Model Railway Forum

I’m with you Sandy. Pins are easy to put in and remove. Even if you are stretching across the layout. Just need to use the right ones.

Pins every time - my boards are plywood, and I just pushed the pins in using needle-nosed pliers - no holes needed drilling.

Another vote for screws. I have never used anything else. Simple to change layout when required, and hold points down very firmly.

yelrow wrote: ↑Mon Mar 07, 2022 11:34 am Another vote for screws. I have never used anything else. Simple to change layout when required, and hold points down very firmly.

How can it be simple to change layout after it is ballasted ,pin or screw.

Don’t ballast.

Dont like that much. Have you ever seen a railway which does not have ballast. Yes I know there are exceptions (across bridges for instance) but not on our main lines or sidings.. Track with no ballast is like a plane with no wings.

I’m only suggesting you don’t ballast if you intend to change the layout often. It is not difficult to move ballasted track, the secret, in my view, is to use a very weak water/pva mix, I use about 80/20 then although it sets it is still a bit flexible, a bit like toffee. You can’t really compare a model railway with the real thing, you have to compromise.

I used a mix of 50/50 PVA (Good Quality one) and it is hard as nails. Funny this subject has come up as I have just decided to add couple more sidings which has some flock grass (quite thick on it) do you think if I soak it with water it will come off easy.

50/50 is too hard, it doesn’t need to be like rock.

Spraying water onto hard ballast breaks it down and it can then be removed. Messy but it works, had to do this on my old layout after I decided to extend it. Wash the removed ballast, dry it and it can be used again.