Rail / Tie alignment tool

thingiverse

Update 3/30/18: Added a recommended version with a tab on one end so you can rest the tie against it while gluing for proper centering. I wanted to use Paul's rail and tie separately, with silver and wood respectively, and thought an alignment tool would be useful. This tool sits over the top of the rail and drops down between two ties, spacing both the rail and ties correctly in one go. Notches were added to the rail/tie joining area to prevent gluing the alignment tool to the rail/tie if glue seeps out. A big thank you to Paul for his help. I ensured the dimensions matched Standard Gauge, and they indeed measured perfectly (tie size 5, 20-21" spacing). To function as a spacer, the tie was modified to increase its width and height, allowing it to cover the rail/tie/top. The rail/bed sections were used as templates to hollow out the spacer correctly. Enjoy!