Looks intresting. I would be afraid of it breaking easy plus how will it hold up to the sun, temperature extremes etc... Its a start at more affordable track especially to get someone started.
PLASTIC TRACK!
- Thread starter Shawn
- Start date
They mentioned it at MLS as well. http://www.mylargescale.com/Communi...9/aft/113789/afv/topic/afpgj/2/Default#139927
Seems to be Code 332 track, which is a bit overseized for G-Scale (OK, I know, G is not a scale), but perfekt for 7/8th scale.
The company offers different coloured US type sleepers plus rails made from brass, steel, nickel or plastic. Might be a cheap alternative for the folks running battery or livesteam power. But I think, they mainly offer it for storage track.
Have fun
Otter 1 / Juergen
Seems to be Code 332 track, which is a bit overseized for G-Scale (OK, I know, G is not a scale), but perfekt for 7/8th scale.
The company offers different coloured US type sleepers plus rails made from brass, steel, nickel or plastic. Might be a cheap alternative for the folks running battery or livesteam power. But I think, they mainly offer it for storage track.
Have fun
Otter 1 / Juergen
Otter 1 said:
Juergen I believe most "G scale" track is code 332.
I reckon this would be fine for storage but I would be reluctant to run a steamie on it - I suspect it would wear quite quickly - but I might be wrong.
As cheap as it is, it would be worthwhile to experiment with. Be good for set ups at train shows. I have code 250, so it would not work for me. I hope someone here tries it and lets us know how it worked out.
If you are interested in the 'plastic' track the thread on MLS has now grown to four pages (including a 332 vs 250 discussion).
http://www.mylargescale.com/Community/Forums/tabid/56/afv/topic/aff/9/aft/113789/afpg/1/Default < Link To http://www.mylargescale.c...89/afpg/1/Default
The product is made in the USA and sold by Axel Tillman at Train-Li.
http://www.train-li-usa.com/ < Link To http://www.train-li-usa.c..nbsp;
Trainn-Li also has tie strips known as ProTies US which are nice and work well with the plastic rail. These ties have a rail clamp build into them so it is easy to use a screw to hold them down if necessary, good for curves. They are available in eight colors including a custom color (for a minimum order). He also carries ProTie Europe (at a higher price than the US version).
http://www.mylargescale.com/Community/Forums/tabid/56/afv/topic/aff/9/aft/113789/afpg/1/Default < Link To http://www.mylargescale.c...89/afpg/1/Default
The product is made in the USA and sold by Axel Tillman at Train-Li.
http://www.train-li-usa.com/ < Link To http://www.train-li-usa.c..nbsp;
Trainn-Li also has tie strips known as ProTies US which are nice and work well with the plastic rail. These ties have a rail clamp build into them so it is easy to use a screw to hold them down if necessary, good for curves. They are available in eight colors including a custom color (for a minimum order). He also carries ProTie Europe (at a higher price than the US version).
When this first surfaced on MLS in December, the price for rail was advertised as 500ft for $US50. I thought it was the answer to all my prayers. It now seems that was a mistake and the actual price is 500ft for $US 275. Not so good.Railfan said:
With buying rail there is always the problem of posting long packages. The US Postal Service (and Australia Post here) will only carry items up to 42" long. The owner of Train-li-USA is willing to make the rail in 42" lengths, but with postage, the cost to deliver to Australia will be about 80 Aust cents per foot. I can buy brass rail for $A1.50 a ft so the plastic is not really worth it.
Wow, Greg. That shipping cost really kills you. It's more than the price of the rail. And I agree, for the slight difference in price I would buy the brass rail also.
gregh said:
Just to clarify - the cost I stated of 80 cents Aust/ft is for rail + shipping. I calculate the shipping from USPS website at about 20c/ft.Railfan said:
gregh said:
Thanks for the clarification, Greg. That's 60¢/ft. cheaper than I thought. Of course, it's still not cheap.
The Train-Li pro USA plastic track and ties made in the USA are UV protected.
Another use can be for guard rails where these do not get any wear, and for storage.
Colors available are black, brown matching LGB color ties, grey, red, blue, train babe pink, and white.
For orders of 1500 feet, any color you want!!
Check out the Train-Li-usa.com site for more/latest info on these and other items.
Another use can be for guard rails where these do not get any wear, and for storage.
Colors available are black, brown matching LGB color ties, grey, red, blue, train babe pink, and white.
For orders of 1500 feet, any color you want!!
Check out the Train-Li-usa.com site for more/latest info on these and other items.
I just bought 50 ft of the track and ties. Will use part of it in my covered storage area to recover some SS track and also use some for display track. This rail is quite flexible and a 5 ft piece can be bent into a circle without breaking. It sure will work great for battery folks. Later RJD
Plastic RAIL
There has been some previous discussion on plastic RAIL previously (not plastic TRACK)?see here http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=29052&high=plastic+track < Link To http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=29052&high=plastic+track < Link To http://www.gscalecentral....amp;high=plastic+track
There has also been much discussion and testing on the mylargescale forum here?
http://www.mylargescale.com/Community/Forums/tabid/56/afv/topic/aff/9/aft/113789/afpg/9/Default < Link To http://www.mylargescale.com/Community/Forums/tabid/56/afv/topic/aff/9/aft/113789/afpg/9/Default < Link To http://www.mylargescale.c...89/afpg/9/Default
This plastic RAIL is sold by Train-li-usa
http://www.train-li-usa.com/store/prorail-display-p-1082.html < Link To http://www.train-li-usa.com/store/prorail-display-p-1082.html < Link To http://www.train-li-usa.c...il-display-p-1082.html
(they also sell the plastic sleepers strips to make up plastic track)
I live in Australia and have investigated buying some but the shipping costs make it almost the same prices as brass here. BUT, my daughter lives only ½ hour from the train-li shop in Massachussets, so when we recently visited her, I bought 100' of plastic rail, in 5' lengths ? for about 70USD.
I bent it to fit in our suitcases ie about 18? diameter! Even though it had only been bent in the case for 30 hrs or so, it came out in a parabola shape. Needed a bit of rebending to straighten it out. But it's OK now.
I run all battery power, so I want to test its use outside. I hope to use it for all future sidings. Maybe even replace some brass sidings with it and reuse the brass for mainline.
My first attempt is a short 6? siding. I use wood sleepers. I drilled the foot of the rail and just used 12mm nails to hold it down. One nail per rail per sleeper, alternately on the inside and outside. I nailed all one rail down first, then marked the hole locations for the other rail and drilled it and then nailed it down using a couple of track gauges.
It?s harder to use than brass because it is so flexible, but this straight bit seems OK. Making a curve would be harder I think.
It?s under a big tree so doesn?t get any direct sun.
It seems a bit ?slippery? to touch but surprisingly, it?s harder to push a loco along it than brass, so adhesion is not a problem.
It should be good for check rails on bridges too, but a smaller profile would be better.
There has been some previous discussion on plastic RAIL previously (not plastic TRACK)?see here http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=29052&high=plastic+track < Link To http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=29052&high=plastic+track < Link To http://www.gscalecentral....amp;high=plastic+track
There has also been much discussion and testing on the mylargescale forum here?
http://www.mylargescale.com/Community/Forums/tabid/56/afv/topic/aff/9/aft/113789/afpg/9/Default < Link To http://www.mylargescale.com/Community/Forums/tabid/56/afv/topic/aff/9/aft/113789/afpg/9/Default < Link To http://www.mylargescale.c...89/afpg/9/Default
This plastic RAIL is sold by Train-li-usa
http://www.train-li-usa.com/store/prorail-display-p-1082.html < Link To http://www.train-li-usa.com/store/prorail-display-p-1082.html < Link To http://www.train-li-usa.c...il-display-p-1082.html
(they also sell the plastic sleepers strips to make up plastic track)
I live in Australia and have investigated buying some but the shipping costs make it almost the same prices as brass here. BUT, my daughter lives only ½ hour from the train-li shop in Massachussets, so when we recently visited her, I bought 100' of plastic rail, in 5' lengths ? for about 70USD.
I bent it to fit in our suitcases ie about 18? diameter! Even though it had only been bent in the case for 30 hrs or so, it came out in a parabola shape. Needed a bit of rebending to straighten it out. But it's OK now.
I run all battery power, so I want to test its use outside. I hope to use it for all future sidings. Maybe even replace some brass sidings with it and reuse the brass for mainline.
My first attempt is a short 6? siding. I use wood sleepers. I drilled the foot of the rail and just used 12mm nails to hold it down. One nail per rail per sleeper, alternately on the inside and outside. I nailed all one rail down first, then marked the hole locations for the other rail and drilled it and then nailed it down using a couple of track gauges.
It?s harder to use than brass because it is so flexible, but this straight bit seems OK. Making a curve would be harder I think.
It?s under a big tree so doesn?t get any direct sun.
It seems a bit ?slippery? to touch but surprisingly, it?s harder to push a loco along it than brass, so adhesion is not a problem.
It should be good for check rails on bridges too, but a smaller profile would be better.
I know that there is a shop in Scotland that is the UK supplier of this product, I had a mail from Axel telling me who it was. But, now I want to try some, darned if I can find the address. Can any one help me out with it, please?
I want to try and build a crossing to match an LGB one. (Fed up with grinding)
Rod
I want to try and build a crossing to match an LGB one. (Fed up with grinding)
Rod
I've dropped him a maily.
ROSS said:
Hasn't died away on mylargescale. If you click on the link I put in above you'll see the latest posts are only a week or so ago.
Plenty of Yanks seem to be using it outside and the supplier (Axel) has written a long 'explanation' in his German-American about 'tests'.
I have not bought any, as yet, but might consider it for non-powered storage areas.
My non-powered storage is in the form of train shed track and as such would not have issues with UV. This could release brass track for further use.
Battery powered operators will consider it I am sure but I think rail 'noise' such as 'clickety-clack' and resonance when crossing bridges would be a loss that not all would want.
Addendum:
Of course Aristo aluminium rail is around half the quoted price of brass (Bachmann web page) and that is another alternative.
My non-powered storage is in the form of train shed track and as such would not have issues with UV. This could release brass track for further use.
Battery powered operators will consider it I am sure but I think rail 'noise' such as 'clickety-clack' and resonance when crossing bridges would be a loss that not all would want.
Addendum:
Of course Aristo aluminium rail is around half the quoted price of brass (Bachmann web page) and that is another alternative.