Question on laying Atlas flex track

[Tom]

I want to make sure I understand what you are saying, Tom. Do you solder the flex track sections together while laying in a straight line on a table? If so, how do you bend the track when the soldered rail joiners or I would imagine solder itself won't slide through the spike detail on the ties?

I lay them out on the work bench, cut away several ties (usually about 1" - 2" worth) from the ends so the sliding rails can slide freely, attach the joiners, and solder them together in a straight shot. That makes for a piece of flex approximately 7 and a half feet long. Then, I start massaging the curve to get the sliding rails moving back and forth, and lay it on the layout. I use Atlas Code 83 mostly. Once I get the track secured to the layout, I cut the spike detail off the tops of the ties I removed with a chisel blade in an X-Acto knife and slide those ties back under the joints with a little elmers glue on the bottom of those ties to secure them.

Doing it this way causes the rail joiners to be off set, they are soldered so they won't come apart or kink, and ensures a smooth curve without kinks.