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Can I Join Two Track Brands Together?
Kevin asks readers this:
“Gday. I’ve saved 2 HO scale starter sets to my eBay but are made by different makers. Will, or can I, join the two track brands together? That is if I keep buying different starter sets can I add them to make a bigger layout or should I stick to one manufacturer? All will be HO scale . Thanks“
2 Responses to Can I Join Two Track Brands Together?
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Most starter sets would be code 100 rail so rail height won’t be a problem. The problems lie with:
1. How are they joined? Fishplates on left or right or snap together.
2. radius of curves and length of straight pieces are probably different and the number of pieces needed to make a full circle probably are different between brands.
My suggestion is to use flexi track such as Peco Streamline or stick to one brand if buying starter packs unless you are sure that the brands are compatible. Ask at the shop.
You can. Don’t mix nilly-willy, use the tracks for specific parts, such as fiddle-yard, etc. You can make transfer-rails by adapting fishplates, or use isolation-plates between different kinds of track. Try to keep in colour, though… a messing-nickel mix isn’t particularly nice…..