davefrk Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 I'm doing the fiddleyard track and I'm going to be needing more fishplates or more correctly rail joiners. I bought some years ago and these held code 75 bullhead rail perfectly in line and allowed expansion where needed. They weren't Peco, but IIRC some foreign make. The scenic areas of Wharfeside have proper etched fishplates but I need something easier,quicker and stronger for the yard. So, I just wondered what other people are using? Dave Franks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold martin_wynne Posted December 28, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 28, 2013 Peco N gauge rail joiners work quite well on code 75 bullhead rail. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 Dave I use the Exactoscale plastic fishplates. They are quite fragile but once the track is held in position (tacks glue etc) all is fine. Metal ones are also available. Minitrix rail joiners are also very good Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefrk Posted December 28, 2013 Author Share Posted December 28, 2013 Peco N gauge rail joiners work quite well on code 75 bullhead rail. Hi Martin, I tried Peco N fishplates some time ago and found that they did grip the web okay but not the foot of the rail allowing the rails to mis-align in height. The ones I have are made from a springy material and the sides curve right in on themselves and down onto the top of the foot therefore holding the rail well in alignment in all directions. All the best, Dave Franks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefrk Posted December 28, 2013 Author Share Posted December 28, 2013 Dave I use the Exactoscale plastic fishplates. They are quite fragile but once the track is held in position (tacks glue etc) all is fine. Metal ones are also available. Minitrix rail joiners are also very good Hi John, I have some old minitrix ones which I can use but are they still available? I've used the plastic ones on the scenic sections where section breaks are required but otherwise I've used etched ones for track alignment. All the best, Dave Franks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon A Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 Dave, Peco manufacture "OO" code 75 fishplates. Gordon A Bristol Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefrk Posted December 28, 2013 Author Share Posted December 28, 2013 Dave, Peco manufacture "OO" code 75 fishplates. Gordon A Bristol Hi Gordon, maybe you misunderstood, it's for code 75 'bullhead' rail so one usually uses N gauge fishplates. PECO OO 75 fishplates are for flatbottom track and are too slack a fit. Thanks, Dave. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 Could it be SMP Scaleway fishplates Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 Be careful with SMP fishplates. I use them extensively on ET and in my experience they are the best available. Something you ought to know though. SMP was taken over by Marcway and whilst they sell SMP track, they did not take the fishplates offered by SMP, but used their own variant. In my opinion these aren't a patch on the original SMP ones. These are still available from the company who originally marketed SMP and listed here. http://www.craftsmanmodels.co.uk/cat.pdf The part number is SFP1 and they can be found listed towards the back of the catalogue. Page 10/11 or 12. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 Interesting, John as they look almost identical to the ones I use….and I agree with you, the best I have found so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefrk Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 Hi Gordon, that's the ones. I only have a few left and as they do hold code 75 bullhead rail very well I'll need to be ordering a load more for the whole fiddleyard. For information - I've used them on SMP original code 75 rail, Marcway SMP, C&L and odd offcuts from way back and these fishplates grip and align the rail well. On the scenic side I've used EMGS or C&L etched fishplates soldered to one rail end so as to allow some movement for expansion. Thanks, Dave. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Don't order too many, I'll need some more later in the year…:-) Glad to have been of help. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicol Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Hi Dave I hope you get this problem sorted I dont want my O8 running over rough track G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefrk Posted April 6, 2014 Author Share Posted April 6, 2014 Aye, problem was sorted months ago... Have you not noticed how smooth things are running through the fiddleyard. Dave Franks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted May 7, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 7, 2014 I use micro engineering rail joiners. http://www.handlaidtrack.com/PhotoDetails.asp?ShowDESC=N&ProductCode=26-083 I model in P4, and these are really the best I have used. Somewhat expensive, even over here in Canada. John Fitton Looks like a superb range, and that's just the fishplates, so thanks for that link. I would imagine that Kermit might be a bit worried about the 'Frog Juicer' reference on their site, though! I've hitherto used Peco 'N' gauge fishplates, cut in half and then crimped with pliers around the profile of the bullhead rail. The whole joint was then soldered up and has lasted well. Expansion is catered for by electrical gapping, where I now use plastic Exactoscale fishplates to disguise the gap. The process of messing around with the Peco fishplates is tiresome, though, so I might give these a go next time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Did you mean the link to Micro Engineering or Craftsman Models, CK? The fishplates are the same. Not a problem, but always nice to support a small UK supplier... No connection other that a satisfied customer. http://www.craftsmanmodels.co.uk/cat.pdf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Memphis32 Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 The SFP1 fishplates are no longer available, and they have no intention of getting more! I've been advised that roco or fleischmann n-gauge fishplates work ok. Any ideas about insulating joiners? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 The SFP1 fishplates are no longer available, and they have no intention of getting more! I've been advised that roco or fleischmann n-gauge fishplates work ok. Any ideas about insulating joiners? Peco N gauge, or Exactoscale plastic (scale) fishplates Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Memphis32 Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 I'd discounted Peco n gauge as they're for code 80, so had assumed they'd be the same or bigger than the code 75 OO ones. Are they actually smaller? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren01 Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 The SFP1 fishplates are no longer available, and they have no intention of getting more! I've been advised that roco or fleischmann n-gauge fishplates work ok. Any ideas about insulating joiners? What a real pity i need a lot more, seem silly to stop making these, where can i get code 75 BH rail joiners from now?. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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