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Mixing C and M tracks - best tricks?
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Offline einotuominen  
#1 Posted : 12 December 2022 17:53:29(UTC)
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einotuominen

Finland   
Joined: 19/09/2022(UTC)
Posts: 382
Location: Kaarina
Hi guys!

Just for the sake of the hobby, I acquired a couple of M uncoupler tracks. The rest of my layout is C track.

I can find a few approaches on how to mix these, but have you guys got any best practices for the connections if the official adapter track 24951 is counted off?

Thanks!

-Eino
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Offline mvd71  
#2 Posted : 12 December 2022 18:27:37(UTC)
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mvd71

New Zealand   
Joined: 09/08/2008(UTC)
Posts: 1,729
Location: Auckland,
I would imagine you would need to remove the plastic connections parts from the c track end, add a rail joiner to the c track, and then solder a wire to connect the third rail.
It would really just be a case of being creative and experimenting
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Offline einotuominen  
#3 Posted : 12 December 2022 18:43:39(UTC)
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einotuominen

Finland   
Joined: 19/09/2022(UTC)
Posts: 382
Location: Kaarina
Originally Posted by: mvd71 Go to Quoted Post
I would imagine you would need to remove the plastic connections parts from the c track end, add a rail joiner to the c track, and then solder a wire to connect the third rail.
It would really just be a case of being creative and experimenting


That’s alao my first idea at the moment. Also adding a common plasticard or papercard base, to keep the joint as still as possible.

-Eino
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Offline marklinist5999  
#4 Posted : 13 December 2022 13:17:00(UTC)
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marklinist5999

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC)
Posts: 3,140
Location: Michigan, Troy
Cutting K track is easier then C. If you use the C to K transition tracks, be careful! The length of them is not identical to a standard K or C track section, so it can miscalculate you plan if not measured for the difference.
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Offline JohnjeanB  
#5 Posted : 13 December 2022 13:37:25(UTC)
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JohnjeanB

France   
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 3,130
Location: Paris, France
Hi Eino
Mixing C track and M track (or K track) poses no real problem except for this one thing C track rail profiles (rail code) are much smaller than M or K track (code 100) and the only clean way to join rails is to use special joiners (Difficult to find but Fleischmann 6437 Profi track to 2.1 mm rail profile).

Sans titre.png
Another way is to bend them yourself so that the rolling surface is at the same level on code 100 side and code 80 side.
Filing the top of the rail does not provide a clean solution with smooth riding.
Additionally on the C track side you would have to do some surgery but no big deal
I hope this helps

Cheers
Jean
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thanks 3 users liked this useful post by JohnjeanB
Offline H0  
#6 Posted : 13 December 2022 13:49:12(UTC)
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H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,267
Location: DE-NW
Originally Posted by: JohnjeanB Go to Quoted Post
Hi Eino
Mixing C track and M track (or K track) poses no real problem except for this one thing C track rail profiles (rail code) are much smaller than M or K track (code 100) and the only clean way to join rails is to use special joiners (Difficult to find but Fleischmann 6437 Profi track to 2.1 mm rail profile).
Note that Märklin C track is 2.3 mm while M track is 2.5 mm.

With standard rail joiners there will be a height difference of 0.2 mm.
Using unmodified Fleischmann rail joiners there will be a height difference of 0.2 mm. No real improvement - unless you bend them a little bit.

Piko also offer rail joiners for the 2.1/2.5 mm transition: Art.-Nr. 55294.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline 60904  
#7 Posted : 13 December 2022 19:11:46(UTC)
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60904

Germany   
Joined: 27/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 315
Sell the M track stuff and buy C track instead.
Greetings
Martin
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Offline einotuominen  
#8 Posted : 13 December 2022 19:41:27(UTC)
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einotuominen

Finland   
Joined: 19/09/2022(UTC)
Posts: 382
Location: Kaarina
Originally Posted by: 60904 Go to Quoted Post
Sell the M track stuff and buy C track instead.


BigGrin Who the heck is gonna buy that stuff ;)

Anyways, as said this is sort of a DIY thing and most likely will be replaced with C track after I’ve done fiddling.

—-

Thanks guys, there is quite alot to consider as I expected.

-Eino
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Offline mvd71  
#9 Posted : 13 December 2022 20:07:23(UTC)
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mvd71

New Zealand   
Joined: 09/08/2008(UTC)
Posts: 1,729
Location: Auckland,
Originally Posted by: 60904 Go to Quoted Post
Sell the M track stuff and buy C track instead.


Sell the c track and buy m track as an upgrade Tongue
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Offline kiwiAlan  
#10 Posted : 13 December 2022 20:27:54(UTC)
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kiwiAlan

United Kingdom   
Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC)
Posts: 8,109
Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
Originally Posted by: einotuominen Go to Quoted Post

Anyways, as said this is sort of a DIY thing and most likely will be replaced with C track after I’ve done fiddling.


Do be aware that it is next to impossible to convert an M track layout to a C track layout without a lot of conversions. There are a number of subtle and not so subtle differences in track geometry. A major difference is the difference in point turn radius and angle.
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Offline einotuominen  
#11 Posted : 13 December 2022 21:05:30(UTC)
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einotuominen

Finland   
Joined: 19/09/2022(UTC)
Posts: 382
Location: Kaarina
Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan Go to Quoted Post

Do be aware that it is next to impossible to convert an M track layout to a C track layout without a lot of conversions. There are a number of subtle and not so subtle differences in track geometry. A major difference is the difference in point turn radius and angle.



Agreed. That’s why this was only about a couple of M track uncoupler tracks in the first place. Though I should have mentioned that in addition they will be second last track piece in a terminal station tracks. Hence, easy to replace.

-Eino
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