Attaching unitrack to layout

[nik_n_dad]

Hello.

 

What adhesives have folks had the best results with for attaching n-scale unitrack to foam for their layouts?  I'm considering either latex or silicone caulk, but have also heard folks use white glue.  I've tried the liquid nails\caulk for projects stuff, and it's "too permanent"  (in case we want to change something in the future, or replace a turnout, etc

 

TIA

[David]

I've seen picture of people using some type of silicone caulking, which afterwards required some minor cleaning before it could be reused (turnouts where never glued down). My only concern with white glue is that it might be too brittle - expansion and contraction of the track might weaken the bond over time. I don't have first hand experience with either.

[CaptOblivious]

I've used Gorilla glue to glue unitrack to plywood, with good results. Don't know how the stuff reacts with foam though.

[Bernard]

I know some people who have used a "hot glue" gun with good results. The thing is if you want to remove the track at some point, what would be the easiest adhesive to remove?

[cteno4]

Nik,

 

Ill put in a plug for screws! ive loved using them with the unitrak on the jrm layout and on my ttrak. easy to put down, very firm attachment and easy to pull up! trainaidsa has nice little #00 screws of varying length that work great with unitrak -- except if you are on top of foam then you have to go the glue route!

 

cheers

 

jeff

[nik_n_dad]

Yup, we're on foam!

[cteno4]

dad,

 

forgot to get back to you. lots of folks use latex caulking to affix unitrak to foam. pretty removable and gives a little if needed. others have used white glue as you can later soak the area with water if you want to pop it loose. of course heavy use of water putting ballast down could pop track loose though.

 

one trick with foam is you can drill out your nail holes in the tracks and use pins to hold the track in place while stuff dries.

 

cheers

 

jeff

[cteno4]

dad

 

a thought just occurred to me from posts from other groups about attaching track and sound transmission. there is a lot of debate about how loud foam can be as a base material with track attached to it and options to deaden the sound. these were folks doing traditional cork or homosote roadbed then flex track on top of that, but the most universal take home came that using something like matte medium (or mod podge at the craft store also deep clear acrylic base at home depot) is the best when attaching things compared to stiffer glues like white glues. the idea being that acrylic base is still a bit flexible when dry so it wont transmit the vibrations directly to the foam or what ever underneight. this also was true for putting ballast down as the matte medium was flexible some where as the dilute white glue method (usual thing done) comes out rock hard and thus cements the track to the base material and all sound is transmitted. also the flexibility of the matte medium allows easy modifications or easy ripping up if needed. has a nice dull coat finish to it as well so less chance of anything ending up with a gloss glue sheen on it.

 

might try using matte medium for unitrak just paint down a thick line on the foam where the edges of the track should be then plop the track on it and weight or pin it down in place. then could come back after its dry and paint on an extra fillet of the matte medium at the seam where the roadbed meets the foam.

 

cheers

 

jeff