Atlas C-55 Turnout Problem

[nkalanaga]

For a very thin gap paper works as well as plastic, and is easier to paint.  Many of my gaps were filled with cardstock from magazine inserts.  Cut it oversized, stick it in the gap, and superglue it.  After the glue sets, trim the paper to size, and paint it along with the rail.  Depending on  the paint, it will soak into the paper far enough that normal track cleaning won't leave a white spot, which plastic can do, when the paint wears off.

The main reason I used the cardstock was that it was free, and many of my gaps were quite thin, with the paint trick being a happy accident.

[mmagliaro]

nkalanga:   Hey, that's a good idea.  When I first started reading your post and it mentioned "paper", I
worried that paper would eventually disintegrate and break down.  But I think cardstock, like
the stuff the manila folders are made of, would hold up.   

[peteski]

Plus impregnating it with CA glue creates very sturdy material.

[djconway]

Going to have to give that one a shot.   Even old dogs learn new tricks.

[Bangorboy]

Do you glue your feathers?

Eider one....

[nkalanaga]

Peteski:  Exactly. 

Also, I remember reading, in very old magazines, about people insulating 3-rail steam drivers by sawing the "tire" and "wheel" apart, then putting a piece of paper in the gap.  If it will work for that, on an O scale loco, it will almost certainly be strong enough to insulate (supposedly) immobile track.  There really isn't any stress on the insulator, as even track cleaning shouldn't get down into the gap.  The primary purposes of the glue are to hold the paper in place and harden it enough that it can be shaped to match the rail.

[peteski]

The paper-phenolic sheet and printed circuit boards (much older and less expensive than the fiberglass-epoxy material) have been used as an insulator in electric and electronic devices since the early days of electricity.  They are simply layers of paper impregnated with phenolic resin.  It is quite durable. That is similar to paper impregnated with acrylic resin (super-glue)

[Santa Fe Guy]

I've used styrene in the gaps on my RR for years and it has worked a treat. I like the idea of using manila folder board as it will colour and not have the paint rubbed off when cleaning the track. Great idea.
I'm still laughing about down & feathers very funny. A good start to the day.
Rod.

[nkalanaga]

Peteski:  So that's what that stuff was in the old radios.  It always had a distinctive odor when the tubes got hot, but I never knew what was in it.

[peteski]

Peteski:  So that's what that stuff was in the old radios.  It always had a distinctive odor when the tubes got hot, but I never knew what was in it.

Yup, phenolic resin, old dust getting cooked, plus paraffin from some of the old capacitors are all part of that vacuum-tube radio smell.