then when you read further it says that 85 are actually "used".

There are no other listings.  3-R does not make O Gauge ties anymore and barely produces 027 except occasionally.

John

20 years ago at a train show I saw a bag of homemade brown wooden ties that work nicely with O Gauge tubular track. I paid very little, if anything, for them. They might have been a throw in that I got for free because I bought a locomotive or train car.

How thick were they Arnold?

When I measure the space under my O Gauge tubular track, it is actually 5/16.  Maybe I should measure what they call 3/8 thick molding.  Maybe that is closer in actual measurement to what fits.

John

@Craftech posted:

Have looked through as many past threads on this subject as I could find.

Seems easy for 027 Track - I have already done it.

But for O Gauge tubular - not easy to find something affordable and suitable.

1.  3R Plastics ties - only available in 027 and also rubber or plastic - I would prefer wood

2.  1/4 x 3/4 in. x 96 in. Solid Pine Screen Molding (which can be cut narrower on a table saw) is NOT 1/4".  That and lattice molding are actually 3/16 which is not thick enough.

3.  Kappler Scale Lumber makes O Gauge ties, but those are even thinner

4.  Northeast Scale Lumber sells bags of ties WITH NO THICKNESS specified.  I wrote to them and asked, but they never responded.

5.  Midwest Lumber 1/4 x 1/2 x 24 Basswood Strips # 4069.  This LOOKS like it is 1/4" in the photos, but is out of stock everywhere and those who claim to have it don't respond to email inquiries.

Any suggestions?

John

    

Howdy Craftech, try Mt. Albert Scale Lumber. The 12x12x16" or 24" long lumber is square .250". Here's the link to the website. Note: 12"x12" at O scale is .250"x.250".

https://www.handlaidtrack.com/stb-o-12x12-16

These guys have all kinds of scale lumber. I hope it's what you're looking for.

Scott

Last edited by WesternPacific2217
@jhz563 posted:

I haven't tried it,  but I have always been intrigued by the suggestion to cut foam weather stripping like you would use around a door, and but it under the ties for noise deadening.   It might look good between the metal ties as well,  but I don't know if sparking would present a fire problem.

Do you mean Foam? or rubber?

John

Last edited by Craftech
@Craftech posted:

Do you mean Foam? or rubber?

John

I have heard of foam.   The idea being you sticky side of the foam to the layout base and it raises the track slightly.  Then you don't need to nail or screw down the track since the foam weather stripping keeps it from sliding around.

I saw this suggested in tinplate times or somewhere similar but have not yet tried it myself.

@jhz563 posted:

I have heard of foam.   The idea being you sticky side of the foam to the layout base and it raises the track slightly.  Then you don't need to nail or screw down the track since the foam weather stripping keeps it from sliding around.

I saw this suggested in tinplate times or somewhere similar but have not yet tried it myself.

Not sure how it can raise the base when foam is so soft and compressible.  Unless you are referring to a different type of foam, maybe closed cell foam?

I use the 1/4" x 1/2" Basswood Strips,  Bought at a local craft store. Been a while since I looked for 'em, so don't know if they are out of stock.   I had bought a bunch of the Screen Molding and cut a lot of ties, but decided they didn't look right.  They match the width of the metal Tie at the bottom, but too wide to match the top, which is what you see above the ballast.  So, I went with the 1/4" x 1/2"  Cut scrap pieces to fill in the open end of the metal tie.

My first try to see how it looked.

IMG_1776

I cut the un-couple magnets out of O-27 Track, and splice them into my O Track

IMG_3863



IMG_1565



IMG_E7173



IMG_0371

So, That's how I did it.

Steve

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@Craftech posted:

Those look nice Steve.   Midwest Products are out of stock right now so some of the vendors are breaking up the 12 packs and selling them apiece for an inflated price.

John

Thanks,

The Local Craft Store carries Midwest Products,  I never saw "12 Packs"  The store has a set of shelves, with dividers with the different size wood products, but individual pieces.  So, would go and grab an assortment of pieces, depending on what project I was working on,  like cutting Track Ties, or need wood for scratchbuilding.  I have several cardboard tubes under my bench work with an assortment of basswood and some balsa.  Also, the flat 3" wide sheets.  So, when I get an idea for a project, I got some inventory to look through.

Steve

@Steve24944 posted:

Thanks,

The Local Craft Store carries Midwest Products,  I never saw "12 Packs"  The store has a set of shelves, with dividers with the different size wood products, but individual pieces.  So, would go and grab an assortment of pieces, depending on what project I was working on,  like cutting Track Ties, or need wood for scratchbuilding.  I have several cardboard tubes under my bench work with an assortment of basswood and some balsa.  Also, the flat 3" wide sheets.  So, when I get an idea for a project, I got some inventory to look through.

Steve

Thanks Steve.

I'll go check that out at my LHS.

John

The ones mentioned in DGjones Post above from Moondog Streets are perfect for what you want! I used them on my last Layout under the Lionel 3Rail Track.  If you can get them at a good price, go for it ! Just make sure he has enough to finish your Layout as the Co. is no longer in Business & you can’t get additional!

FREDSTRAINS

@Fredstrains posted:

The ones mentioned in DGjones Post above from Moondog Streets are perfect for what you want! I used them on my last Layout under the Lionel 3Rail Track.  If you can get them at a good price, go for it ! Just make sure he has enough to finish your Layout as the Co. is no longer in Business & you can’t get additional!

FREDSTRAINS

Thanks Fred,

I just bought a bunch of them from Don.

Regards,

John

I use grey roll roofing material for my ballast and if you turn it over it's black. Cut your ties any size you need (cut from the back, score the roofing then snap it off)

One thickness is good for O27 and put two together for O Gauge. Depending on the thickness of the roofing you can just put the ties in place and screw down your track to hold the ties in place, If the roofing is a little thin put a dab of caulking adhesive on the ties.

If you can find a roll of damaged roofing , you can usually get it for a discount.

IMG_0930IMG_0931IMG_0932IMG_0933

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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