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Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track

 

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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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:

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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
 

The width of the rail web (width of the bottom of the rail) varies surprisingly between different makes of the same rail height (code), let alone between sizes of rail. So the two code 100 sources you mention are extremely unlikely to work. Even code 125 rail joiners (hard to find now) don't work on code 138. If using a code 148 joiner it's easy to pinch the base a little closer together in case you feel the joint is too loose (in case you are leaving one side loose for expansion/contraction). So I'd go with the "O scale code 125/148 joint bars."

You are wise to want unpainted/unweathered rail joiners. Cleaning off paint or weathering is essential for good solder connections, and cleaning small rail joiners can only be described?as a pain. When you're confident that your completed solder joint is making a perfect and sturdy electrical connection, you can paint the rail and joiner and it will visually melt into the scene.

While a little pricey in quantities of two (larger packages were sold), here is an ebay seller with the later MTH version of code 138 joiners. These do have a gloss enamelled finish, however. I have not used these on Fox Valley track, but it's unlikely that they wouldn't fit.


Jim Whipple
Pittsburgh PA

On Tue, May 20, 2025 at 12:59?PM John Donnersbach via <pullmx=[email protected]> 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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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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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?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Roger Haag via groups.io <s_scale_man@...>
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 6:21 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [S-Scale] Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track
?
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!
 

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
 

It appears SScaleAmerica has metal and plastic SHS rail joiners.
Ron Kemp
 

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
 

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!
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Jerry Poniatowski
Brighton, MI
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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.



- Michael Eldridge
 

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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