HOn3 track - Shinohara?

[nachoman]

TrainNut, since you are reading old articles...whenever you see "Railcraft" flex track...that's Micro Engineering.

You do try handlaying, try ME's "micro" spikes or soldering. My entire HOn3 empire, a 3' section of track, was laid with medium spikes and they look awful. I'd also consider going with Code 55 rail. I really like the look more than Code 70 for HOn3.

I tried the "small" spikes with code 55 rail, and it split the ties, and the wheel flanges hit the spike heads. The micro spikes are harder to drive in, though, and require "predrilling" of the holes (I simply use a straight pin in a pin vise to "punch" a hole). Interestingly, when I stop by coronado scale models, the guy there tells me most people don't like the micro spikes. Code 70 in HOn3 is like code 100 in HO - with proper weathering it looks okay, but would look better with smaller rail. Code 55 is much more flimsy - so if you want robust trackwork, you may want to stick with 70.