N Scale Flextrack, what to use?

[Sokramiketes]

By the way, I've got a pile of this junk here - maybe I should put in up for sale to the highest bid, since it's the only supply around???

Now i'm confused.  Is it in the dumpster?  Is it in a pile?  Do you have a dumpster in your basement and pile things in it, or do you just refer to your basement as a dumpster?

[wm3798]

Among the other issues with Atlas Code 55:

  - Turnouts out of gauge (oh, I forgot, this is model railroading, where products routinely
    come broken and need to be fixed by the buyer!!)
  - Spikes "randomly" too high, especially on the sectional track which everyone will
     tell you is so fantastic to build yards from
  - When glued down, follows all surface contours so precisely that every imperfection
     is amplified.

As I said - I highly admire what some people have made of this junk, I'm not wasting my
time on it anymore.

@Skibbe:  Bingo!

The turnouts out of gauge issue was resolved by Atlas after the first run.  I thought they responded to it quite well.  And the fix involves 30 seconds and a file.  Whoopdy doo.

The random spike issue is not something I've experienced, except when running Life Like engines with oversized flanges.  This can be fixed by replacing the wheel sets with NMRA compliant wheels.  And I'm not sure who "everyone" is who builds yards from sectional track, but I'm not included in that group...

If you build your benchwork with something other than a hatchet and a chainsaw, the track won't have any imperfections to follow.  And even if there are some bumps, a little shimming, and even a bit of ballast can take care of the problem.  The error is occurring between the chair and the keyboard.

You're making mountains out of molehills, instead of from Blue Foam, which is the preferred method!

Lee

[ljudice]

Once again, I like the looks of Atlas Code 55. I admire what some of you have done with it.  But Peco is made better, is easier to work with, is never out of gauge, is always exactly the same - piece to piece (which is the best way of judging quality).

Why Skibbe and Lee have to start insulting me I don't know. Maybe both of you should go get some coffee or a cookie and calm down.

I'm a happy guy though - I didn't realize how freaking EXPENSIVE Atlas Code 55 is on Ebay - $8 a piece!!!!!  

Not my favorite track - but the best investment I've made in a year!!!!!!

(Somebody should do one of those Downfall videos, where they tell Hitler that all the hobby shops in Europe are out of Atlas Code 55 and that he's going to have to finish his layout with Atlas Code 80 track)

[wm3798]

Well either unload it as worthless, or proclaim its virtues and ask a lofty price...  You can't have it both ways.

[DKS]

Time to head for the fallout shelter...

[sizemore]

DANGER WILL ROBINSON, DANGER!

ME Flex looks great when you can get a bundle that has little flash...and it is a bear to work straights and curves.... Atlas, with the exception of the spike head issue is great and very forgiving. If I was building a photo module I'd go ME Flex with handlaid turnouts. If I was building a layout, I'd go Atlas all the way and make a tool to reduce the spike head size, maybe a flat car finagled with a reverse sprung sanding/file unit. 

The S.

[ljudice]

Hope no one actually needs any of this stuff!!!!   

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Atlas_N_2000_25_Code_55_Track_30_Super_Flex_p/atl-2000-25.htm

http://blwnscale.com/Atlas%20Code%2055%20Track.htm

http://www.featherrivertrains.com/cgi-bin/webstore/shop.cgi?ud=CAcFBgMLBQIEABQUEhARHQcBDwABAgYHBAgSEAAA&t=main.htm&storeid=1&sortby=itemid&cols=1&c=search.htm&categories=100010-016500-016507

[Allentown Hump]

 - When glued down, follows all surface contours so precisely that every imperfection
     is amplified.

So wait, if I glue my ME or Peco flex track down on an uneven surface, it'll actually be perfectly flat with no imperfections? I'm sold!!!

[Sokramiketes]

Why Skibbe and Lee have to start insulting me I don't know. Maybe both of you should go get some coffee or a cookie and calm down.

Your story was changing, just asking for clarification.   

[wm3798]

Don't worry, Lou.  Give us a minute and we'll start insulting each other.

By the way, Mike, I flew over your house Friday... the lawn needs to be cut.

[ljudice]

Allentown Hump:  try unclogging a drain with a coat hanger. Then try it with a piece of angel hair pasta.  You will understand.

Skibbe: If you really want to know, I ripped out over 200 feet of Atlas Code 55. It had been laid over WS foam roadbed - which had worked fine for the previous layout using Peco Code 55.  Unlike Peco, which can be removed from roadbed and re-used, Atlas Code 55 self destructs when pulled up. So all of it went into the trash.  

Since you seem so interested, I have a trash bin in my basement which was dedicated to Atlas Code 55 for several weeks. Then I took full trashbins of Atlas Code 55 upstairs and outside to a larger container to be picked up and taken to the dump, where it belongs.

I happen to have 10 VIRGIN pieces of Atlas Flex leftover. I am trying to decide if I should sell it,  tape myself putting it all into a blender and posting on Youtube so I can feel the howls of pain and anguish - or just offering it to a club that's misguided enough to be using it.

[Sokramiketes]

But Peco is made better, is easier to work with, is never out of gauge, is always exactly the same - piece to piece (which is the best way of judging quality).

Peco is very consistant.  Oversize flangeways are no better than tight flangeways.  Every Peco turnout needs the guardrails shimmed to work well with any good wheel that's not a Pizza Cutter.  It's not just the European tie spacing that's a problem, it's the European specs that they build it to also, for my application.  

I also dislike the Atlas Cd 55 turnouts, as the plating is wearing off leaving yellow frogs, and we have several point rails popping out from their hinge clip.  The flex track is fantastic to work with, and I haven't had any issues with it.  I haven't used sectional track.

There are different products out there for different levels of modeler's skill.  And that's a good thing.  But don't slam one product and proclaim the virtues of another without providing facts about each.  Neither is perfect.  Each has its place.  If the original poster is asking about the differences between Atlas 55 and ME 55, then why can't we keep the discussion revolving around those two choices?  

[Denver Road Doug]

I answered Atlas C55, but I actually use Atlas and ME but mostly ME for the concrete ties and a few C40 spurs....Atlas C55 flex for the rest.  

I have used all three scenarios (and the fourth one that was crammed down your throat) and I say any of them are good.  My experience with the ME turnouts is limited though.  Atlas C55 looks and works great...not perfect but if you look at the whole picture (price, value, looks, reliability, and availability) it cannot be matched as the best we have currently, IMHO.

[ljudice]

Skibbe, I hate to belabour this (except that it increases the odds someone will come and find my ad over on the trading post).

But you are mistaken. I was completely up front about the issue with with Peco - it's not only a British product, it's not even 1/160th scale.  

So please don't accuse me of being biased or one sided.

As far as skills are concerned, I've been in this for over 30 years, and in fact have built layouts with ME Code 40, Atlas Code 80, Kato Unitrack, Atlas Code 55 and Peco Code 55. My decision was based upon sound judgement.  

By the way, the carpentry on my 17x24' layout was done by a master cabinet maker - not by me. It's perfect. And you could drive a truck onto it. The imperfections I refer to were in WS subroadbed joints.

Yes it is a learning process, this hobby - and I probably could have built perfect track using Atlas Code 55. But I frankly did not like the quality - and made a tradeoff for looks. Do you think I would pull out 200 feet of track and start over for nothing???

Also, remember, I am a lone wolf modeller - so everything has to work perfectly or things get frustrating really fast. I can see in a club setting how taking a more dodgy path may be worth it...

Oh, BTW, I have two cases of Peco Code 55 here - and if I had been using Atlas I would still be looking at Subroadbed!!!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I happen to have 10 VIRGIN pieces of Atlas Flex leftover. I am trying to decide if I should sell it,  tape myself putting it all into a blender and posting on Youtube so I can feel the howls of pain and anguish - or just offering it to a club that's misguided enough to be using it.

THAT would be hilarious, and an Instant Railwire Classic!

Of course, you might get jumped, but it'd be worth it