General Tips - Laying Peco Code 55 Track
My method of track laying is a little different to that recommended by Peco. I glue the track in position using PVA adhesive (wood glue) applied to the trackbed, spread and thinned with a small piece of paper, then use Peco track pins to hold the track temporarily in place. These are not driven into the track, but driven a little way into the plywood just outside the rails and then bent over the rail or sleepers. When the glue has dried, the pins are removed and discarded. Pointwork is handled the same way, taking care not to apply glue near the working parts.
The code 55 sleeper base has gaps on one side only: the code 80 track has them alternating on both sides. If you have a sharp curve with code 55 track, try to put the gaps on the outside of the curve.
Sleepers (Ties)
I do not use the special joiner sleepers: I tried, but found they tended to get damaged or moved, and didn't work well with insulated rail joiners anyway. Instead, I simply leave a two-sleeper gap at each joint. When all the trackwork and electrics have been tested, the first phase of the scenery is to fill the gaps with dummy sleepers cut from spare lengths of sleeper base. Cut out the middle section and two ends, then with a couple of spots of PVA glue and some careful work with tweezers and jeweller's screwdriver solves the problem. By the time the track is painted, let alone ballasted, any blemishes are invisible.
I do not use the special joiner sleepers: I tried, but found they tended to get damaged or moved, and didn't work well with insulated rail joiners anyway. Instead, I simply leave a two-sleeper gap at each joint. When all the trackwork and electrics have been tested, the first phase of the scenery is to fill the gaps with dummy sleepers cut from spare lengths of sleeper base. Cut out the middle section and two ends, then with a couple of spots of PVA glue and some careful work with tweezers and jeweller's screwdriver solves the problem. By the time the track is painted, let alone ballasted, any blemishes are invisible.