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Joining Track On RR Layout
Ben, is a newbie to model railroading and would like to hear from those of you who are more experience in the hobby:
“Hi all! I am very new to the Model Railroad Hobby and I am having great difficulty in securing track pieces together especially around any sort of bends. Is it okay to use solder or HD Glue to secure track pieces together. I read an article recently and it appeared to be saying this in so many words. Is this in keeping with the model railway layout. I am in a bad way, and would like help from other in the hobby please.”
Remember this blog is for everyone and is read by thousands of model railroaders worldwide – some readers are new to the hobby and others have an amazing level of experience. If you fit into the latter category, I urge you to please share some of your knowledge with others in the hobby – especially with newbies like Ben.
To be truthful, I get a lot of emails from model railroaders who have had bad experiences in model railroad clubs. Members in most clubs generally work really well together sharing ideas and helping each other, but I get feedback that some newbies feel excluded. One young guy used the words “a closed society” to describe his club. He told me how a couple club members were very protective and didn’t want help or share ideas with anyone who lacked experience. This is very disappointing, because we are all getting a bit older and we need to encourage new people into the hobby – otherwise model railroading might eventually die-out. None of us want that to happen.
So, please share your ideas and experiences. This blog is the perfect way you can do precisely that. It is a FREE service, but I need your help to keep it going. Please add feedback to various postings and answer some of the question that get asked. Use the green comments link under each posting.
3 Responses to Joining Track On RR Layout
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My personal experience and preference is to solder track joints. Solder, unlike glue, can be undone if you change your mind in the future.
Excellent article and great writing. I find myself coming back here month after month.
Thanks for your hard work
Welcome to the “lifestyle”, Ben. I, too, have heard about solder and/or glue. Perhaps I’ve just been lucky, but as long as the radius is appropriate, the joiners are snug, and I nail down the track as I go, I’ve never had to solder or glue my track.
I’m not a newbie, however I am not an expert, either. Unfortunately, I have also experienced the “tight lips” more often than an encouraging word. This is a great site for those of us who would like some help and need ideas outside the box of “corporate model railraod sales catalogs” on solving problems.
Many, many thanks, Robert Anderson, for giving us this opportunity!