Micro engineering track

**zoegraf** · 06-24-2012, 11:27 PM

I found some old micro engineering track and have a few questions.

Is this track very prototypical in regards to tie size and spikes? Could I get away with using it as branch line track?
I'm wanting to create a scene where the track has a lot of dirt and sand on it that has accumulated over time something like in this photo. I've seen photos of branch lines near the coast with sand, mud, and dirt almost covering the ties.

I'd appreciate if anyone has any photos of what they have done with their micro engineering track.

Cheers.

**BMK** · 06-25-2012, 04:57 AM

The current issue of "Railroad Model Craftsman" has a good article on weathering a track. As for the Micro Track it is code 83 and comes it two types weather and no-weathered. In your case it does not matter much since you are going to model it in a very weathered design. Good Lick.

**zoegraf** · 06-25-2012, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by BMK

The current issue of "Railroad Model Craftsman" has a good article on weathering a track. As for the Micro Track it is code 83 and comes it two types weather and no-weathered. In your case it does not matter much since you are going to model it in a very weathered design. Good Lick.

Thanks for the tip. I got what appears to be micro in code 70.

**zoegraf** · 08-06-2012, 11:16 AM

This is my first attempt at painting/weathering micro engineering code 70 track for a diorama I'm working on.

I painted the ties and will later apply fishplates, paint the rails and do the ballasting.

**Bread&steel** · 08-08-2012, 08:58 AM

I Like ME track and use it throughout. I use 55 as well as 70

**CSXPAID** · 08-08-2012, 11:36 AM

I also use ME track in both code 83 and 70. I think the track looks much better than atlas track although I dont know if it is exactly scale, but it looks good to my eye. Also working with ME flex track is more difficult than atlas flex track. Its not terrible but care needs to be takin when bending it

**zoegraf** · 08-08-2012, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by Bread&steel

I Like ME track and use it throughout. I use 55 as well as 70

Does ME come in code 55 HO scale flex track?

**zoegraf** · 08-08-2012, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by CSXPAID

I also use ME track in both code 83 and 70. I think the track looks much better than atlas track although I dont know if it is exactly scale, but it looks good to my eye. Also working with ME flex track is more difficult than atlas flex track. Its not terrible but care needs to be takin when bending it

I don't know if it is to scale. They do look good especially for mainline track, but I'd probably not use it on scenes near the edge of a layout; would probably go with hand laid because my next layout will be a branch line.

I'm considering Central Valley ties on my next diorama that will depict branch line track and see what I can do with those.

I'll be comparing the two dioramas and will pick the look I like best for my next layout.

Last night I dry brushed some of the ties with a bit of grey to bring out some detail and to show aging on some of the ties. I regret not scraping up some of the ties a bit. I'm sure it will all come together after the painting of the rails, ballasting, a light wash, and weathering.