grade crossings

[dlinville]

can anyone advise how to make grade crossings, and the best material for the task..??

I need to make four or five..

thanks

 

[woodone]

For something simple you could use a Atlas rerail section- paint it color of your road and your done. Quick and easy. For a wood type use small strips of wood and glue between the rails, use a couple of strips on the two outside rails where the road crosses the track. And you can use plaster, sculpamold, drywall compound or your choise of material. Fill between the rails and before and after rails, you need to run some type of wheel set on the rails before the filler material sets up. This will provide a grove in the filler material for the train wheels to clear. Clean rails and paint and your on your way.

 

[dlinville]

thanks for the info. I have several areas where the rerailer will probably be sufficient. In the others I will try the filler idea.

 

[woodone]

No problem- hope I was of some help- post a photo, and let us see how you made out.

 

[cpNscale]

For something simple you could use a Atlas rerail section- paint it color of your road and your done. Quick and easy. For a wood type use small strips of wood and glue between the rails, use a couple of strips on the two outside rails where the road crosses the track. And you can use plaster, sculpamold, drywall compound or your choise of material. Fill between the rails and before and after rails, you need to run some type of wheel set on the rails before the filler material sets up. This will provide a grove in the filler material for the train wheels to clear. Clean rails and paint and your on your way.

I used the same method with dry wall compound on a corner just past my turnout and it turned out very well for me.I built up the road section with sheet foam and layed the drywall mix between WS paving tape.Cleaned out the rail grooves and painted
I have more pictues on my web page if you want to see more.

 

[ddavidv]

One tip (I also used the drywall compound method with great success): don't feel compelled to make the 'road' perfectly level with and right against the rails. Running a track cleaner over your track at the crossing will result in your paint being removed and exposing the white beneath, which needless to say doesn't look to great. Keep the level just a bit lower, if possible.

 

[CSX2342]

For something simple you could use a Atlas rerail section- paint it color of your road and your done. Quick and easy. For a wood type use small strips of wood and glue between the rails, use a couple of strips on the two outside rails where the road crosses the track. And you can use plaster, sculpamold, drywall compound or your choise of material. Fill between the rails and before and after rails, you need to run some type of wheel set on the rails before the filler material sets up. This will provide a grove in the filler material for the train wheels to clear. Clean rails and paint and your on your way.

Hey that was great advice, thanks!

 

[stary]

Dude; I wouldn't recomend using the Atlas rerailer as it doesn't look realistic.

 

[Travellar]

Very soon I shall need to take all this advice myself, having finally gotten around to adding some roads.

My plan involves just simple balsa strips, gouged for multiple-board appearance, glued in place and painted. Sound about right?

 

[TruckLover]

I use all diff methods for crossings. I have made some wood crossings using strip wood, made some others using craft foam sheets, drywall compound, and also some by simply adding dirt or gravel in between and around the tracks. All of these are easy and great ways to make grade crossings. I have also used grade crossings that come in kit form that I have bought.