Thoughts on traditional track options/AF display progress

I like the rubber roadbed and per Gilbert's instruction manual you only tack down the roadbed not the track so sound will not be transmitted.  It also looks good.  If you were going to do the extra ties you may consider Gar Graves track. It looks good especially when ballasted and can be flexed into larger curves than Gilbert made.  Gilbert made their own custom track for many of their displays to have larger radius. 

John,

My previous layout was traditional Flyer and the rubber roadbed was my choice.  It looks good, goes together well, and I had a lot of it on hand.  I used a hand staple gun to tack it to my table and you can hardly notice, especially if you dab a bit of paint on the bare metal staple.  GarGraves is also a good choice, but if you already have the track and roadbed, go for it!  I'm not a fan of ballast on traditional Flyer layouts, but that's just my own opinion.  The look of a traditional layout will never go out of style.  From my own experience, a permanent layout is rarely such.  With a stapled down track, changing a bit for an added siding is easy.  Much easier than ballasted GarGraves.  Again just my opinion.  Double sided tape is OK, but that stuff is STICKY!  Be sure you're not going to ever change anything. 

Let us know what you decide.

John, I used all Gilbert track and roadbed on my layout. My track is laid on foam. I used a Stanley hot glue gun set on the low temperature setting. It has been down for several years with no problems and no damage to the roadbed when I took some loose to modify my Gilbert turnouts. Very satisfied with the results.

Ray

Thanks for the response Ray.

I have decided to use the rubber roadbed and will begin to clean the supply I bought shortly. I thought that I would use the double sided carpet tape but, based on your experience, I may use hot glue - I love that stuff.

Work on my small Flyer alcove layout will begin in a week or so, as soon as I finish some work I started on Warrenville. I have already designed decals and finalized my plan for a 1950's type store display for above the Flyer layout.

I'm looking forward to sharing pics here of my Flyer alcove layout and display within a month.

Lionelski posted:

Thanks for the response Ray.

I have decided to use the rubber roadbed and will begin to clean the supply I bought shortly. I thought that I would use the double sided carpet tape but, based on your experience, I may use hot glue - I love that stuff.

Work on my small Flyer alcove layout will begin in a week or so, as soon as I finish some work I started on Warrenville. I have already designed decals and finalized my plan for a 1950's type store display for above the Flyer layout.

I'm looking forward to sharing pics here of my Flyer alcove layout and display within a month.

John,

Allow me to suggest a cleaner for your rubber roadbed.  It's called Wesley's Blech White (yes, it's spelled correctly).  The product is available at auto supply stores, and is designed for car tires.  Being that both the roadbed and tires are rubber, the product works great.  I cleaned my roadbed in the basement in the laundry tub.  Spray it on, wait a few minutes and scrub with a medium hard brush.  Wear gloves and don't inhale the fumes.  Do it outside on concrete if possible.  Rinse and dry.  Repeat if necessary.  The roadbed will look like new.  Some of mine was in a smoker's environment, and yellowed, but all was removed.  There may also be other products for car tires, like Armor-All tire cleaner (not the tire treatment) or others, so if Wesley's isn't available, there are other options.  Ask the counter guy for his/her recommendations.  

Looking forward to seeing your layout progress, and Happy New Year!

My old Flyer layout:

poniaj posted:

Lionelski posted:

Thanks for the response Ray.

I have decided to use the rubber roadbed and will begin to clean the supply I bought shortly. I thought that I would use the double sided carpet tape but, based on your experience, I may use hot glue - I love that stuff.

Work on my small Flyer alcove layout will begin in a week or so, as soon as I finish some work I started on Warrenville. I have already designed decals and finalized my plan for a 1950's type store display for above the Flyer layout.

I'm looking forward to sharing pics here of my Flyer alcove layout and display within a month.

John,

Allow me to suggest a cleaner for your rubber roadbed.  It's called Wesley's Blech White (yes, it's spelled correctly).  The product is available at auto supply stores, and is designed for car tires.  Being that both the roadbed and tires are rubber, the product works great.  I cleaned my roadbed in the basement in the laundry tub.  Spray it on, wait a few minutes and scrub with a medium hard brush.  Wear gloves and don't inhale the fumes.  Do it outside on concrete if possible.  Rinse and dry.  Repeat if necessary.  The roadbed will look like new.  Some of mine was in a smoker's environment, and yellowed, but all was removed.  There may also be other products for car tires, like Armor-All tire cleaner (not the tire treatment) or others, so if Wesley's isn't available, there are other options.  Ask the counter guy for his/her recommendations.  

Looking forward to seeing your layout progress, and Happy New Year!

My old Flyer layout:

Thanks for the tip Jerry.

Just so happens that I have this in the garage - just didn't think of it.  I was going to use well diluted dishwashing detergent in water and finish with Armor-all, but I like your suggestion better.

Thanks for the cool pic too.

ADCX Rob posted:

poniaj posted:

Wesley's Blech White (yes, it's spelled correctly).

Close!  It's "Bleche White".

Oops, you're right.  I could blame fat fingers, but I guess I was lazy and didn't go to the garage to check. 

And John, love your basement.  Around here in Michigan I also have to run a dehumidifier most of the year too.

If you use armor-all on your roadbed, it will start cracking and splitting. Armor-all contains silicone which acts as a stress release agent, concentration stress risers from the molding process.  Do NOT use any product known to contain silicone on your rubber roadbed!

I don't know, I used Armor-all on my roadbed when I built the layout a number of years back, I have no cracking on mine.

Ray

traindavid posted:

If you use armor-all on your roadbed, it will start cracking and splitting. Armor-all contains silicone which acts as a stress release agent, concentration stress risers from the molding process.  Do NOT use any product known to contain silicone on your rubber roadbed!

I dunno what to think, David. Their website says that it "revitalizes" rubber

Cool video and a great layout, Ray. 

Got more to share about it?

Who is (are) the manufacturer(s) of the trains - they run really well. I'm gonna run Postwar AF with knuckle couplers.

Some of the roadbed that I purchased at York has the American Flyer name and # on the bottom, some do not, but they look almost identical otherwise. Did anyone else make this roadbed in the post war period?

I have some black roadbed with wide ties and some with narrow ties molded in. I think I will use the wide tie roadbed as it matches the track ties. I also have some grey roadbed with wide ties.

Any other variations?

John,

There were reproductions made of the roadbed years ago by a fellow named Johnson in California.  It was an exact duplicate of Gilbert's, so that may be what you have since it doesn't any Gilbert number on it. 

The three variations of Gilbert roadbed are all there are, as far as I know.  I find no listing for others in my collection.  The black variation seems to be the most common, and most guys prefer the large tie version since it matches the metal ties.  I used both types of black roadbed on my old layout, using the small tie version on the back areas farther from viewing.  I couldn't tell the difference from far away. 

John, the trains are Gilbert Flyer and Flyonel, also have some American Models, S Helper and a few MTH.

Layout is about 35 ft long and 8 ft at it's widest. The incline is 1 to 1 1/2 percent.

Ray

I am sorry but in describing the layout I failed to mention that my power is Legacy, I have 5 Powerhouses along with 3 Powermasters, giving the capability to run both TMCC/LEGACY locomotives and conventional locomotives with the wireless remote. The only thing I didn't take into consideration was set up for DC power, not sure if I could do that now.

Ray

Thanks  Ray,

I also see the layout track plan in your profile

Jerry,

In addition to the 3 American Flyer rubber roadbed variations, I've found 2 repro variations:

Black narrow tie, no markings on the bottom (like the one's I have) and black wide tie marked "Repro R Johnson" as I see on an ebay listing.  I wonder if wanting to sell at TCA meets was the reason for the repro info added to the mold?

Other than the markings the repros look exactly like Flyer, but I think the rubber is either a little thinner (or maybe just more flexible).

I only know what I have experienced with automobiles and pianos where, in the past, Armor-All has led to cracked dashes, plastic piano keys, etc.  Today's formula may be different.

As to varieties of roadbed, ACG made black and grey wide tie, and black narrow tie. They also made fiber narrow tie roadbed (paper!!). I have heard that there has been more than one maker of reproduction roadbed.

Good one, David!  It isn't seen very often due to its fragile nature.  If I remember correctly (and lately I usually don't) it's a cross between papier maché and pressed cardboard!  It doesn't take kindly to being bent.

Wishing all my fellow S gaugers a Happy New Year!

That is a new one for me, I never saw the fiber roadbed. This place always has a wealth of knowledge. On my layout l used both narrow tie and the wide variations. I would have used all narrow tie if I could have found enough to complete the layout. I had purchased a ton of roadbed before starting and as it turned out l had to use some gray sections, I painted those with black latex paint and when in place you will not be able to pick those out.

As Jerry mentioned, Happy New year to you all.

Ray