How To Lay Inset Cobbled Track Like A Pro

[@OlivierGabin]

Someone said one day that genius is the art of making things the simpliest way possible. We have here a brilliant illustration. I have a project of a street running train line, I pick this idea for the track in the middle of the street. Thanks a lot !

[@TRAMJUNCTION7147HG]

I'm building a tramway into my railway layout and I will be using these Metcalfe cobbled sheets. I have used them before many years ago, when I built just a model tram layout and I used the same method for fitting the sheets as you have demonstrated. The only difference on my combined layout is the fact that the tram rails will be laid on copper clad sleepers, so I can make tighter curves, using code 100 rails from flexitrack. But for anyone who hasn't used these cobbled sheets before, your video of how to lay these will no doubt be useful to those that just want to use them for making yards in a model railway. Metcalfe do similar tarmac sheets as well, which are also an alternative to cobblestones. My layout is in the very early stages of being built and is called Tram Junction and you can see it on youtube under my username Geoffersh Cheers Geoff

[@charleswalsh9895]

What a great way to have industrial trackage in a city or townhouse. Terrific

[@georgecraw5914]

A very useful and informative video. JENNY KIRK, please keep those videos coming --- YOU are a STAR. G.C.

[@jack_timber]

Excellent, was wondering how to achieve this, TY

[@tomlawton7087]

If you use a graphite block (like artists use) to "colour" the top of the rails, it will mark clearly on the paper, and also provides a repeatable and conductive surface. It doesn't rely on you having a suitably dirty set of wagon wheels!

[@JenniferEKirk]

Tom Lawton great tip!

[@Knappist]

Thanks Jen great idea looks good as well 👍

[@richardswiderski4985]

Excellent video Jenny very helpful.

[@LeslieGilpinRailways]

In pedant mode - aghhhh they are setts not cobbles! The streets of the north were laid with setts - dressed stone with that gentle flat surface, cobbles are regular beach or river stones and awful to walk on, more suited to garden paths and softy southern fishing villages. In most sheds they'd use bricks (of which the railway would have plenty after building the shed). Another popular surface was wooden blocks, even Manchester had those. More seriously, excellent techniques, works for many surfaces needing to be tight to the rails.

[@CM-ARM]

Hey Jenny, great info. In the future try weighting the cobble down that way you don't end up with holes or fighting to get the pins out. Keep them coming

[@JenniferEKirk]

Chris Mitchell it is another method but you have to make sure that none of the glue has got on the top surface of the cobbles otherwise the finish will lift when you try and take the weights back off.

[@CM-ARM]

Very true, I learned a great deal from you and I'm now going through some of your older videos. Love what I see. FYI I'm just starting my own layout, I mean just. Anything I can learn and use is truly appreciated. Also I like to discuss different ways of doing things.

[@BALD8BIL]

Sweet how to video keep them coming and I'm going to share it to the Facebook group TRAINS ACROSS THE WORLD

[@JenniferEKirk]

BALD8BIL many thanks!

[@wheezypalacemodels7726]

Great tutorial Jenny, very clear and informative, thanks for sharing with us...cheers, Chris

[@JenniferEKirk]

Wheezy Palace N gauge thanks!

[@chucksmith155]

great videos Jennifer, what are the thickness of the cobble stone sheets thankx i enjoy all your videos keep them rolling

[@larryrogers7216]

VERY interesting! Is there a reason why you chose cobbles over going with ballast stone?

[@JenniferEKirk]

Larry Rogers the area will eventually be inside a shed so I wanted a hard standing rather than just ballast.

[@MrCrankyChris]

As an addition, run a grey felt tip around the edges to cover up the white ends of the card, hardly takes a minute to do when the card is cut. I guess most of the joins will be cover by the shed and so won't notice so much. Otherwise a great idea and demonstration.

[@austinyingst5902]

Shocked. I say; I'm shocked. Jennifer Kirk advocating dirty wheels and track. On top of BREXIT! The world's turned upside down. Seriously, darned clever way to avoid the tombstone rubbing with pencil and tissue paper using kindergarten cutting technique. Why didn't some smart person pave their streets with track long ago. Nice job. Thanks.

[@JenniferEKirk]

Austin Yingst it’s a dirty trick but it works!

[@austinyingst5902]

Work it does and that's why it's so neat. Thanks again.

[@gregwatkiss1372]

I am about to start a harbour scene layout in N gauge and like your layout I want the track to be level with the cobblestones of the dockside area. My problem is that I only have Kato track to use which is much higher than standard track. Can I assume that it is just a matter of packing either side of the track to get the correct height for the cobblestone sheets? Also, are you able to tell me how you would insert the cobblestone sheeting when it comes the points on my layout? Best regards, Greg

[@roybag57]

Nice technique Jenny

[@JenniferEKirk]

Roy Cook thanks!

[@JohnJohnson-cn9fh]

works very well jenny,great job,jpj

[@JenniferEKirk]

John Johnson thanks!

[@Wolfyjinny]

It's just a shame that the Metcalfe cobbles have that darkened edge to them letting you see the end of the sheet when butted up against the next, but I suppose with a little airbrushing and weathering you could get them to match up a little better. You are making some massive progress though, keep up the great work.

[@normanrowe2831]

Nice. Good tip. Thanks.

[@JenniferEKirk]

Norman Rowe you’re welcome.

[@peterb1543]

If you use a rubber adhesive spray can from a craft shop, it sticks very well and quickly

[@JenniferEKirk]

Peter B I had lots of PVA to hand but other glues are good too.

[@tomlawton7087]

Key thing is that the spray adhesive is applied only to the card; spraying it near the rails will end in disaster!

[@jamescarryl9690]

Jenny what about Ur workers on the railway Up to now they been used to the ply flats. Now u gonna make em walk on pointy stones an goin wibbly wobbly beside the tracks. And what will the sheep an cows think. Thunk girl don't make Dem drastic changes. Diva made me do it!! B u t we're LOAOH!!!

[@JenniferEKirk]

James Carryl sheep and cows in the shed area!

[@petermahon4641]

Very good. Thank you :-)

[@mamanbear1]

Deep