AVOID RUSTY OVERHEAD LINES
I was impressed by Peter Marriott’s new layout in MR246, although the catenary system wasn’t mentioned. Has Model Rail tested the Peco catenary system yet? I’m tempted to try it, but am worried about the need to solder the wires. George says:
Peter used Peco catenary for much of his layout, but has also employed elements of the Viessmann and Electrotren ranges. And yes, we tested the Peco catenary system extensively in 2016, with a full installation demo featuring in MR225 (call 01858 438884 to order a back issue). I really enjoyed installing the Peco system and, although it took a little time to assemble the first few sections, work soon speeded up as familiarity with the components developed. Soldering is not essential for the overhead wires if they’re to be for cosmetic use only (with pantographs posed at a fixed height, avoiding contact with the wires). Indeed, Peter employed Woodland Scenics’ Scenic Glue on his catenary, making it easier to remove or replace in future. However, I decided to solder the wires on my diorama, which produced a surprisingly sturdy network of wires. The soldering process was fairly straightforward, ensuring that the iron was hot, the surfaces clean and an effective flux employed. I used Dcccon- cepts’ acid-free Sapphire flux in the main. However, for the first couple of bonds, I tried an acid-based flux paste, thinking that the thicker medium would cling to the wires more effectively. In the end, the liquid Sapphire flux worked just fine but I must have forgotten to clean up the other soldered joints of excess flux. The result? A thick layer of corrosion on the registration and cantilever arms of the masts and the overhead wires. This only manifested itself a few months later, after the layout had been stored in the garage over winter. Any in situ repairs are likely to be fiddly, so I’m more inclined to replace the affected masts and wire sections, taking care to use the Sapphire no-clean flux this time. Web: www.dccconcepts.com