Track work begins

I was able to buy some used 4 3/4 inch track.  To make more track I bought extra aluminum rail and spaced out the plastic ties more to give it a narrow gauge look. 

To make more track I spaced out the molded plastic ties and ripped a whole lot of ties from a 10 foot long piece of  2 x 12 HDPE plastic lumber.  I attached these with screws staggered as above (staggering keeps the tie from slipping diagonally.)  I used a template to predrill the holes to keep the plastic ties from splitting and to keep the gauge accurate.  I'm not crazy about the way having two different size ties look but using the molded ties also helps keep the gauge accuturate.  It is much less noticeable when the ballast is laid out.  The plastic has the advantage over wood ties in that it should last forever, no replacing ties due to rot or insects.  Disadvantages is that it is expensive but this was left over from another G scale train project.

First section of track down!.  One piece was a littel bent so I replaced it with a straighter section.

Coming round the first curve.  I prebent the aluminum rail along the edge of a circular outdoor table.