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Nice work Joe, I am still amazed with your skills in building this layout and to have a friend like Steve is like icing on the cake! It just reaffirms the generosity of the members here!

Your layout is definitely going to be one of those layouts that everyone is going to want to visit! Keep up the amazing work!

5/20/23 - Track laying has begun. This is my first time working with Gargraves flex track. It is a bit of a learning curve. However, over the years I have picked up some tips here on the Forum and on the internet that have come in handy. Maybe I should do and article for OGR magazine.

Still a ways to go but progress has been made.

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@NJCJOE posted:

5/20/23 - Track laying has begun. This is my first time working with Gargraves flex track. It is a bit of a learning curve. However, over the years I have picked up some tips here on the Forum and on the internet that have come in handy. Maybe I should do and article for OGR magazine.

Still a ways to go but progress has been made.

20230520_17590720230520_17591720230520_17592620230520_17593820230520_175946

Railroad poetry Joe.

@NJCJOE posted:

It is a bit of a learning curve. However, over the years I have picked up some tips here on the Forum and on the internet that have come in handy. Maybe I should do and article for OGR magazine.

I am planning to make heavy use of gargraves flex track for my layout, I would be interested in an article! If anyone else knows of an OGR article (or other resource) on using Gargraves flex track I would love to have it!

@NJCJOE posted:

5/20/23 - Track laying has begun. This is my first time working with Gargraves flex track. It is a bit of a learning curve. However, over the years I have picked up some tips here on the Forum and on the internet that have come in handy. Maybe I should do and article for OGR magazine.

Still a ways to go but progress has been made.

20230520_175907

Impressive!

Peter

Mike,

I did make a plywood jig, with the radius smaller than my track curves.  This way, you bend it tighter than what you need but it springs back some.  I then take it to the layout and make final adjustments by bending it around my waist. Works quite well.

Bending the ends is the hardest part. Here I slowly bend it by hand, bending a little at each tie location.

@mike g. posted:

Joe, looks outstanding! Just wondering if your using a jig for forming your flex track? I seen a lot of videos of guys making them and using them.

@NJCJOE posted:

Mike,

I did make a plywood jig, with the radius smaller than my track curves.  This way, you bend it tighter than what you need but it springs back some.  I then take it to the layout and make final adjustments by bending it around my waist. Works quite well.

Bending the ends is the hardest part. Here I slowly bend it by hand, bending a little at each tie location.

I saw a guy make guide with a piece or 2x4 with grooves matching the 3 rails cut into the face of the wood. He'd lay the block on the rails and use it to form the curves. It was especially useful at the ends of the sections.

The track looks great Joe.

Bob

Joe:

Make sure you use that particular brand of 'filler'. It comes in 3 different 'blends'...sand/tan use for dirt, grey use for actual ballast and black use for yards, engine terminals etc.  Like CNJ Bill said...just spray water and you are done...basically forever as it is mixed with a cement type component.

I tried another brand and it was not as good in my opinion. Others are too dusty when applying but should still use 'covid' paper mask.

Walter

@NJCJOE posted:

Where did you guys buy the polymeric sand?

I just used Gator Maxx on my brick patio. It's great stuff but a bit dusty. It dries hard as concrete so make sure your track work is rock solid before applying. I used the slate gray mix which is a good ballast color.

Any mason/ concrete supplier should carry it. The stuff that Home Depot/ Lowes sells in inferior to the Gator Maxx.

2023-04-26 14.22.07

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Last edited by RSJB18

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