Oh no! I'm Having THOSE Kinds of Thoughts Again!

[Chris333]

Robert made that jig for me in Z scale. He has his own laser. It is pretty easy to whip up a quick jig in N scale. It only needs to hold about 4-5 ties. Once you solder those in you move over so one soldered tie is still in the jig and solder the next batch. Keep going till all 36" over rail is done.

I build turnout if I NEED to, but for everything else I'd just use flextrack. In Z scale there is no C40 track so I laid it all.


***this is just "how I do it" no set rules really    ***

[davefoxx]

Hi, Chris,

I like your method of handlaid flextrack.  I've never seen that before.

I'll definitely check the flatness of the cork roadbed.  Thankfully, I'm modeling a short line (you should see the prototype A&R's trackwork in places!), so it doesn't have to be perfect.  And, since I'm using individual ties, I'll be doing it the old-fashioned way and installing the rail in place.  I bought a tie rack that will allow me to lay down a stretch of ties on "branchline" centers at one time.  I'll insert PC board ties every so often, as necessary, to secure the rail.

Dave

[Chris333]

Ahh see. I always slide in the wood ties once the track is down and running. Again mostly in Z scale.

Just check and make sure the wood and PC ties are the same height.

[davefoxx]

I haven't received my order from Fast Tracks yet.  I would hope that these products are designed to work together, so that the wood and PC board ties are the same height.  We'll see.  They seem to work fine in the videos on Fast Tracks website.

[Bob Bufkin]

Look forward to seeing you results Dave.  Next thing you know you'll be putting in some code 25 sidings.

[davefoxx]

Look forward to seeing you results Dave.  Next thing you know you'll be putting in some code 25 sidings.

Haha!  I'm not so sure about that, though, because I don't have DKS's talents.  But, I did ask him about some of the details of his code 25 track on his Z scale layout when we met at the last Timonium show.  His work is impressive.

[Iain]

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=pv4mvm8dv67c&lvl=19.669771913362407&dir=351.4848565669826&sty=b

A&R GP38 in Fayetteville.

[davefoxx]

Finally!  I got an email that my Fast Tracks order has finally shipped.  "Built to order" takes a while, but I have tried to be patient.  Now, I'll have to wait to see what shipping from Canada and customs will do to the delivery date.  Stay tuned.  Hopefully, we'll see some code 40 on the A&R in the coming weeks.

[davefoxx]

After a delay due to my own lack of ordering a Stock Aid tool to assist me with filing the stock rails, I believe that I now have all of the tools that I need to start handlaying track on the A&R.

That said, I only have rosin flux in a paste.  Does everyone think this will work for soldering rails and ties?  I always used it with no issues when soldering wires and feeders.  Fast Tracks recommends their liquid flux,  which incidentally is acid based.  I always thought that was a no-no when used in a joint that will carry electric current.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance,
DFF

[Chris333]

Ha ha I thought you gave up already. 

If you use the wrong solder can't you just wash it when you are done?

[wazzou]

My long ago experience has been that the Acid Flux unless properly cleaned somehow, will continue to attack the solder joint.  You'll notice a patina of corrosion until the joint just fails.

[davefoxx]

Ha ha I thought you gave up already. 

If you use the wrong solder can't you just wash it when you are done?

HAHAHAHAHA!  No, I haven't even really made an attempt at it yet.  But, give me a few more days to quit!

My long ago experience has been that the Acid Flux unless properly cleaned somehow, will continue to attack the solder joint.  You'll notice a patina of corrosion until the joint just fails.

This was my understanding as well.  Is there an advantage of liquid versus paste flux, if both are available in as non-acid based?

[wm3798]

I got a pot of electronics flux at Radio Shack for $Next.ToNothing.  It will last me until I die.  It's acid free.  The acid stuff is what you use to flux a plumbing joint.

Lee

[davefoxx]

I got a pot of electronics flux at Radio Shack for $Next.ToNothing.  It will last me until I die.  It's acid free.  The acid stuff is what you use to flux a plumbing joint.

Lee

This sounds like exactly what I have.  I think I've had it in the toolbox for about 20 years.  Just curious as to whether I need the liquid flux for soldering trackwork together.  Seems to me that the liquid might be easier to apply, but the paste will flow as soon as it's heated.  So, it's probably not an issue.  I did get some of those micro-brushes, so this should help me apply the flux to the right places.  If I have the time tonight, I'll give it a shot.  Wish me luck.

DFF

[wm3798]

Sheeyit.  I just dab the end of the solder into the paste, stick it on the joint and presto.  It took about an hour to lay the track on the helix, including glue drying time.  Liquid flux and micro brushes just seem a little too fussy to me.