Hi,
I’m new to model railroading and I would like to build a layout in N scale. Can anybody recommend a make of track? And i was also wondering if Atlas code 55 track can be joined to a differnt kind of track like Peco or Bachmann track e.t.c.
Thanks [:D]
NW
Pretty much any code of track can be joined to any other, it depends on how much fiddling you are prepared to do. The thing is that the rail head has to be kept level through the join. That means shimming the underside of the smaller rail until the rail head matches the larger. This, in my experience, means using flattened rail joiners. Actually, partly flattened, since the joiner is put on the larger code rail, and the free end flattened, say with pliers. Now, test to see if the smaller code rail head matches the larger when the smaller code rail is placed on the flattened end. If it does, solder it in place, being sure to see that the rails are square to each other (no kinks).
If the rail heads don’t match, find a solderable shim and use that, or build up the flattened end of the joiner with solder, until you have a match.
(Confused? you won’t be after this next episode of …[:)] )
Peco and Atlas are the two big players in N scale - either code 80 or 55. Used to be, when Atlas first came out with their code 55, you could get into some really heated debates about the Atlas track versus Peco code 55. Now the discussions are moderately warm rather than heated.
I prefer the looks of Atlas code 55. I prefer the “robustness” of Peco 55 and the availability of just about everything you need with Peco; not so true with Atlas. Peco turnouts are just about the best in N scale.
Hi,
I’m new to model railroading and I would like to build a layout in N scale. Can anybody recommend a make of track? And i was also wondering if Atlas code 55 track can be joined to a differnt kind of track like Peco or Bachmann track e.t.c.
Thanks [:D]
NW
Pretty much any code of track can be joined to any other, it depends on how much fiddling you are prepared to do. The thing is that the rail head has to be kept level through the join. That means shimming the underside of the smaller rail until the rail head matches the larger. This, in my experience, means using flattened rail joiners. Actually, partly flattened, since the joiner is put on the larger code rail, and the free end flattened, say with pliers. Now, test to see if the smaller code rail head matches the larger when the smaller code rail is placed on the flattened end. If it does, solder it in place, being sure to see that the rails are square to each other (no kinks).
If the rail heads don’t match, find a solderable shim and use that, or build up the flattened end of the joiner with solder, until you have a match.
(Confused? you won’t be after this next episode of …[:)] )
Peco and Atlas are the two big players in N scale - either code 80 or 55. Used to be, when Atlas first came out with their code 55, you could get into some really heated debates about the Atlas track versus Peco code 55. Now the discussions are moderately warm rather than heated.
I prefer the looks of Atlas code 55. I prefer the “robustness” of Peco 55 and the availability of just about everything you need with Peco; not so true with Atlas. Peco turnouts are just about the best in N scale.