Rail Joints on Lift Sections

[@lms_steve6693]

To accurately align the rails prior to soldering, use a pair of old style copper rail joiners upside down on the top of the rails. Once soldered slide them along the rail, lift up your section and remove them.

[@GRUMP5B]

Another invaluable plain simple English no drama educational video - thank you

[@Lanes-Explorer5733]

Oh how I wish I'd seen this excellent video 5 years ago when I created my two lift sections. I'm almost tempted to redo mine 😂

[@aniburns329]

Just me mindful of when soldering track near the sleepers that you don't distort or partly melt your sleepers with the intense heat from the soldering iron. There are mini heat sink clamps you can purchase or if you want to, like I have done,made my own and saved a few precious dollars as railway modelling is one expensive hobby to have!! Cheers,C. Bernath, Sydney Australia.

[@gs425]

Hi. The pcb material in this instance is grp. The brown type is paxolin (paper resin mix)

[@Wallsrail]

I knew someone would know 😂👍👍👍👍👍 Thanks👍

[@gs425]

@@Wallsrail sorry mate. Nobody liked a know - All lol. Just so happens I worked most of life in electronics. Some of which found themselves onto some locos you've driven ! Cheers Gary

[@johne5854]

What a great detailed video. I'm using a small back bedroom 9'6" x 6"6'. Likewise my space is limited and therefore one lift up section near the door and a dropdown one behind is necessary. Most videos don't go into such simple detail as yours. Very helpful indeed.

[@oleyorkie]

Great video. I just have one tip that I learned form experience. I use double sided copperclad sleepering and had trouble with short circuits, which was eventually traced to the pins touching both strips of copper. I now gap both sides of the strips before installing.

[@Wallsrail]

Had similar experiences doh!! 😖😂

[@donzufall]

Great Video! I have used PC board but for greater strength on the sectional layouts I've done, I prefer flat head brass screws. The process is similar. Pre-drill and install a brass screw under each rail on both sides of the gap, making sure the screw head is close to the bottom of the rail but doesn't hold the rail up at all. Than, solder the rails to the screws and finally cut the gap in the rail.

[@Wallsrail]

More than one way to s kin a cat 😃👍 If it works carry on doing it 👍

[@panagea2007]

You can get perfectly perpendicular cuts with a Dremel if you use a flex rotary shaft. I use this to cut all gaps in my rail work. I've even used a flex shaft to build a tiny miter saw for metal tubing.

[@simonturner5450]

Great video thanks, nothing to do with railway baseboards but I had to cut out some sections to repair me shed and used your baton idea and it worked a treat. Big thanks to you, you saved me a lot of hassle, trouble is now my missus thinks I can do woodwork 😕

[@Wallsrail]

Brilliant 🤩

[@ingor.522]

Thanks for your very helpful video. I am building a small modular wall section layout alongside my living room walls and around one corner. Your Idea to use a piece of wood beam as a guard is very helpful, so I learned a new practise from you thank you so very much for it. Greetings from Lübeck in northern Germany, Ingo R.

[@Wallsrail]

You're welcome 👍

[@neilwalter1]

Using a Tracksetta straight across the joint will align the tracks when soldering

[@horne-vq7zy]

my old n gauge layout I had a long curve that ran over my lift up access board, I superglued the tracks that went over the joins and cut them with my Dremel its a process I will happily use agin on my 00 layout im planning,

[@2KXMKR]

Top tip: Connect the track and point with fish plates to get a nice smooth connection perfectly in line, then pin the track in place, solder the fish plates to the PCB and then cut through the fish plates. The fish plates just aid in that nice smooth connection.

[@albratgaming2348]

soldering fish plates in the centre to connect the rails also works for a semi-permanent joint. So you drop the insert in, then slide a piece of rail into the other fish plate to make the connection.

[@GrayGryphon]

Just because there's no comments that KZbin is letting me see, the rest of the circuit board is a high temperature resin and fiberglass combo. Medium quality boards should be using something similar to FR-4. Great video!

[@Greatdome99]

I drove two small nails in the roadbed before I laid the track. Then I soldered the rails to the nailheads after I laid the track. Works great, and looks far better.

[@datoms1]

I've used this method many times however I had a short occur a few years later that took me some time to locate. The problem is with the nails being used to fasten down the copper clad tie. The nail can contact the surface cladding and also make contact with the underside cladding. If both nails do this, then a short occurs. The underside cladding should be cut before installing. This kind of short is nearly impossible to find because it occurs long after your rail has been operating successfully.

[@PeterNGloor]

how do you replace the cutout sleepers after this job? And, do you paint the solder joints rail colour to make them more or less invisible?

[@globalgumboots]

I've just found your channel - Love your style and commentary. Right to the point with no BS and a touch of humor - love it thanks 😁

[@Wallsrail]

Welcome aboard! 😃

[@barryfenwick609]

very nice .can you tell me what I will need to run marklin gauge1 trains in england central station 3 +60101 power box and what els do I need to get the power to the track? is there a special central station for gauge1? thanks barry

[@IIGrayfoxII]

Tip when using bare PCB. Use a scotchpad to scuff up the surface, This will help the solder bond more strongly.

[@samuelbell2321]

Thats a pretty nifty way of doing it. My layout from when I was a kid had a plug underneath.

[@KonstantinosNtounis-d2z]

Good morning, Sorry for my English. I used your technique but also with screws, my problem is that in both cases the noise when the train passes over this point makes noise because the nails have passed through the Epoxy FR4 with Copper Cover, the cork and have pierced the plywood, resulting in an annoying noise every time the train passes. Is there a solution for this noise problem? Thanks!

[@TheGreatSeraphim]

If you cut the rail at a diagonal you can hide the seam better and not have a huge visible gap.

[@johnnycastaway4198]

Great video. How do you combat the expansion or contraction of the wooden baseboard especially in the loft with extremes of temperature

[@tonyhill6296]

An idea I’ve seen on UTube is to substitute Perspex for the subassembly of the lift-out section. The Perspex being more stable than , to extremes of temperature and humidity, seems an ideal solution. Anyone else used this method? T🚂

[@brokenai9496]

I really admire that you put that "yes, I unplugged it"-clip in there (4:15) ;)

[@alexmorgan2296]

So helpful - thank you for sharing. Like many others, I suspect, modern space (or lack of it!) demands using lifting sections and this video really helps.

[@Jimyjames73]

You made it look soo easy - I did have a go myself a few yrs ago with some help from the Hornby Forum - they did basically said the same thing as you have done in your video, but I just for some reason couldn't quite do it!!! Thanks for sharing 🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@gagatube]

A very interesting video, well made. I must be missing something though - I thought the main problem with lifting sections was connectivity at the joints? I see you've secured the ends of the rails to provide alignment, but I don't see any connectivity. Why bother using copper PCB if there is no electrical connection? I was waiting for the sprung 'pickup' that would electrically join the bits of PCB.

[@Wallsrail]

Electrical connection via cables and socket connectors. Something I forgot to mention! 😖

[@gagatube]

@@Wallsrail Ah, thank you for the clarification.😀

[@alannewman85]

Great video, really clearly explained. Even I could understand first time round. Question: How do you reconnect the power between the rails?

[@mikeuk1954]

Personally, I've always soldered to small screws which has the added advantage of being able to adjust the height. Always worked for me.

[@PreNeanderthal]

Me too. My exhibition layout 'Kayreuth' (there are a number of videos of it on KZbin - posted by others, not by me) was on the circuit for many years and, because I used screws, never once suffered from track lifting at board joins, unlike other people who used the copper strip and pin method. A screw won't pull out, unlike a pin. The layout had forty tracks (including the fiddle yard) which crossed board joints.

[@russellmansfied6812]

Hi, if you have a gap between the rails and a gap between the pcb boards , how is the electric contract made ?

[@Wallsrail]

Via a wiring loop and connectors

[@tassie7325]

I am a rank armature in the model railroad hobby and have a need to build a modular layout requiring similar connections. But I am confused about the requirement to have the copper strips on either side of the joint as they don't appear to have any connection to each other. I'm sure I am missing something quite fundamental and simple here but I just don't understand. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[@Wallsrail]

You're not missing anything, I forgot to mention that electrical connectivity is via a wiring loom. Plug socket of various types can be used. The PCB is an easy way of securing the track to the base board. Hope that clears it up a bit Thanks NW

[@tassie7325]

@@Wallsrail Thanks for that. But now I think I'm even more confused! If you don't mind me asking - what is the point of this lengthy process over just attaching the rail either side of the cut using the rail sleepers? Cheers

[@111jacare]

There is another option which can be used. Place the track on thin plywood, and have dowells under each end of the track. The dowels can be wired up to carry current; and set up so current is drawn from the hole in which the dowells go into. If you have to go over a lift up / out section, just remove the whole section of track, remove, replace and replace the track in the holes. My first effort was with wall plugs which snugly fitted into PVC piping. This was used with 19 * 42 mm timber, which was run over a set of scales. Using this method for 17 years and have not had a derailment on the scales as yet, and has not affected the accuracy of the scales.

[@jimholstein4595]

Have you made a video of this suggestion? It sounds great 👍

[@jasonboche]

Fantastic demonstration. Thank you!

[@MrBillCNW]

Thank you for the demonstration and information it’s been a big help. 😊

[@dennisjones8991]

Use a saw blade with MORE teeth to end up with a smoother edge with less splinting of the wood. You should grind away the copper from the board side as well to prevent ANY possibility of a short through the nails. The shorting may not occur at first, but may develop over time with use. Using hobby files instead of the bigger coarser ones will assist in the delicate forming of the rails after cutting and, do not forget to file away any material left from cutting from the inside of the rails, where the flanges run, so there is less chance of a derail. After all is done, having pins installed in the bottom portion along with holes outlined with a imbedded washer will ensure proper lineup.

[@MrWc867]

Hacksaw... is for metal, that was a miter wood trim saw.

[@larryschmitt2513]

I would like to see a video of your lift gate, do you have one? I have to either make a lift gate or lift out thanks you for sharing

[@Wallsrail]

Not a topic I've covered, might do though 🤔

[@vincenthuying98]

Very much like how you’ve shown your method of adding the pcb ties. Although I agree these joints need to be avoided where we can, the way the alignment on your fold-up piece of the layout looks, that’s some excellent work you got done there.

[@Wallsrail]

Thanks 👍

[@davidstorm8879]

Thank you for that, iv been struggling thinking about how to fix the track correctly on my removable sections

[@nicksullivan2212]

What a fantastic video, on I have two which is very useful.this is been grinding my brain for ages. Thank you very much well explained.❤

[@ace0918]

We use a material called G10 in the USA it is a laminate of fiberglass layers green in color. The laminate is what makes multi layer PC Boards possible. Back in the day G10-FR was the material of choice the FR indicating Flame Resistance. Today the board of choice is FR4, which is just G10-FR. If you take a multi layer board and snap it in two, under a magnifying glass you can see the layers of copper between the layers of laminate. And P.S. A well-conceived, consise, and presented, video. Very rare in these days of self promotion and ego! A much appreciated THANK YOU!

[@brucewoods9377]

That’s a brilliant idea. I wish I had seen this video before I constructed my layout

[@wayneperrier9382]

Try gapmasters. They look like real ties and come in a wide range of scales / gauges.

[@pupsmotorworks5228]

Most excellent, Your totaI production of the video. I've been curious as to how it was done, in Your case, very well !

[@ddpeak1]

Thanks That was really amazingly short concise no waffle interesting well done thank you

[@angelsone-five7912]

All very interesting but how do you maintain electrical continuity? I don`t know what they use for modern PCBs but back in the day it was something called Paxolin.

[@Wallsrail]

Paxolin is what I was told its called many moons ago!! Its now got a moderner name 😂 Electrical continuity is via wire leads and connectors. Plugs and sockets. there are various makes all do the same thing.

[@albertoraimondi5]

Complimenti un idea semplice e geniale!!!!!!! Bravo!!!!!

[@Weesel71]

Simple and thorough explanation and demonstration. TNX!☺

[@DugmerJunction]

Thanks for this, We have joints on both or layouts. i must admit we don't have issues when on straights but we currently have two joints on 3rd and 4th curves! they are an absolute mare! So many derailments if you don't get them 100% in line

[@grantofat6438]

I don't get this. How does the electricity cross the gap? The rails don't touch each other.

[@Wallsrail]

Via cabes and connectors under the boards

[@Stefan_Boerjesson]

Being a member of a good railroad club during many years the lift sections were all in the landscape, never in tracks sections. In the early days of the club a bridge was removable. What happend? Of course one day a train was running there, and the bridge was not in its place..... Building my own very dense railroad heads up places were planned as well as the tracks. But of course, it can be made.

[@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267]

I am using the rail aligner and pc board that are pre made , good video and I subscribed to your channel

[@FredWilbury]

Nice job I put a hinged bridge at the door of my shed layout and on a twin curved track it does work with care and pcb board . Regards Fred ps hinges on raised small piece of ply 😊

[@PerryBobKelly]

How do you keep track from buckling on the hinged side?

[@Midori-Clover]

I see, it's a wonderful method, but one question I have is that in a model using a DC motor, in a type in which currents with different polarities (+ & -) flow on the left and right rails, it's possible to have the current at the end of the track as shown in the video. soldering both will short the left and right rails. Is this model a catenary type, a battery type, or is it only for real steam engine locomotives? From Japan 🇯🇵🤔🍀

[@AirPiracy]

Check at 7:09 where he addresses that.

[@Midori-Clover]

@@AirPiracy Oh, thank you for your kindness. 😊 He grinds copper foil with a grinder to prevent short circuits. Now I understand. 👍🍀

[@AirPiracy]

@@Midori-Clover どういたしまして

[@Midori-Clover]

@@AirPiracy さん Thank you.🤗 Arigatou.👍🤗🍀

[@davidcurtis5398]

Looks to me that the PCB board ties are not as thick as the sleepers that are on the rail. Why not shim the PCB tie up so it will contact the rail??? You could use a lot less solder that way and it would look better.

[@SimonsTrainAdventures]

Very useful tutorial, thanks.

[@Finnertoncentralmodelrailway]

I'm doing exactly what your doing but just need to perfect the skill , great tips now I know where I've been going wrong lol

[@Wallsrail]

Like most other things, practice makes perfect 👍

[@dennismawson5974]

Our little group are having some difficulty with baseboard joints are are about to renew/repair them. In your video there appeared to be quite a gap between the strip and the rail, which you appeared to simply flood with solder. What sort of gap do you think is acceptable.

[@Wallsrail]

The rail "should" sit on top of the PCB strip, but anything up to 1.5 mm should be fillable with solder. Any more than that I'd be looking to put some more packing pieces in.

[@4kandles]

Excellent video! .. I have three baseboard joints to cross, so this process explained has been extremely useful :)

[@TomPrickVixen]

My model-club has a modular layout, and we use this method since the 90's.

[@dhh7501]

Its usually fiberglass under the copper :)

[@TheDaf95xf]

Always great watching how you do things and share your ideas 👍🏻 Fantastic cheers Stevie 😎

[@196Stefan2]

Thank you for your good advice!

[@Poliss95]

Have you thought of using a swinging bridge section instead?

[@Wallsrail]

There are a multitude of methods to try. some of which I don't know about. Most of the time the method used is dependant on the situation. Like many other things there's no one answer to all to solve all problems

[@andrewdale5473]

Thanks @wallsrail, that was very informative. What did you do for hinges?

[@Wallsrail]

Door hinges from B&Q

[@philthycat1408]

Close to cutting through the electric cable on the power saw at start of board there ⚡️⚡️⚡️

[@JL-rx6hl]

tip.drillthe holes in the pcb strips before you cut them

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Hi, great stuff well explained. You are right about those finger transplants!!!

[@Wallsrail]

👉🔥 😂😂

[@nicholasbishop3300]

Very helpful video Thanks Nick Australia

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

Very good idea there.like it.

[@Wallsrail]

Thanks 👍

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

@@Wallsrail Thank you very much for replying to my comment. I would love if you could take a quick look at my page and any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[@ernesthotrenes3703]

Gracias por compartir, excelente remedio. Saludos desde México

[@giorgio9767]

Bravo 👏👏👏from Italy

[@ganeydn]

In the US you can get the pc board from Radio Shack. Since I don’t have a bandsaw I found instructions on KZbin for scoring both sides of the pc board and snapping the board along the scores. Clamp the board right on the score line to snap it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3POgYuVhs2Ff5I

[@ericperkins3078]

so you've no expectation that current will be maintained by the track over this joint, obviously.

[@robertmartinez1228]

Ya sound like Charlie Watts from the Rolling Stones mate.

[@Wallsrail]

If only I had his cash 😂😜

[@lawrenceechols6453]

Brilliant thank you man

[@paulalexander4477]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@Wallsrail]

You're welcome!

[@NirateGoel]

Might be a stupid question, buy why? Why is there any need to add boards like that at such joints? Electrically the sensible and easy thing would be to just run a set up wires between the two sections, so I can't see that being the reason. From a scenic perspective it just messes up the look of the track at the joint. So I just can't see any reason to do this.

[@PerryBobKelly]

I was thinking a similar thing I’m just running wires up through the wood inside of them to the rails

[@jensjensen6548]

❤❤❤

[@darrenramsdale335]

Mowing the Lawn With a circular saw,,,,,, Kinky!

[@misterbonzoid5623]

Printed circuit board board.

[@dogyerf21]

Pcb stands for personal computer board. When you say “pcb board” you are saying pc board board

[@scottdotjazzman]

Last I checked it means Printed Circuit Board...

[@No2Censoring]

U haven't showed us how u get the electricity from both sides of the join to one another ...to continue the connection

[@ganeydn]

Don’t rely on rail joiners for electrical connectivity especially on large layouts. This is crucial with Digital Command Control. Solder thin wire to the outside of each rail and thread it down through the baseboard. Connect it there to feeder wires connected to a power bus.

[@Wallsrail]

Via wire and multi pin connectors

[@5CGQ]

At 7:54 I think the term you want is Masochist, not Sadist, but then I haven't seen you interact with other people 😋.

[@claudemartin4372]

A

[@misterbonzoid5623]

'Masochist' you mean.

[@wolfgangrixner6012]

Warum nicht in Deutsch?

[@justin8894]

Will this work for S-scale?

[@Wallsrail]

Can't see why not