Realistic Model Railroad Track - Progress on Eldorado Free-Mo Module

[@markiewodi3371]

Heard about you and this layout on “What’s Neat This Week”. Awesome stuff! Love love love the rough track!!!

[@AndyDorsch]

Thank you! There is going to be plenty more "rough track" as I continue to build this layout!

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

Nice, nasty looking Track!! Love the overgrowth. I do remember one guy, about 10 years ago, who really did the old, worn Branchline, with DENTS in the Track every 40-80 scale feet, and the Trains actually rocked back and forth while trying to roll down the Line!! Only Keep-Alive kept it moving. I just don't have the guts to try that! Carmine ✈🚂🚙

[@AndyDorsch]

Carmine - thanks for watching, I to know a guy who to a dremel to the rails every 40 feet to try and get rock and roll action...I too dont have the courage to try that!

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

You know what Andy... Neither do I!!! 😳 I have thought about doing one Industrial Siding... Maybe a one way, back in only, and never take a 6 Axle Diesel or any Steam down it!!

[@PennCentral99]

hi Andy, that project turned out nice. Pretty cool resin ties and the hand laid track looks great. Thanks, Terry

[@AndyDorsch]

Thank you Terry! It was good meeting you in person as well!

[@PennCentral99]

@@AndyDorsch Hi Andy! Yeah, nice meeting and talking to you at Ken's, hopefully run into you next year at the RPM. Terry

[@JoeG-firehousewhiskey]

I like the way you paint your track, looks very realistic. And that container you have for the glue seems nice and easy to use. Overall, that scene looks amazing!

[@lucgagnon5241]

Great job on making those tracks and ties extremely realistic. I didn't watch all your videos but the ballast job is awesome too. Keep on your good work.

[@ThomasKlimoski]

Very nice job on the track and worn ties. You certainly have captured the look of a seldom used and poorly maintained rail line. Thanks for posting how you achieved the look. It is a hard balancing act to get track that looks bad but model locomotives still are able to operate on it. Well done! -Tom

[@AndyDorsch]

Thanks Tom! Even though it took a while to get there I am really happy with the results. No to do this on the whole layout!

[@milwaukeetrainman9880]

Hey Andy! I really appreciate you showing your techniques. As a Milwaukee Road guy, I need overgrown ballast and stressed ties too!

[@yrunaked4]

Whats neat this week #100 sent me here. new sub and this is the first video for me. I was thinking earlier how pleased I am with micro engineering track and now, I want to try my hand at you methods to represent a former Rock Island line. I love the High hood C628 too. Fantastic work, and this video is so sharp. Cheers, Rob

[@AndyDorsch]

Rob, if you have any questions about my technique or if you want to see something in more detail don't hesitate to ask. Thank you for watching and good luck with the former RI line. Andy

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Great results! Hand laying tracks is definitely rewarding, and you can go the extra mile in terms of achieving that realistic effects. Good tutorial, lovely layout. Cheers! Kaustav

[@AndyDorsch]

Thanks Kaustav! This was the first time I've paid this much attention to detail. Especially for trackwork!

[@davestrains6816]

Just subscribed. love your videos. Thanks for sharing.

[@AndyDorsch]

Thanks for tuning in and subscribing!!!

[@tubetrox2]

Those really are some great looking ties! Your buddy should sell them, or at least sell copies of the molds. Very realistic.

[@AndyDorsch]

Well I am picking up my new pressure pot tomorrow, upping my capacity to make tie castings!

[@rockislandmodeler6802]

Wow, great job!! It does look realistic!

[@AndyDorsch]

Thank you!

[@johnnyrailer]

Gteat work brother! Looks great!

[@AndyDorsch]

Thanks! Nice work on your backdrop.

[@johnnyrailer]

Thanks man! Im getting there. @@AndyDorsch

[@RailserveJohn]

Wow looks great Andy! I really want to try hand laying track someday. Cant wait to see whats next on that module. Thanks for sharing.

[@AndyDorsch]

Hand laying track is fun! Especially when it turns out like this!

[@Ken4trains]

Look’n good Andy...not far behind ya! I’m soon to grass my dual gauge yard!

[@AndyDorsch]

I cant wait to see that!!!

[@KSRailfan]

Absolutely incredible work here, man!

[@AndyDorsch]

Thank you Jeff!!!

[@merrimackvalleyrailroad3657]

Great work!

[@AndyDorsch]

Thank you!

[@sawyerpac9878]

Yea my man that looks great ❤😂👍

[@randysrockandrollrailroad8207]

Very Cool! 😎 the ties look awesome

[@AndyDorsch]

Thanks Randy!!!

[@davidmuse7004]

Andy, this was great to watch and the effects that you achieved are awesome! I would like to hold on to this video (bookmarked) if it's okay with you, so when I start adding scenery on part of my layout I can come back to this one and learn. Looks really great. Thanks for sharing!! Muse

[@AndyDorsch]

Muse feel free to bookmark, download, or screenshot this video! These videos are intended so serve as a guide for all. If you have any specific questions feel free to reach out! I'm glad to help! Thanks for tuning in!

[@BALD8BIL]

Pretty awesome work thank you for sharing this video with us and I'm going to share to my Facebook group TRAINS ACROSS THE WORLD and I've joined your Facebook group to

[@AndyDorsch]

Thanks for the comment and thank you for sharing this to your FB group!

[@warrenmaker798]

"Master Class" stuff thanks Andy; looks like you got that camera sorted out too. Perfectly clear. Looking forward to further progress. As an aside... is your static applicator working properly? Most of the grass seems to be laying over.

[@captainbill12]

Looks really good. Where did you get your railroad ties from???

[@AndyDorsch]

Made them using resin and some molds I made.

[@captainbill12]

@@AndyDorsch What did you use for originals to make molds from? Those ties look fantastic. I would love to be able to make some for my layout.

[@AndyDorsch]

@@captainbill12 i took some old microengineering ties then picked at them with picks, exacto blades and sandpaper. I also heated up the ties to help deform them.

[@154Colin]

I really like the look of the module. Two questions: 1 - Did you have any electrical conductivity issues with the ballast and static grass around the working parts of the turnout? 2 - (The resin ties look amazing) Does your friend sell them?

[@AndyDorsch]

To answer your questions... 1. I've had no issue with conductivity. Locos roll through pretty easily. I also over weight my rolling stock so they have no issues with the grass. 2. As far as the resin ties are concerned, he does not sell them. I've worked out a trade with him so he'll keep me in stock. Would you be interested in learning how we made them?

[@warrenmaker798]

@@AndyDorsch YES PLEASE :)

[@154Colin]

@@AndyDorsch I apologize for the delay in my response. Yes. I would like to know how you made them. Hint: Possibly a short-short video on your channel? Hmmm...

[@bittyboy721]

Did you have to clean the paint of the top of the rails? I didn't think you mentioned that but I've heard other people say you had to make sure that you don't paint to tops of the rails. Just curious.

[@AndyDorsch]

Brandon first of all thanks for watching! And yes I go back and clean the rails afterwards. I use fine grit sand paper and a bright boy to get the big stuff off then I go back over it with "contact cleaner" to get the residue off. Now if your not cool with using an abrasive to clean your rails you can apply a light coat of oil to the top of the rails to prevent the paint from sticking.

[@bittyboy721]

@@AndyDorsch Thanks for reply. I just found your channel and you have some good content. I started a layout but I just stopped and decided that I need to put some more thought into it. I need to make it more modular in case I ever move. Do you happen to have any videos on how you construct your free-mo modules and the materials and tools you use? I haven't really been able to find any videos on the subject.

[@bobsandone3108]

How did you get the ties to look so ratty ?

[@AndyDorsch]

Hey Bob! A buddy of mine and I took ties from micro engineering flex track and abused them with picks, Xacto knives and sandpaper. We also would hear the tip of the knife up with a lighter and melt and gouge the ties. Once we had enough for variety se made rubber molds of the ties and casts out of resin.