Model Railroading > Don't Do What I Did

Don't do what I did. This is a beautiful product. I just built this single crossing double, Fast Tracks Diamond Line 30 Degree crossing, but the single track is aligned the wrong direction. See photos. I had printed it in my track planning software and pasted the template on my layout and assumed that it would work either way if you rotated it. Flipping it upside down is the only way it matches the direction for the single track. See photos. I suppose I am going to have to rip off the ties, un-solder the assemblies and flip it on a new Quick Sticks with the Quick Sticks. If you have a single crossing a single or a double crossing a double, there are no issues. Be advised to lay it out on the layout before assembly.  To some of you, this may be obvious.

In other words. if the double track is east-west. The single track either runs southwest-northeast or southeast-northwest, But rotating it after you build it won't get you the same thing.

If I soak the whole thing in acetone, will the Pliobond break free?

Victor Baird



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/25 08:11 by wabash2800.

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> If I soak the whole thing in acetone, will the
> Pliobond break free?

Acetone, maybe. Pliobond reeks of MEK. If acetone doesn't work and you don't have MEK, then try a liquid cement like Tamiya Thin. Mineral spirits and lacquer thinner aren't likely to work. But they will clean off any remaining flux.

By the by, nice-looking hunk of trackwork.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/25 08:38 by Lighter.

It looks great, sorry it’s the wrong “direction”.

Nathan

Posted from iPhone

Agree that MEK  is the solvent of choice.
RB

I dodged the bullet!

I poured the Acetone in a disposal tin baking pan and soaked the whole thing for about 1-1/2 hours on my back porch (outside temperature about 45 degrees F). The Pliobond dissolved with no effect on the rail or solder joints. See photo. I think I just need to un-solder the rail btw the two assemblies and re-solder in the correct configuration. The wood seems to be unaffected. I will make sure the Acetone is fully evaporated from the wooden Quick Sticks before I reuse it.

 That kit is about $180.00, but a beautiful, solid and detailed right down the nut and bolt details and cast frogs and guard rails. Once painted, it will be awesome and smooth running.

These Fast Tracks Diamond Line kits are easy to build except for soldering the guard rails, IMO.  They come in many configurations and angles in different rails sizes. There are holes in the Quick Sticks for the guard rails, and I use super glue. (The Acetone removed the super glue too.) This is my second one (the other was a single crossing single). I found that one must make sure the Nickel Sliver frog casting are true and clear where they fit into the Quick Sticks frog slots. 

The funny looking square enclosures on the ends of the Quick Sticks are just temporary. They are cut off once the PC ties are soldered in place.

I haven't got to the wiring yet. Fast Tracks recommends a frog juicer.

Victor Baird



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/25 11:21 by wabash2800.

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Could have been worse...could have done it in 1:1 scale. 

gandydancer4 Wrote:
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> Could have been worse...could have done it in 1:1
> scale.

Acetone wouldn't work for that :-).

gandydancer4 Wrote:
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> Could have been worse...could have done it in 1:1
> scale. 

Not quite the same but I had a crossing change out, US 2 in Fairchild WA, a busy road on a busy railroad. There had been a week of prep work, building the new crossing and track panel out in a field next to the crossing. Cut the track, lift out the track and crossing, lift the replacement, weld, done. Piece of cake.

They had until 130p. I quit hearing them on the radio around 1p. Wondering if trhey would be ready at 130p so I could set up traffic. No answer. 130p, no answer. 2p, no answer and the track inspector was in the clear and tieing up for the day 60 miles away. I asked him to go there and tell me what was up.

It's an hour trip. He called on the phone from a gas station so as not to be in public. They cut the hole for the new panel 19 inches too big. To get the road to line up, the splice had to be on both ends of the new panel. 9 1/2 inches is too small for splicing in a piece. They had to get rail - four three foot pieces, cut the rails on the track both sides of the crossing, weld in the four patches. 

Time for me to go home. I don't get to clean this one up. Bummer.

I'm sure that the next day, some folks got a tape measure 100 class.

TAW