Model Forum / General / Railroads / May 2005

I also used track nails, from the track into the cork.  I used elmers to
attach the cork to the plaster roadbed on top of the foam.  I also used
elmers to glue the track to the cork.  The nails will prevent it from
moving sideways.  Just push (tack) them in gently.

I've been testing out various ways of attaching cork roadbed to my foam,
and then attaching track to the cork. I've tried liquid nails for
projects, and am just finding it a bit of a pain to work with (hard to
lay evenly, hard to unplug after it sits and dries, etc.)
Does just using plain elmers white glue work out ok (for both
applications - cork to foam and track to cork)?
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I have used Elmer's white glue successfully. I apply the glue and
weights to hold things in place while it dries. I used cans of soft
drinks for weights. An occassional track nail helps keep the alignment.

Bill
Bill's Railroad Empire
N Scale Model Railroad:
http://www.billsrailroad.net
Brief History of N Scale:
http://www.billsrailroad.net/history/n-scale
Model Railroad Bookstore:
http://www.billsrailroad.net/bookstore
Resources--Links to 1,100 sites:
http://www.billsrailroad.net/bills-favorite-links

Scott)
I've been testing out various ways of attaching cork roadbed to my foam,
and then attaching track to the cork. I've tried liquid nails for
projects, and am just finding it a bit of a pain to work with (hard to
lay evenly, hard to unplug after it sits and dries, etc.)
Does just using plain elmers white glue work out ok (for both
applications - cork to foam and track to cork)?
--------------------------------------------------
An advatage that Elmer's white glue has is that it is easy to remove the
track or roadbed if you ever want to change things. A bit of warm water
releases the glue.

Bill
Bill's Railroad Empire
N Scale Model Railroad:
http://www.billsrailroad.net
Brief History of N Scale:
http://www.billsrailroad.net/history/n-scale
Model Railroad Bookstore:
http://www.billsrailroad.net/bookstore
Resources--Links to 1,100 sites:
http://www.billsrailroad.net/bills-favorite-links

I've done my track laying the way the rest have said also.  But for glue
on the foam, both cork and foam to foam, I use the yellow carpenters
glue. It can be much cheaper.  For the track and ballast I go to the
white glue diluted 25 to 50 %.

I'm using water-based contact cement, brand available here is Lepages.
Works very well. Comes in small tubes. Lay down  a wiggly line of glue
on one of the surfaces to be glued, wipe the other part across it so
both surfaces are coated, then wait about 5 minutes for an instant bond
(it will work for up to a couple of hours, actually.) If you want to be
able to move the parts into position, waits just 2 minutes or so, and
use pins to hold the cork/track in place until the glue sets (overnight
is best.)

Liquid Nails isn't as good for this purpose because a) you get a very
thick bead; and b) it's harder to control that applicator gun. It's good
for gluing foam to a substrate such a 1/4" plywood, though.

HTH&HF.

I haven't tried laying roadbed with the liquid nails, but as for the
unplugging....just don't let it get plugged in the first place.  I
stick a large nail in the plastic spout when I am not using it.  At
the size I cut the applicator tip, it just fits.  You may need a pair
of pliers to grab the head of the nail to pull it out the next time,
but it will come out and leave a clear path down the middle of the
applicator for the adhesive to flow.