my first layout

hi guys recently ive bought a 4x8 sheet of ply and a bit of peco code 55 flex and switches. ill be asking alot of questions along the way so all advice will be of great value to me and much appreciated.

first up my layout plan has a 90 degree crossing and they arnt built in the peco range so i ordered in an atlas code 55 crossing, will the peco and atlas track be compatible?

the cork i bought for the roadbed doesnt seen to be able to flow into curves/ is hard to curve, is there a trick to laying it on curves?

whats the best way to lay the track from the full scale xtrckad printout and how do i print it without the page margins so it all fits together perfectly?

below is the track plan i want to use

 

I can answer the cork question, or maybe your already are doing this. Split the cork down the middle along the cut line and lay it in halfs. Bends around any curve.

 

Will you be able to walk around the layout? Otherwise it would be difficult to reach past 36".

 

SinCity asked the magic question.

You are going to need access from at least three sides. If you stomach is as big as mine, four sides.

 

or hell need one of these

 

thanks for the reply to the cork question ill do that and yes
i can have access from 3 or all four sides easily

 

so far ive laid down some track and cork and i will have some pics soon but where do i need to use insulated rail joiners using peco code 55 and im planning on using dcc, because i cant lay anymore track until i have this sorted

 

i have all cork laid for the outer oval now and im starting on the inner oval tonight

i need to buy insulated rail joiners before i can lay anymore track though

 

hawk,

This is a bit late, seeing that you are already putting down the cork, but...

When I print my track from xtrckad I check off the selection for engineering data and all other selections in that area and set the scale to 1. The track prints as close to the edge as your printer will allow and the track will be properly aligned from page to page. It also helps to play with the X and Y offsets, this can save paper if the track is close to the grid lines. If you align the edges of the paper it will match what you see on the program.

I find it helps if you lay out all pages and tape the seams on both sides. I cut the track out so that there is a half to one inch margin around, then I lay it on top of very thin cardboard, like the cardboard from a shoebox. and cut it out again. The cardboard makes it less flimsy which helps if you are trying to figure out elevations. Poster board is too thin.

Hope this helps,

Michael

 

Yes Peco and Atlas code 55 will work together.

 

insulated rail joiners / peco track

The answer to your question is subjective. It requires an answer to what kind of train control system you plan to use (DCC or DC block control)and what type of switches you plan to use (live frog or insulated frog type)? Hopefully you have already thought this out but if not I am know there are many here who can help you through this part of the planning stage.

 

i am using dcc but havnt bought a system yer suggestions for a beginner?
the switches are peco code 55 elecrofrog.

 

I bought the Digitrax Zephyr back in the day (ehh, five years ago?) and used it somewhat on an HO layout, and it worked great. Pretty cheap, offers all the functions I needed, and I plan on using it once my N layout in progress gets to that point.

 

how do i go about soldering feeders to the track? the solder doesnt seem to want to stick.

 

Get some Rosin flux paste. Smear it on the track, and coat the wire. Then touch the soldering iron to the track, let it melt the paste, and touch the solder to the track. It should flow easily; if not, the iron isn't hot enough. The flux paste helps the solder flow.

Do the same with the wire. You want to coat the wire with solder (this is called "tinning" the wire).

After both the rail and the feeder wire have been tinned, you want to butt the wire up against the rail and quickly touch with the iron. The solder on the rail and the wire will melt and the feeder will be attached to the track.

Hope that helps.

 

finally got some pics
here was me planning it out

 

start of construction

 

and more with some pics of my new rollingstock, ive progressed alot futher with track laying than this but dont have pics yet. also started wiring... my feeders are pretty badly done but it was my first attemp and first time using a soldering iron. more pics when i take them haha

 

...Winning!

 

i have laid most of the track in the bottom half of the track plan now and i have it wired
i woiuld put up more pics but i cant because it says there too big?