NASG Dispatch Articles: Track

2007 #6 December

36

Dick Karnes

After covering some general advice about track laying, the author provides a quick review of the various S-scale manufacturers that produce track products (at the time of the article's writing).

1988 #5 December

18

Ernie Horr

Building your own track inspection car from a piece of plexiglass and two trucks.

2003 #1 February

18

Dick Karnes

The author describes how he uses the DPDT switches to control the turnout's throwbar and the polarity to the frog. Includes an installation diagram.

1993 #6 December

21

Gene Kelley

Using a strip of Masonite hardboard to help clean the rails. Includes a construction diagram and a parts list.

2025 #1 January

28

Michael Klawitter

Using an American Flyer depressed-center flat car, the author made a simple track-cleaning car that does the job yet is not noticeable.

1999 #1 February

30

unaccredited

Prototype drawings of a highway crossing signal and signs.

1994 #3 June

34

Robert Nicholson

A couple of photos of how the author cuts award a commercial turnout and adjusts the gauge to fit S-scale.

1987 #1 Winter

14

Stan Stokrocki

Turnouts by several manufacturers are described how to hook them up electrically.

2016 #2 March

6

Joe Kimber

Using a piece of Masonite hardboard or similar material, the author describes how he built an S-scale version. Includes a photo and CAD-style drawings.

2019 #3 May

22

Stephan E. Gregull

Modifying original American Flyer turnouts so that two can be placed very close to each, one left-handed and one right-handed. Includes diagrams.

2013 #2 April

26

Robert Nicholson

The author describes his process of taking Atlas HO-scale commercial turnouts and converting them to work in S-scale.

1986 #4 Fall

4

Information about how the Cuyahoga Valley S Gaugers achieved their smooth track-running on their club layout at the 1986 NASG Convention.

1988 #2 June

6

Charlie Sandersfeld

The author describes how his group (the S Team) of modelers lay their track quickly.

2021 #6 November

27

Jim Martin

After covering the 2022 NASG Convention car, the author describes his ballasting experiment failing, and how he fixed it.

1995 #1 February

11

Ted Larson

Bob Daniel shares how he makes ballast from ground-up styrofoam coffee cups.

2004 #2 April

10

Tom Robichaud

To be able to operate both AF and hi-rail/scale equipment, turnout have to be of the closed-frog variety. This article describes how to build and install one of these. The author used Micro Engineering code 148 rail (compatible with American Models' track), and Circuitron's Tortoise switch machines. Includes many close-up photos.

1997 #1 February

18

David Avedesian

How to design a helix and the things one should consider in building one. It includes the math needed, and look-up tables.

2001 #1 February

5

Jeff Madden

What to consider when deciding what your minimum radius should be for your layout?

2021 #6 November

11

Andrew Lewis

To avoid using A.C. Gilbert AF track bumpers, which take up valuable space on his layout, the author formed his own wheel stops for his siding, and shows how he forms them.

1996 #1 February

20

Robert Nicholson

The author does a follow-up article to his 1994 article, answering questions, and showing more detailed photos.

2015 #3 May

22

Edwin C. Kirstatter

A small industrial switching area with a turntable can be easily built to hand-switch cars in an industrial complex. Includes two photos.

1985 #4 Fall

4

Don Thompson

Information about the current NASG track standard. Includes a listing of track and brass models that comply with that standard.

2019 #5 September

7

Jeff Madden

A review of the track systems available to S-scale modelers, and is there any hope for a code 100 track system in S?

1992 #6 December

24

Mike Palmiter

Photos of complex prototype track work. Also includes a photo of the author's dummy crossovers on his layout, to give the impression of complex trackwork.

1983 #3 Summer

4

unaccredited

A person only known as "Jerry" answers modeling questions. This installment covers how to keep your track clean, and hand-laying track on a curve.

1992 #5 October

25

various authors

Using automotive choke cables to control turnouts.

1992 #6 December

28

Mike Palmiter

What size rail height should S-scale modelers use?

2009 #1 February

12

Sam Powell

This article describes grade crossings and ideas for how to model them.

2011 #3 June

18

Sam Powell

How does one get foreign-road cars on one's layout? Via the Interchange Track. This unique and easy-to-model track is fully discussed in this article, which includes how to integrate it into your layout's operational scheme.

2000 #1 February

18

Bill Krause

This article covers how the Connecticut S Gaugers built #6 and #8 closed-frog turnouts for their club layout. Includes diagrams.

1993 #6 December

20

Kent Singer

This column covers John Long's idea for adjusting the Centerline HO-scale Rail Cleaner for use in S-scale.

1995 #5 October

22

Kent Singer

A guest column by Gaylord Gill describes how he built a track elevation gauge to help him construct his layout.

1995 #6 December

30

Kent Singer

This article shows how to Frank Andrews uses an ordinary push-pin as a means to hold the points of a turnout in position. The pin is decorated to look like a tall turnout target.

1996 #3 June

28

Kent Singer

The author describes how to cut an HO-scale Rix Rail-it down the middle length-wise and rebuild it as an S-scale rerailer.

1998 #6 December

9

Kent Singer

The author shares the description he got from Joe Scales about how to make installing the Del-Aire Air Motor (switch machine) better. The article is supposed to show a photo, but it was not included in the issue (see February 1999, page 14 for the drawing).

2023 #2 March

10

Dick Karnes

The author describes methods by which he remotely uncouples cars on his layout.

2023 #4 July

9

Dick Karnes

The author claims he never cleans his layout's track; he uses an oil instead.

2023 #5 September

9

Dick Karnes

The author briefly describes how he indicates to which turnout a fascia knob belongs.

2022 #4 July

9

Dick Karnes

The author had a fully-functional layout when the NASG decided to tighten-up the track standards so that the guard rail was closer to the stock rails. This is the current NASG and NMRA standard for S, but the author was reluctant to relay all of his beautiful track work, so he describes in this article what he did to make it all interoperate anyway.

2014 #2 April

11

David Heine

The author describes his reasoning for, and his method of, hand-laying track. Instead of using ready-made components, he designed his layout the way he wanted to, and then built the track accordingly. David's layout uses standard-gauge, and three-foot and two-foot narrow-gauge lines.

2010 #1 February

20

David Heine

Using N-scale track to model an Sn22 tramway (using banta modelworks' kit T-2121, Sn2 Ore Tram Mine Cars).

1997 #5 October

22

David Heine

Prototype and model information about dual-gauge track and turnouts.

1997 #6 December

17

David Heine

How to model in other narrow gauges other than 3-foot in S-scale (Sn2, Sn42).

1998 #5 October

23

David Heine

The author suggests trying to build an interchange between standard- and narrow-gauge tracks. The article also contains information about an Sn2 discussion list.

1998 #6 December

23

David Heine

The author continues with how to model an interchange between standard- and narrow-gauge tracks.

2001 #6 December

21

David Heine

This column discusses narrow-gauge curves, grades, clearances, and rail.

2007 #2 April

18

David Heine

(again, note that the article's page number is "20", but should have been 18) The author is getting ready to lay ties and rail on his home layout. The article covers what a rail height's code number mimics in the real world (as scaled down to S). Several test tracks are described to prepare for the formal track work.

1988 #3 August

16

unaccredited

This long article covers track laying from beginning to end. Includes prototype photos of turnouts (close-up), and a turnout detailing diagram.

2011 #1 February

22

Jeff Madden

Using two standard modules with some temporary track to be able to model an L-shaped switching layout.

1986 #2 Spring

9

Don Thompson

Since there are now other magazines reporting on S-scale's new products, the author has decided to change his product-announcement column to one that reviews currently-available products, with this column covering S-scale track products.

1986 #4 Fall

6

Don Thompson

The author reviews the current crop of S-scale turnouts that are available.

1996 #6 December

18

Jack Troxell

A set of diagrams (only) of how the author constructed the turnout control mechanism for the turnouts on the Houston S Gaugers' club layout. It uses a DPDT slide switch to manipulate the throwbar and the frog's power routing.

2019 #6 November

14

Steven Allen

The author describes the various types of pre-manufactured track available in S-scale.

2013 #6 December

26

David Heine

The author re-evaluated the rail heights for his sidings and branch lines. He shares the research he did (standard- and narrow-gauge).

2018 #6 November

19

Peter Vanvliet

Available resources for S-scale modelers who want to apply ballast to their track.

2017 #3 May

11

Peter Vanvliet

Information about which turntables are available in S-scale at the time of this writing.

2001 #3 June

9

Kelvin White

The owner of Whiteoak Models describes the turnouts he has manufactured and sells.