Joining track - n gauge

[andruec]

So I've finally started laying out track. I'm finding joining Streamline to Settrack a bit of a pain. Is this just the way it is with N-gauge fish plates? I mean fair enough if so but the set track pieces go together really easily it's just Streamline which is a pain.

I'm using Xuron cutters for the rail work and Peco joiners. It's doable but makes me swear a lot

[Brian]

Sore fingers are a pain even in larger OO rail joiners!

Answer is to make a home made fishplate (rail joiner) fitting tool. Take a piece of spare rail about 6" inches (150mm) long and with a pair of pliers bend one end of the rail upwards to a sort of Hockey stick shape. Note bend is top to bottom not sideways on the rail. The bent end needs to allow around 50% of a joiner to sit on its end. So trim its length as required. File rail end to allow new joiners to slide on easy. Push a cork or similar onto the far end to protect the hands.
Now simply slide on a new joiner onto the foot of the homemade tool and push the joiner onto the rail it is to be fitted onto. Hold joiner in place and slide off the tool.

Don't forget to file a chamfer on the Streamline rail ends too for an easier fit.

Rail Fishplate tool.jpg

[andruec]

Thank you, Brian, I will give that a try.

[andruec]

Yeah that works well. Some of my joints are a little loose - is that a big no-no or just 'not ideal'? I'm going to provide power very liberally anyway (probably power to every straight piece and to each curved section) so the fishplates are probably only going to have to help keep the track in place prior to it being glued down.

[Brian]

Hi
Not ideal where metal joiners are used to pass power rail to rail. However, as you're feeding every piece of track then its not that important, as the joiner is then only holding the two rails in alinement and not passing power on a DC layout (and data too on a DCC layout).