aardvark

I wrote very carefully. I have decided that DCC rail and soldering is not something I can do reliably enough that I feel secure in building 20 + points using it. I don't doubt that others can. But if I'm not to lose what little forward momentum I have, then I must  make things easy for myself. I do want to see my own points, even just looking at the half built one here gives me satisfaction. Sad but true! I recommend that you try it before investing heavily. In fact I can will help out. I have bought one pack of rail. Anyone who wants to can send me a PM and I cut a bit about 10 Cm off and send it, as long as you'll pay postage cost ( I Live in Denmark)  and the price of a padded envelope. The rail is free! all I want in return is to hear your results :-)

Thanks again - I think that trying it out before investing heavily is a great idea!  For myself, I'm unlikely to tackle turnout construction, at least not on my first layout, but I will still need to solder droppers.

Did you get the Sapphire 179 solder from DCC?  That seems to be the one that they're recommending.

Thanks Vistiaen, really enjoyed your post.

As a beginner who has yet to build his first layout, I know next to nothing about pretty much everything.  I've been persuaded to wait for the DCC track and points, but your post has left with night sweats.  Although I've been an electrical engineer, and at one time held a mil-spec soldering certificate, I am seriously concerned about the prospect of trying to solder droppers to their rail.

Did you say that DCC didn't/couldn't provide flux and solder that worked?

Maybe I will just go with C&L + Peco points.  Being located in Australia, the layout (should it ever be realised) will never be published or attend a show, and I doubt anyone that will see it will be able to tell the difference.  Except, of course, me.