Hello I am somewhat new to n scale model railroading and seem to be having a problem with noise from my track. I am using code 55 atlas flex track and have cork roadbed glued to plywood for sub road bed, I used a latex caulk to glue the track to the cork. The method I used was to spread a thin layer of caulk over the entire cork roadbed and then lay the flex track on it. what I have noticed is allot of noise coming from the sections of track I glued down with the latex caulk. I experimented with a few sections of just the track laying on the cork there is no noise coming from the loco or cars as they pass over it. It seems maybe i have developed a glaze by using the caulk? From reading the forums here It appears gluing the track down with a wood glue or white glue might have been better? Is there still a noise problem? Perhaps the noise is normal but it does not seem like it to me. I am thinking perhaps i should take up the roadbed i have used the latex on and redo it. Thank you for any help and advice.
It will naturally be more noisy when you glue the track down,since the sound will transmit more efficiently through the now glued down track.The plywood is pretty much a big speaker,it will amplify the sound.You might want to put something like Homasote or styrofoam between the cork and the plywood to deaden the sound.A cloth skirt to isolate the area under the benchwork helps,too.Actually,caulk is probably a little more sound deadening than white glue..
thank you for your response..Its looks like it is just something I might have to get used to..its not over powering but it seemed more noise than should be coming from the track.
Real trains make real track noises. Metal wheels on metal rail and all. Not even factoring in the flange squeal...lol. Even my Unitrack on plywood makes noises. I have become accustomed to it. The fact being...if I am working on something on the workbench...or otherwise preoccupied...and my subconscience catches the lack of certain noises (even if running 3-4 trains ) I can jump up and catch the problem before there is magic smoke everywhere. I actually welcome the ambiant noises. Just my .02 YMMV.
If you're willing to redo your track, try the roadbed from Woodland Scenics: http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/category/TrackBed It's made from a material that is softer than cork and conducts less noise. If noise is still an issue, you could even try laying down HO roadbed first and putting the N scale roadbed on top of that. Buy a few pieces and test it out to see if it's an improvement over your present construction method.
Can you be more specific as to what kind of noise that you hear? Is it a clicking or a vibration type? What does it sound like?
its something along the line of a vibration but nothing from the loco motor..I am thinking its just noise being amplified back from the track being glued down to the cork on the plywood..As I was saying in the original post track not glued but just laying on the cork makes much less noise than the glued down track so its probably just an amplification issue with the glue.
This may be a case of harmonic resonnance. Our club has lots of track constructed as you describe but we do not have any noise problem. I'm thinking there must be more involved here. How thick is the plywood? How large a piece and and how is it supported? We have found a similar noise issue with track fastened to cork on extruded styrene foam [the pink or blue kind] but not on plywood.
Its on 3/4 plywood that is cookie cutter in style. I was also thinking perhaps it was an issue where the plywood was mounted directly to the benchwork but it also occurs where it is raised. I agree it is a resonnance issue. Perhaps the plywood is to thick but i think i am stuck with that. a lot of work to redo that. I am going to try a few pieces of homasote roadbed to see what that might do.
