Re: Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track
I’ve been using Atlas 2 rail track joiners. ?
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They have two square dimples on the bottom that have to be removed or you have to carve a groove into the ties so rail does’t peak at the joints. ?Feeder wires also fit in the sides at the bottom flange, so no need for special feeder joiners. ?
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They have 4 raised (stamped) bumps on each side suggestive of bolts that once soldered and/or weathered look fine and the face of the ‘plates’ are proud of the side of the rail head like the prototype. ?I only wish they had 6 bolts per side.
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Because I’m a modern operation, I use these at turnouts, diamonds, and other places one finds joiners. ?Otherwise I have a good supply of Fox Valley joiners that slide onto the bottom flanges so things can look sort of like continuous welded rail.
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Ben Trousdale?
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Re: Plastic paint striping
I thought my picture went with my post.?  Mike Swederska?
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On May 21, 2025, at 4:04?PM, Matt Hogan via groups.io <Matthew.Hogan1804@...> wrote:
? All,
Photo of quick test using 91% and 99% isopropyl alcohol on AM boxcar door track.? Have not tried using it on an entire AM boxcar nor AM loco.
?
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Thank you,
Matt Hogan
-- Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
https://www.youtube.com/@mikesscale3149
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
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Re: Plastic paint striping
All,
Photo of quick test using 91% and 99% isopropyl alcohol on AM boxcar door track.? Have not tried using it on an entire AM boxcar nor AM loco.
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Thank you,
Matt Hogan
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Re: Plastic paint striping
Ed, You got me curious if it’ll work on American Models paint. So I opened up a AM boxcar that was factory painted and just took a paper towel with a little bit of the stripper on it and wiped all the overspray off the inside of the car without hardly having an account to 10 for it to soak. so I believe that it probably will work satisfactory on a factory diesel shell. You may have to let it soak for a few minutes, but not very long and start scrubbing with a toothbrush.
If I may say, I use one of those stainless steel drywall mud pans. I use it to strip all the brass items with lacquer thinner, and the pan wipes out clean.  Mike Swederska?
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On May 21, 2025, at 3:06?PM, Chris Fauxturkey via groups.io <skogkatt007@...> wrote:
? Another possibility is ammonia. It is one of the best penetrants on planet earth, but takes time. As a for instance it will get every last bit of grit and gunk out of the crevices of an old style power steering pump reservoir, with lips and folds. Works MUCH better then acetone for that application even. But I soaked the thing for 24 - 48 hours.
Not sure if it's good for plastics. Use with caution. It will remove paint. But not necessarily all. I haven't had 100% success, but still considerable.
There also cleaning vinegar. Works to some degree.
The AK stuff is likely safe for all plastics, as it's intended use is Warhammer minis and such. All plastic for the last 25 years likely, or longer.
-- Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
https://www.youtube.com/@mikesscale3149
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
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Re: Plastic paint striping
Another possibility is ammonia. It is one of the best penetrants on planet earth, but takes time. As a for instance it will get every last bit of grit and gunk out of the crevices of an old style power steering pump reservoir, with lips and folds. Works MUCH better then acetone for that application even. But I soaked the thing for 24 - 48 hours.
Not sure if it's good for plastics. Use with caution. It will remove paint. But not necessarily all. I haven't had 100% success, but still considerable.
There also cleaning vinegar. Works to some degree.
The AK stuff is likely safe for all plastics, as it's intended use is Warhammer minis and such. All plastic for the last 25 years likely, or longer.
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Re: Plastic paint striping
Ed,
Haven’t tried yet on a locomotive. But plan to soon on one of their box cars.
These are a pair of the Baldwin Centipede locos by Broadway Limited.
Mike Swederska
--
Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
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Re: Plastic paint striping
If you cast a wide net, it seems AK 186 is perhaps good but hasn't been perfect for everyone for everything.? I don't know if it is just alcohol like some claim.? It might be substantial alcohol but have some other things in it.? It is possible there is a misconception similar to some claims about some thinners where people think are just acetone or something but actually have more ingredients like retarders.
The aforementioned Amazon reviews are not only good to learn more but also mention OTHER options that people have had success with.
The company has a "how to use" YouTube and the comments there might also be instructive:
They have a "how to use" product guide PDF:
Interestingly, their YouTube video says it is "very important" to have soapy water at hand which they use, and also it seems clear water to rinse.? But these are not mentioned in the PDF.? They also mentioned another product in the video called "Perfect Cleaner" for cleaning brushes.
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 10:18:45 AM PDT, John Hutnick via groups.io <johnhutnick@...> wrote:
For anyone considering this, please go to Amazon and read all of the reviews before buying.? $16 for 4 ounces?? Amazon will sell you a 16 ounce bottle of 99% IPA for $8.34.? Walmart charges $30 for 4 quarts of IPA.? And Ace Hardware sells a gallon for $24.? For the price, I would buy the gallon and soak a model in a tank for a day or two.
I generally use a Waterpik to help remove paint after soaking.
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Re: Plastic paint striping
For anyone considering this, please go to Amazon and read all of the reviews before buying.? $16 for 4 ounces?? Amazon will sell you a 16 ounce bottle of 99% IPA for $8.34.? Walmart charges $30 for 4 quarts of IPA.? And Ace Hardware sells a gallon for $24.? For the price, I would buy the gallon and soak a model in a tank for a day or two.
I generally use a Waterpik to help remove paint after soaking.
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Re: Plastic paint striping
You can get it on ebay. Cheaper then Amazon.
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AK Interactive is a European company that makes paints largely aimed at miniature/wargaming enthusiasts. Some hold them to be better then Citadel/Warhammer. Never used either. Don't know. I did just order 2.bottles of stripper though.
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Re: Plastic paint striping
Mike, do you think AK186 would work on the AM FP40 shells?
Ed Sauers
On Wed, May 21, 2025 at 12:03?PM Mike Swederska via <mikesscale= [email protected]> wrote:
There have always been modelers asking what to use for stripping paint from plastic models. I have tried so many techniques using everything from brake fluid to Scalecoat stripper. I have been successful over the years using products such as Simple Green, Goof
Off and Isopropyl alcohol but everything is just a crap shoot hopping it will work.?
Awhile back I took on a plastic diesel job. Not to my liking but I wanted to help out a friend. He has two of the same locos that he wants painted and lettered. The issue is one was painted by some other painter that he tried and put the wrong colors on the
loco. The other is still in its factory paint scheme. I needed to strip both of them and start over. I tried all the usual stripping products and nothing touched either model. The 91% alcohol did soften and make sticky but really needed to soak forever and
scrub very hard to the point of damaging the model shell.?
I went to a hobby shop that is not really trains but cators to the plastic model guys and all the other stuff that is needed to keep them in business. They sold me a bottle of paint stripper for plastic, and I bought it with hesitation. It is called AK 185.
I read the reviews and everyone said it was nothing more than alcohol. They are wrong. This stuff really works.?
I keep 91% in a spray bottle and started with it first. Again, it would not touch what ever that first model was painted with or its decals. I tried a small spot inside the shell, and it darn near wiped the factory color off in one wipe. I used it on the aftermarket
paint and with a toothbrush I was able to get all the way down to the factory shell with not much work or worry. I then tried it on the next shell with just a factory paint job, and it removed all the lettering and color down to the shell by wiping it with
a paper towel.?
Just recently I used brake fluid on one of my own PRS box cars I painted over 20 years ago and destroyed it. Run fast, Run hard from using brake fluid. I wish I knew about this stuff then.
SKU: AK186
Paint Stripper 100ml
-- Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
|
There have always been modelers asking what to use for stripping paint from plastic models. I have tried so many techniques using everything from brake fluid to Scalecoat stripper. I have been successful over the years using products such as Simple Green, Goof
Off and Isopropyl alcohol but everything is just a crap shoot hopping it will work.?
Awhile back I took on a plastic diesel job. Not to my liking but I wanted to help out a friend. He has two of the same locos that he wants painted and lettered. The issue is one was painted by some other painter that he tried and put the wrong colors on the
loco. The other is still in its factory paint scheme. I needed to strip both of them and start over. I tried all the usual stripping products and nothing touched either model. The 91% alcohol did soften and make sticky but really needed to soak forever and
scrub very hard to the point of damaging the model shell.?
I went to a hobby shop that is not really trains but cators to the plastic model guys and all the other stuff that is needed to keep them in business. They sold me a bottle of paint stripper for plastic, and I bought it with hesitation. It is called AK 185.
I read the reviews and everyone said it was nothing more than alcohol. They are wrong. This stuff really works.?
I keep 91% in a spray bottle and started with it first. Again, it would not touch what ever that first model was painted with or its decals. I tried a small spot inside the shell, and it darn near wiped the factory color off in one wipe. I used it on the aftermarket
paint and with a toothbrush I was able to get all the way down to the factory shell with not much work or worry. I then tried it on the next shell with just a factory paint job, and it removed all the lettering and color down to the shell by wiping it with
a paper towel.?
Just recently I used brake fluid on one of my own PRS box cars I painted over 20 years ago and destroyed it. Run fast, Run hard from using brake fluid. I wish I knew about this stuff then.
SKU: AK186
Paint Stripper 100ml
-- Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
https://www.youtube.com/@mikesscale3149
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
|
Re: Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track
Here is a different kind than I was used to:
It is a bit hard to see in the photos, but there are two joint bars connected in the middle with a short cross piece. They slide on the web, with nothing underneath the rail.
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Fw: [RailroadCitrusIndustryModelingGroup] Railroad Citrus Industry Modeling Group - Digest #433
Some info for upgrading the detail on?your molded?AF reefers. ?
Begin forwarded message:
-- Ted Larson trainweb.org/mhrr/??????? --------??????? NASG.org??????? --------??????? GN in 1965
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Re: Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track
John,
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It looks like you got some good advise on rail joiners.? When I laid my layout's track, I used the SHS line of flextrack and instead of soldering a wire to the joiner, I soldered a wire to each section of track, then to a bus wire under the table.? That way there's a solid electrical connection to the track, not a mechanical one.? With a sufficiently robust bus, there's no voltage drop from one section to another and the trains receive constant voltage throughout the layout.? When all is done, a swipe with a bit of dark paint hides the soldered connection.? Ballast even more.? Just a suggestion.
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Above all, have fun!
?
Jerry Poniatowski
Brighton, MI
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Re: Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track
The Fast Tracks Knowledgebase has a listing of rail dimensions.? If the link below does not take you to the page, go to Knowledgebase > Assembly Fixtures > Can you make Assembly Fixtures for rail other than Micro Engineering?
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Fast Tracks (HandLaidTrack.com) Rail dimension link >
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Thank you,
Matt Hogan
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Re: Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track
It appears SScaleAmerica has metal and plastic SHS rail joiners.
Ron Kemp
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Re: Vintage Exacta 80' HW Coach
Very nice! That car took me back to building the old Walthers metal sided wood car kits in HO.? Mike Swederska?
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On May 20, 2025, at 3:46?PM, adguytrains via groups.io <bob.hogan@...> wrote:
? As requested, here are a few photos of the now nearly complete Exacta 80' HW Coach.
Bob Hogan
<IMG_2666.JPG> <IMG_2667.JPG> <IMG_2668.JPG> <IMG_2669.JPG>
-- Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
https://www.youtube.com/@mikesscale3149
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
|
Vintage Exacta 80' HW Coach
As requested, here are a few photos of the now nearly complete Exacta 80' HW Coach.
Bob Hogan
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Re: Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track
I have same issue.? Been using the O scale 148 joiners, work fine.
Jack
On May 20, 2025 2:21 PM, "Roger Haag via groups.io" <s_scale_man@...> wrote:
Hello
IF ALL ELSE FAILS?
I thought I could use the thin brass U-Shaped scratch building stock. 12inch length. Cut to about 1inch long. ?Buy the stock that has a width that is as wide as the base of the rail. Solderable.
Roger Haag
On May 20, 2025, at 2:00?PM, Steve Lunde <ace5348@...> wrote:
? In a pinch you can use Atlas O joiners for code 148.
Steve Lunde?
On May 20, 2025, at 11:59, John Donnersbach via groups.io <pullmx@...> wrote:
?
Just thought I would ask this group if anyone knows what might work the best for rail joiners, since Fox Valley are Sold Out at this time. I'm looking for Rail Joiners for S-Helper / MTH code 138 Flex Track that will be used with Fox Valley Switches. I
was looking on eBay and found 3 different rail joiners that might work. I want the Silver unpainted ones so I can solder wires to them if needed. [1] Peco PL-10 said they fit HO / O scale code 100 Track, [2] Guy in Florida goes by antbocc_50 has O Scale rail
joiners for code 125 & 148 track, [3] Micro Engineering 26-100 rail joiners. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks John
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Re: Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track
I would stay away from code 100 rail jointers. I would think the heal would be too tight to get on the raill. The suggestion of O scale code 148 is what I would try. Micro Engineering should have those. If you Google them, they pop up from many different hobby
shops. Since you plan to solder wire to them you may want to think about soldering the joiners to each rail end and locking them in. I would also give the joiner a tap flat before installing them if they are to lose once installed.?
But Hey, I built my last S-Sn3 layout all hand laid with out using any rail joiners. This one I did because some of the main line track is flex.?
Mike?
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Hello
IF ALL ELSE FAILS?
I thought I could use the thin brass U-Shaped scratch building stock. 12inch length. Cut to about 1inch long. ?Buy the stock that has a width that is as wide as the base of the rail. Solderable.
Roger Haag
On May 20, 2025, at 2:00?PM, Steve Lunde <ace5348@...> wrote:
? In a pinch you can use Atlas O joiners for code 148.
Steve Lunde?
On May 20, 2025, at 11:59, John Donnersbach via groups.io <pullmx@...> wrote:
?
Just thought I would ask this group if anyone knows what might work the best for rail joiners, since Fox Valley are Sold Out at this time. I'm looking for Rail Joiners for S-Helper / MTH code 138 Flex Track that will be used with Fox Valley Switches. I
was looking on eBay and found 3 different rail joiners that might work. I want the Silver unpainted ones so I can solder wires to them if needed. [1] Peco PL-10 said they fit HO / O scale code 100 Track, [2] Guy in Florida goes by antbocc_50 has O Scale rail
joiners for code 125 & 148 track, [3] Micro Engineering 26-100 rail joiners. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks John
-- Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
https://www.youtube.com/@mikesscale3149
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
|
Ben
Ted Larson
Jerry Poniatowski
