Filling in gaps at track joints

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I have a few gaps in my track at some of the joints. Some are a little more than an 16th of an inch. When the loco crosses over them it makes a noise. What’s the best way to fill them in?

2

I’d use a small piece of styrene, glued into the rail joiner. Paint it if the color bothers you. With styrene you won’t have any trouble with expansion. A bit of a gap will not hurt, though.

3

Thanks, I can leave it a few thousandths high and file it flush

4

I had a similar problem and I just squirted in some super glue. When it set up I gently filed it down to match the rail. Worked like a charm.

5

[quote user=“originaldirtguy”]
I had a similar problem and I just squirted in some super glue. When it set up I gently filed it down to match the rail. Worked like a charm.

I heard super glue can be corrosion to certain metals

6

…and

If the joint is not securely soldered it will creep between the joiner and rail and act like an insulator. [tdn]

I have a few spots where there is a slight gap in an otherwise solidly soldered joint. It does not contribute to derailments and it sounds neat when the train is passing over it.

Have Fun, Ed

7

‘‘Corrosion is the natural tendency of metals to revert back to their ore form’’

Thus CA really doesn’t have anything to do with it…it will though insulate from electrical conductivity. Use a Gel type, there is minimal capillary attraction. Zap-Gel PT-27 is a good one. Fill in the gap, let sit overnite and file to fit.

I have visions of all My metal miniatures, corroding to junk after, their 40yrs. of sitting in display cases…Naw! LOL

Take Care! [:D]

8

[quote user=“zstripe”]

gmpullman

nscsx
I heard super glue can be corrosion to certain metals

…and

If the joint is not securely soldered it will creep between the joiner and rail and act like an insulator.

I have a few spots where there is a slight gap in an otherwise solidly soldered joint. It does not contribute to derailments and it sounds neat when the train is passing over it.

Have Fun, Ed

‘‘Corrosion is the natural tendency of metals to revert back to their ore form’’

Thus CA really doesn’t have anything to do with it…it will though insulate from electrical conductivity. Use a Gel type, there is minimal capillary attraction. Zap-Gel PT-27 is a good one. Fill in the gap, let sit overnite and file to fit.

I have visions of all My metal miniatures, corroding to j

9

LION fills the gap with solder. File down what is neded to be filed down.

But the LION has lots of electrical gaps on the layout of him, and him just leaves them alone , no plactic filler or anything. Works.

Besides subways are supposed to be noisy.

ROAR

10

+1 for solder. But I have a humidity/temperature controlled basement.

11

Add one more for solder to fill in the gaps.