Considering how shockingly expensive kit railroad tracks are, it should be far more practical and relatively easy to scratchbuild them. Has anyone tried? And does anyone have models or pictures of the components, such as rails, mounting brackets between rails and ties, etc.? Thank you.

If you browse around these sites and click on the links to construction details this should give you some ideas.

http://en.diorama.ru/library/ww2-museum/de-industry/005/
http://en.diorama.ru/library/ww2-museum/de-industry/003/photo011/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_tracks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanged_T_rail
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_gauge

Hope it helps get you started. Try also some of the rail track enthusiasts sites in the country you are looking to model for ideas too.
http://www.railenthusiast.co.uk/links.asp

All the best

Nige

I did a small section for a VP Mortar. I used "I" beams from plastruct and trimmed down the top section to better represent the rail. I used pieces of basswood for ties. I made all the bits and pieces for connectors out of sheet styrene and small wire.

Yep, you can "narrow" down the top section of I beams but in most cases you also need to thicken it as well. It afterall is the wear surface on the rail. I'll tray and take a couple pics today of some stuff.........

Thanks everyone!

I thought I should mention that I have an Ironside low-sided flatcar kit that I dragged out of my attic, which should help greatly in determining the sizes of everything, because a track section kit is included.

Hi Tom,

What scale?

Hand-laying model RR track is fairly popular. I just posted at Layout Design Special Interest Group for info. Check at Hand Laying Track Supplies

For the project I have in mind, 1/35.

http://modelshipwrights.kitmaker.net/review/1505

I recently picked up a set of this and it's outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that looks really interesting, I'm going to be in the market for some track soon for a WWII armoured train build, does anyone know if this kit is suitable or if its more the modern style of track? (there are quite noticeable differences..)

Trumpeter got a set - I woulde´nt call that expensive.

Otherwise I have scratched some using the same method as Scott, its not difficult.

Cheers/Jan

Very nice!

ASOA.de rocks

I'd suggest the trumpeter track kit{5 sections} for roughly $26 or so dollars, but where's the fun in that?!
For the rail, I'd go the I beam route with a cap of .015 strip stock, then narrow it. Use a predrilled hole for each spike and use solder in the diameter you want, smash the top over and it will look like a rail spike. Rail joiners would be strip stock pieces with about 3 bolts per side, use rod stock for the bolts and hex stock for the head and nuts. You could use balsa wood for the ties...nothing looks more like wood than....wood!