I’m certain I am not the only one to get individual track links put together only to realize that some how I flipped the new link!!! When I did this last night and tried to fix it, all I did was get semi-congealed glue in the recieving groove and I thought [banghead][BH] “there is no way I will get that cleaned out before it sets up” but I was wrong.
I looked over at the table where I saw a clean syringe (a diabetic friend left it there the other day when he came over for lunch) and I put it to use. [oX)] That tiny, flexible needle cleaned that almost set up CA right out of the slot and life was good.[:D]
If I hadn’t discovered that before the CA set up and locked the joints, does anyone know any easy fixes? I don’t think it will just chip out once it hardens, and I know I will make more mistakes in the future!!! [8-] Thanks
Keep a bottle of super glue debonder handy. It works wonders. Fingernail polish remover (with acetone) also works pretty well.
I once took 3 or 4 links out of the middle of a completely set up Friul track when I discovered I’d missed with the pin and it wasn’t in the “groove”. I let just those links set in a bit of the debonder for awhile and the pins came right out. Make sure you clean it all off the links before you try to recement it, though.
Obviously, you don’t have kids, what with syringes laying around! [;)] Personally, I use slow setting Testors orange tube model cement. I just do a run and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes. It starts to cure, but remains flexible.
oh, wait…did I miss something? Were these Fruili tracks? If so, disregard everything I said. I automatically thought they were plastic.
They were Dragon 251/7 tracks, and thanks to both of you for that, and true, the kids are both teens barely at home anymore, so… yep and covered syringe because of Pete dropping by is nothing unusual. Likes the wife’s cooking, especially pies, so he comes prepared anymore!!
The guy at my LHS gave me a really good idea to help with those tracks. He showed me a U shaped length of brass (can’t remember the size) that they sold there, laid it with the open groove side up and then flanked it by two pieces of styrene that were the same height as the brass U. He clamps these all together onto a table or boards and then las the track, guide horn down in the groove. Said it made it esy to get it all lined up. Didn’t try it yet
If you’re doing plastic tracks, you probably shouldn’t be using CA to cement them together. It sets up way too quickly and it will be very tough to get them to go around the idler and driver wheels, to say nothing of sag on the upper run. I use Tamiya Extra Thin and it works well for me.