For my track plan, I need a few double slip turnouts. I use code 80 kato unitrack. The largest double slip I could find was code 70. Does anyone make a “transition track” that changes from code 80 to 70?? If not any suggestions on how to make it work would be great!
Thanks!
(This is in N sclae)
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I don’t think there are any transition tracks in N scale. I usually slip a joiner into the code 80, then crush the end sticking out with some pliers. I then lay the code 70 rail on top of the crushed joiner and check the railtop height. I bend the joiner until the tops line up, then solder the whole thing together. I’ve never tried it with unitrack though, so I’m not sure if it’ll work the same.
Ok, I think I can do that. How do you reccomend soldering it? I have a cold heat, I know it isn’t that good, but it is all I have. Should I heat up the rails, then add soder??
Generally, for soldering, you want to put the iron on one side of the rail and touch the solder to the other side of the rail. That method will draw the solder between the rails and give you the best joint. Not having a “Cold Heat” soldering iron, I can’t say with certainty, but it may not have enough power to heat something as heavy as model rail hot enough to melt solder. Regular soldering irons are relatively inexpensive.
Ok, thanks. But what about the height differance in the rail. Will it cause any problems??
Get yourself some Atlas code 100 to code 83 rail transition joiners. They are a split rail joiner and with a tiny bit of tugging or pressing on the rail joint after you’ve added one of these joiners, you can use them to adapt rail joints of code 100 to 83, code 83 to 70, or even code 70 to 55.
Since the joiners are almost too tight on code 100 to 83, they’re a perfect fit for the code 83 to 70 transition, and maybe just a tiny bit sloppy for code 70 to 55.
But if you look at the transition change, you see why these joiners can have a near-universal application.
Code 100 to 83 is 17 thousands difference
Code 83 to 70 is 13 thousands difference
Code 70 to 55 is 15 thousands difference
All you need to adjust between these various code sizes is about 2-4 thousands difference, and the tiniest of a tug or push will adjust the rail up or down as needed. [swg]
Joe,
You’re talking HO scale. He’s in N. Those parts won’t work for him.
Nataraj,
bend the end of the joiner a bit until the rail tops line up. You should have no difference in height at the rail tops. You wont have to bend it much.
Hey, wait a second here!
Code 70 rail is code 70 rail, and code 80 rail is code 80 rail. Since when did they make code 70 N scale rail or code 70 HO scale rail?
Which means a rail joiner is a rail joiner is a rail joiner. And these transition rail joiners will work on the code rail sizes just as I describe. [swg]
Correct me if I’m wrong, but an HO rail joiner won’t play nice on N scale rail to my knowledge. There is no such animal as an N scale transition joiner. Thats what I meant by “those parts won’t work”.
Thanks. I guess it won’t be as much of a problem as I thought it would be.
Well, I was looking through walthers, and was looking at the peco double slip turnout page. I was in for a suprise! As written on the page -
" Peco Universal Fine track has a fine scale appearance. Rail is Code 55 above the ties, but the clever double base adds strength and maintains compatibility with Peco Code 80 track system components. Code 55 turnouts are not direct replacements for Code 80 components as the geometry is slightly different."
That is perfect! It will go right in with my code 80 track, and I don’t need a transition track after all!! The price is steep though… cheapest 50 bucks at tonys for ONE. i will have to see what they mean by " the geometry is slightly different."
The Peco code 55 is just code 80 sunk deeper into the ties. I think the geometry thats different is the overall tie height.
Ok thanks.