| Wiring Instructions Photos
courtesy of Markolf Gudjuns, Germany
Some
more time spent on track feeders
tonight. Here are a few pictures to
illustrate the process:
Step 1: cut bits of wire to
length; step 2: strip
insulation and bend two 90 degree
angles, then tin.
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Step 3: use wire brush wheel in
Dremel to clean side of rail; step
4: drill through roadbed, subroadbed,
benchwork all the way.
The two feeders on the near track
have already been inserted into
their holes, had a bit of flux
added, and will then be pushed in
all the way. Have the top bend in
the wire touch the rail as close to
the base as possible. Heat wire and
rail thoroughly then add a bit of
solder and attach the feeder. Use a
Bright Boy to clean the rail after
the joint has cooled.
 This
is how things will look after
soldering (left). Notice how the
feeder sticks out from the rail a
bit due to the 90 degree bend we
gave the wire earlier.
Now, using a pair of needlenose
pliers, first push the feeder down
into the hole a bit, then grab
feeder and rail in the jaws of the
pliers and squeeze firmly to get the
feeder to lay as close to the rail
as  possible
(right). Notice how the right-most
feeder is already finished and looks
just like a track spike at this
stage.
In addition to making it look better
this also strength-tests the solder
joint. If the feeder snaps off the
track here you have a bad solder
joint and need to start the process
over again.
Don't just walk away from bad solder
joints, they *will* come back to
haunt you later on...
I like to use solid-strand wire for
all my wiring, but even if you use
flexible multi-strand everywhere
else I recommend you use solid wire
for the track feeders. It is much
easier to solder than multi strand
and come away with a clean looking
result.
 Here's
the end result then. The silver
solder still makes it stand out
quite a bit, but a bit of weathering
will blend it in nicely. And it
can't be seen anyway since it's on
the back side of the rail.
Note this is a macro shot, the wire
diameter is a scant 1/2 millimeter.
The rail is code 83 (.083 inches
high).
Till next time, and have fun
soldering! ;-) |
