Check out this company.  They build templates and tools to help you lay in the best hand-laid track you've ever spiked.

 

 

This video describes with a very nice CAD demonstration why the NMRA standards and RP's do work yet are unjustly blamed for problems by so many.  Watch this video and see exactly how an NMRA spec switch works and why it works so well with proper construction.

 

 

Here is a handy tool to prevent blowing out a low voltage bulb or LED.  Input volts and current of the bulb or LED and volts of the supply to get the closest commercially available resistor.

 

Whatever resistor value you need, you should use a minimum 1/2 watt resistor for supply voltages over 8.

 

 

Try it out!