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What to use to fill some small 1/8 inch rail gaps?

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  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
What to use to fill some small 1/8 inch rail gaps?
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 10, 2004 11:08 PM
I am working on my first N scale layout and my hands are less than steady , resulting in a few 1/8 to 1/4 Inch gaps between rails in several places. The problem is the roadback and track are already laid down. What sort of product could I use to full these gaps without too much reduction in the current passing through the rails?

Thanks

Jared
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Northern Ca
  • 1,008 posts
Posted by jwar on Sunday, October 10, 2004 11:31 PM
Im not sure how long the rail joiners are in n, However in ho I use a short piece of scrap rail, slid into the joiner filling the gap as tje joiner (knock on wood so far) will hold it in alignment and still passes the curent.
John Warren's, Feather River Route WP and SP in HO
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Christchurch New Zealand
  • 1,525 posts
Posted by NZRMac on Monday, October 11, 2004 12:48 AM
If your worried about current passing thru, solder all the joins after installing a piece of scrap rail!
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Culpeper, Va
  • 8,204 posts
Posted by IRONROOSTER on Monday, October 11, 2004 7:52 AM
I have used short rail pieces and soldered them in place. For smaller gaps it may be easier to fill with epoxy. I have done this using the two part putty like epoxy. Mold it in the gap and then after it cures clean up with sand paper - a moto tool really helps here.
Enjoy
Paul
If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Sagamihara, Japan
  • 108 posts
Posted by DonaldAgne on Monday, October 11, 2004 8:56 AM
Sometimes rail slides back and forth easily where it's joined to the ties, especially flex track, by using finger pressure or when tapped gently with a tack hammer. If you could do this, you could reduce the number of gaps that you would have to fill. Be careful on curves so that you don't break the little plastic "spikes." The resulting gap could be filled with scrap rail which would slide right under the "spikes" as long as the ends of the replacement are filed smooth. You would have to lift the track in one place to be able slide the rail in place. Also, make sure the gap is in a straight section of track.

Don Agne

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 11, 2004 11:08 AM
Thanks guys. I decided to go with the epoxy route since N scale is so small and the gaps are tiny.


Jared
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: New Zealand
  • 462 posts
Posted by robengland on Monday, October 11, 2004 1:58 PM
a drop of one of the thicker CA glues works OK too
Rob Proud owner of the a website sharing my model railroading experiences, ideas and resources.

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