:frustrated: fill small rail gaps to conduct electricity????? i have seen 2 ideas "dutchman". hope new idea or product to do it quickly. ho scale code 83. thanks steve
Not completely sure what you are asking..But, if you have wound up with a rail too far from rail it butts against (a gap) by say, 3/16", I have had great results by snipping off a piece of rail this long (cup rail in palm so it doesn't fly away). Then slide it into middle of a rail joiner and install..Maybe this is a 'dutchman'. Don't know about that...
I have done this in an "oops" situation. Then soldered that joint so the new small piece holds tight. In model railroading, it might be termed a "Dutchman", on the 1:1 it certainly was known by that nickname. On the prototype, it was used as a quickie repair, (usually with an associated speed restriction), bolted in section. On some less financially able operations, it could have even remained permanently. I have seen these left in place more often on low speed track, such as an industry spur, or less used siding.
I use styrene to loosely fill those rail gaps. The rail joiner will power the rails. Measure the crown and pick a rectangular styrene strip to match or one size narrower. Glue in place with thin CA. Then sand level with the rail crown. I use .020x .010 for N Scale and buy the strips in varies widths for quick repairs. Now you just filled a gap and smoothed out a bump at the same time. This is a great trick for insulating tracks for blocks and DCC.
