Adding Roadbed and Team Tracks

With the inner circular track closed and the outer track progressing towards a full circle, the real fun can now begin. I haven’t given that much thought yet on how to build the track bed and to mount the track work on the bed. I’m not in a hurry – I still need the flexibility to modify the tracks, and I’m far away from nailing or gluing down the two circular tracks. The plan is to start working from a different angle and to build the team tracks. This will help me to solidify the design and to make sure all the tracks fit.

I’m not too worried about locomotives and cars making too much noise on the layout as speeds will always be very modest. Still, I want some cork bed for the tracks, so I go with 1/32″ cork sheets from Midwest Products. For the areas between the tracks as well as the small section under the throw-bars of the turnouts, I’ll use 1/32″ basswood. Gaps between cork and basswood will be sealed with vinyl putty.

I’ll work myself around the freight house and then extend the cork and basswood layer to the freight yard with the team tracks. Starting at the bulkhead, I add track by track; first the cork, and then the basswood sheet to the next group of tracks, always sealing the gaps and sanding the seams. Cork and basswood get a good coating of dark gray primer before I can lay and glue down the flex track. Finally, the tracks and ties are airbrushed with a rusty brown. Soon, my layout displays the full extent of the freight yard. I only leave space for tracks 7 to 10 as they are part of the diamond crossover – one of the last challenges in my project.