RMweb Gold Captain_Mumbles Posted October 2, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 2, 2023 (edited) I hope this is the right place, as it could be placed in other areas. As the title suggests, I need inspiration for isolated rail joiners. So far, I am not using any isolated joiners on my hand laid points and I am just leaving a gap. But I can see this becoming a problem eventually. I have some plastic fish plates from the C&L sprues that I have. But one, they are difficult for me to obtain on my part of the planet and, two, if they are installed after the track is laid to avoid damage, they mostly fly apart trying to get them in. Thanks for looking. Ben Edited October 2, 2023 by Captain_Mumbles Grammar correction Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meil Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 40 minutes ago, Captain_Mumbles said: I hope this is the right place, as it could be placed in other areas. As the title suggests, I need inspiration for isolated rail joiners. So far, I am not using any isolated joiners on my hand laid points and I am just leaving a gap. But I can see this becoming a problem eventually. I have some plastic fish plates from the C&L sprues that I have. But one, they are difficult for me to obtain on my part of the planet and, two, if they are installed after the track is laid to avoid damage, they mostly fly apart trying to get them in. Thanks for looking. Ben For hand built and laid track a simple air gap is used - no rail joiners. C&L fish plates are installed at the time of laying the track, not after. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Sitham Yard Posted October 2, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 2, 2023 6 hours ago, Captain_Mumbles said: I hope this is the right place, as it could be placed in other areas. As the title suggests, I need inspiration for isolated rail joiners. So far, I am not using any isolated joiners on my hand laid points and I am just leaving a gap. But I can see this becoming a problem eventually. I have some plastic fish plates from the C&L sprues that I have. But one, they are difficult for me to obtain on my part of the planet and, two, if they are installed after the track is laid to avoid damage, they mostly fly apart trying to get them in. Thanks for looking. Ben Not tried myself but in the past I have seen a very small amount of epoxy resin glue suggested. Leave to dry and then file smooth and to profile. Andrew 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankstage Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 I've been using Peco "n" gauge isolators. Just glue one onto one end. This is onto DCC Concepts Stainless Steel bullhead (Which also seems to fit into Finetrax kits OK). Tank 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium TheQ Posted October 2, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 2, 2023 If you are not needing the alignment function of rail joiners but just need ensure isolation, Paint or glue. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain_Mumbles Posted October 4, 2023 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 4, 2023 These are all great ideas, thank you!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Freeman Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 On 02/10/2023 at 17:59, Sitham Yard said: Not tried myself but in the past I have seen a very small amount of epoxy resin glue suggested. Leave to dry and then file smooth and to profile. Andrew You could try using them in the old style way. They were originally in 2 parts, so could be used after track laid. Just cut in two and superglue. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain_Mumbles Posted October 4, 2023 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 4, 2023 3 minutes ago, Stephen Freeman said: You could try using them in the old style way. They were originally in 2 parts, so could be used after track laid. Just cut in two and superglue. You mean cut the plastic fish plate? This can work! Cut biased to one side, insert into gap, and then glue the other side on? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Freeman Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 5 hours ago, Captain_Mumbles said: You mean cut the plastic fish plate? This can work! Cut biased to one side, insert into gap, and then glue the other side on? The originals were in 2 halves the middle portions were chamfered to maintain the gap but that is really optional as the method you suggested should work. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisbr Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 I just glue some 5 or 10 thou plasticard to one end rail and once the glue has set, file to profile. Black blends in better than white.... Easier to do before hand, but perfectly possible in place 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dominion Posted October 5, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 5, 2023 I wish there were some stronger ones available. I use Exactoscale plastic ones within track sections I am building and they seem to survive once installed. But I have given up on using them on track ends when installing track section to section as they brake and ping off fairly quickly, after installation, I assume with temperature fluctuations. I do use the clear Peco n-scale ones mentioned above on code 75 bullhead, but shortened on both sides of the break. They don’t look very good but lots of my track is pinned and not ballasted yet and the rails or track seems to creep and create shorts without a mechanical insulation if some kind, and they are very hard to find. Perhaps if the layout is ever all ballasted and glued I will be able to remove the Peco clear plastic ones. Their metal Bullhead ones are so good. I wish there were an insulated equivalent. Perhaps someone could design some more resilient than the Exactoscale ones and more discrete than the Peco n scale ones. Tom 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain_Mumbles Posted October 6, 2023 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 6, 2023 On 05/10/2023 at 13:38, Dominion said: I wish there were some stronger ones available. I use Exactoscale plastic ones within track sections I am building and they seem to survive once installed. But I have given up on using them on track ends when installing track section to section as they brake and ping off fairly quickly, after installation, I assume with temperature fluctuations. I do use the clear Peco n-scale ones mentioned above on code 75 bullhead, but shortened on both sides of the break. They don’t look very good but lots of my track is pinned and not ballasted yet and the rails or track seems to creep and create shorts without a mechanical insulation if some kind, and they are very hard to find. Perhaps if the layout is ever all ballasted and glued I will be able to remove the Peco clear plastic ones. Their metal Bullhead ones are so good. I wish there were an insulated equivalent. Perhaps someone could design some more resilient than the Exactoscale ones and more discrete than the Peco n scale ones. Tom The clear ones probably look OK after paint. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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