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How to Lay Flexible Track

Three-foot-long sections of flexible track are a standard component of most model railroad layouts. These long sections minimize the number of joints model makers must make when they assemble their tracks and also allow enthusiasts to custom design the radius of their curves. Larger radius curves allow longer model railroad cars and locomotives to negotiate those curves. Only small cars and locomotive can negotiate tight turns. Flexible track is particularly useful for smoothing out curves with increasing or decreasing radii.

Things You'll Need

Plan for your layout
Yardstick
Wood glue
Model railroad cork roadbed strips
Rail joiners
Flux
Solder
Soldering gun
Rag
Rail nippers
Small file
Model track spikes
Tack hammer
Track gauge

Instructions

- 1
  Draw a plan for your model railroad layout that will make the most of your available space. Design your curves to be as wide as possible.
- 2
  Draw your plan on the support for your model railroad layout -- typically one or more sheets of plywood. Glue model railroad cork roadbed strips where you intend to lay your flexible track. Ensure that all straight stretches are straight by holding a yardstick against those stretches and visibly inspecting the roadbed.
- 3
  Lay, but do not fasten, sections of flexible track on top of the road bed. Bend the track as needed to fit your curves.
- 4
  Join sections of the flexible track with rail joiners. Solder together joints between sections of track that join on curves using flux, solder and a solder gun. Remove excess solder with a rag.
- 5
  Cut too-long sections of flexible track with rail nippers. Remove burrs from cut track ends with a small file.
- 6
  Fasten track to the cork roadbed and the layout support using model railroad spikes and a tack hammer.
- 7
  Check the straightness of straight sections with a yardstick. Check that both rails are parallel in all sections of track using a track gauge.

Model Railroads