Hi All

I use lead free solder, unlike most modellers who I know who bought several rolls of lead solder when lead free was introduced. This requires a higher temperature of 370° and since the pcb sleeper supplied by the 2mm Association are designed it requires very careful soldering, if you are not going to have the copper coming away from the base material. I use 9% Phosphoric Acid flux to ensure the sleeper is very clean and therefor I get a good quality solder joint.

I hold the sleepers in position on the paper template with double sided tape, this allows their position to be adjusted before I push the sleeper had down. I then cut the rails to the required size, plus an extra 20mm, from the reel of rail. This extra length allows for the fact that you cannot bend the rail to a even curvature right to the end. I soldered the outer rail into position by eye making the inside edge line up with the line on the template. Once I was satisfied with the positioning of this I soldered the inner rail in position using the roller track gauge to ensure the correct track gauge.

I then removed the masking tape fixing the template to the baseboard. The turning the template and track over and pressing the track against the baseboard I carefully removed the template from the track. The track section was then cut to length, allowing enough extra to enable the ends to be filled square. After several fittings the track section was the correct length. At this point I applied methylated spirit, using a wipe, as a stopping agent. This works by neutralising the acid.

Next the rail position was marked three sleepers from each end of the outer rail. Lille Pins were then inserted into 0.5mm holes, these pins will proved both fixings and power connection points. This section of track is a temporary section until the replacement point has been made. This will allow test running for the testing of chipped locos and rolling stock with DG couplings fitted.

A single Lille Pin was then inserted and soldered to the underside of the inner rail, once the rail was soldered to the outer ones.

Finally I Cleaned up the rail surface and checked the alignment using a wagon carefully pushed along.

Lisa