Track Questions

OK, Santa Wife tried real hard, but got Model Power NS flex, instead of Atlas which we started out with. Any problems mating the two?? What is the best way to join flex sections in N?? Same as HO?? Thanks and Happy Modeling!!
John

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The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!

 

First, be happy that the Misses got you ANY stuff for the trains! Act like you couldn't do without what she bought. You have her headed in the right direction. You will learn how to hint correctly as time goes by. Eventually you might be able to convert her over to supporting you hobby. I know I have done this to my wife. All, she told everybody, I wanted for Christmas was gift certificates to the local hobby shops.
I am not sure if Atlas and Model Power flex-track is the same rail height. Lay a strip of Atlas down and put down a strip of MP next to it and see if they match up. If they do you are home free, if not you will have to find out which brand of track is taller in height. Then put a rail joiner on the taller track's end. Crimp the section of the rail joiner, that sticks out past the end of the rail, flat. Then set the smaller height track on the flat section of the rail joiner. The rail should match up pretty close, you might have to adjust the rail joiner, just a little. Soder the rail end to the rail joiner and you are done.
If you have been using that BIG SCALE(HO) flex track before you should have no trouble using N-Scale track. One thing I would do is use all the Model Power track together, and not use a section of Model Power and then a section of Atlas and then another Model Power section.

Keep the wife happy about your trains and she won't say a thing when you tell her that you are going to remodel the basement(and end up with a BIG room for the layout!) LOL,HEHEHE It works!!

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Let's Go Run Trains
MARK

 

I've never had any problems with the MP track in fact one thing in it's favor,at least ffor laying curves is once you shape it the darn stuff stays curved.

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Catt!#118 -
A freelancer to the end

 

You should always check the gauge of the track with a Microtrains Coupler/Track Gauge before using any piece of flex track. If it binds, it is out of gauge. Take it back to the store or scrap it. In our club, out-of-gauge track has occured most often with Model Power track and less often Atlas. I don't think we have ever found a bad piece of Peco track (this is the only track I use), but I doubt if they are immune. If you fail to check a piece of track and find it is out of gauge after laying it, it can be repaired. Take a Microtrains Coupler Gauge, remove the coupler from the gauge, clamp a vice grip to the tapered end, then with one person slowing pulling the gauge thru the narrow track, have another person hold a soldering gun tip to the gauge. The heat will allow the ties to stretch and after several passes the track will be correct. If the track gauge was too wide, I don't know of any way to fix it.

 

Thanks for the tip Larry!! I think it is interesting that you had no trouble with the N Atlas flex because when I was running HO, about one in five pieces of the Atlas flex was slightly out of gauge (never by much, but enough to cause trouble). I'll keep an eye on both types!! Happy Modeling!!
John

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The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!

 

I have some HO scale #6 turnout that are out of shape, oddly only the Bachmann B30-7s derail there, I checked the wheels ok, wheels on every thing else, ok, switch was off by so far the little tooth fell clear past the outer rail and left about 1/16 of an American inch. (thickness of U.S.penny) so I just left it because I was making pplans to build a new N scale layout so when DeMolition Day time came, I pitched it.

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TrainBoard.com MEMBER#204
Appalachian & Atlantic Model Railroad



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