January

Great issue!

Marklin Products

Brand new to your magazine/newsletter.  Just wondering if you cover Marklin products, info, tips, etc.?  Anything Marklin??

Thanks

Marklin

Since Marklin has a habit of doing all their product announcements in German, we don't regularly cover it. We'd be happy to publish a layout article on a Marklin layout. 

"transition" track between codes

Had to tear down my layout ten years ago due to move.  Had a ton of Code 100 HO track but want to use 83 in visible areas.  Is there such a thing as a track that is 100 at one end and 83 at the other?

Yes, but...

Dear David,

There are RTR "transition tracks" available, but more-common are transition joiners , literally rail-joiners with internal packing so the smaller rail is held UP higher to match the height of the larger-code railhead...

Example from Atlas
https://www.ebay.com.au/p/1943473629 

...and then again, you can DIY using "normal" components by:
- putting a normal joiner on the Larger Rail
- lay the Smaller rail On Top of the joiner, rather than slipping it IN the joiner
- and soldering the smaller-rail in place...

(NOTE! some modellers crimp the free-end of the joiner before laying the smaller-rail in place,
so it's more of a "tab" than a "open joiner",
but that's a "tuning" step to optimise the relationship between the rail-heights)

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr