Hi
What do you think i should do.
I have the choice of making an HO layout that is 4x8 or an n scale layout that is 4x8. I would choose n scale because of the size but my problem is the power pack.
Is there another way to connect the power pack to the track other than re-railers or soldering for n scale.
thanks
I’m not into N scale, but my father was, and there are terminal tracks available from Atlas, if that’s the kind of track you’ll be using. Or if you go for Kato, they also have terminal tracks available. These are the standard screw terminals as you would find in HO. Have fun–even though I’m an HO person, N scale is really fine.
Tom[:D]
Not having to work with N scale I can only speculate. To solder track it takes high heat for very short intervals. You may try attaching alligator clips to the surrounding track as this will act as a heat sink and protect the adjacent track. If you solder the wire to the bottom of the track before laying it you will avoid unsightly solder and use lots of flux.
Try experimenting on a piece of track first.
Hopefully this helps
Fergie
you would have to do the same thing in HO that you would have in N. solder. the only difference is the size of the rail. as was said there are terminal sections for attaching wires with screws. they come straight or curved. since you would put wires say every 4 ft apart you will need many of them and they do not look to nice. get a small pencil soldering iron of between 25 and 40 watts and the thinnest solder you can find(rosin core solder) and some soldering paste. soldering is the best way to connect wires to the rails and unless you use too much solder they are easy to disguise. using a heat sink is a good idea too. i model in N scale and i use a 40 watt iron with no problems. i solder a set of wires on each piece of flex track so i have them at least every 30" or so.
Sorry I can’t help you with the connection question since I model in HO but I think it’s been answered already.
I would have modeled in N gage if I had better eye sight and smaller hands. HO is tough enough, I should be in G scale!
I’d say choose N scale if you like long trains running through big scenery. For the same amount of space in HO you can fit in more operations and have broader curves so you can run longer equipment. There isn’t as much N scale items as HO but there is a lot of N scale stuff available and more is comming.
Another option is you can combine the two if you want to model HOn30 (also called HOn2 1/2, HOe and partially OO9, not to be confused with HOn3). Basically it’s HO scale equipment operating on N scale track. The drawbacks are very little rolling stock is available. You have to enjoy scratch building or kit bash your own equipment. Structures are in HO. Most narrow gage railroad themes are early minning and logging railroads. Here’s a link for more info about modeling narrow gage. HOn30 Home Depot
Other narrow gage links:
Micro Layout Gallery
Old Time Minning and Logging Supplies
It sounds like you may be using the Bachmann EZ Track with the terminals in the rerailers. If you don’t want to use them, the only recourse would be very careful soldering of the feed wires to the underside of the railjoiners.
By the way, you will want to do this with two tracks joined, because the solder will almost always get into the joiner itself and you won’t be able to connect the tracks together.
4 X 8 BOARD
Curveture limits are 44 actual inches meaning 22" radius in HO and equates to 44" in N.guage,
If you are Passenger oriented go N. Realistic curves,
If you are frieght orirented go HO. More selection…
.
Atlas makes terminal rail joiners which are rail joiners with a short small guage wire attached. Replace a regular rail joiner on each rail with these and connect the wires to your power source.