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Latest Railroading Updates (click the date to jump to the related page)

May 30, 2004

Added photos of the mountains I painted on the backdrop at the engine terminal.

April 25, 2004

Added photos of the newly primed backdrop behind the engine terminal.

April 25, 2004

Added photos of the newly painted lighting valence above the engine terminal.

April 21, 2004

Added information on the Cascade Section House.

April 21, 2004

Added information on the Thurmont Freight House.

Rail Joint Bars

If you model a era or area that uses sectional (not continuous/welded) track, and you want to super-detail your track, joint bars are a must.  You might also hear these referred to as "fish plates" or "rail joiners" (the prototypical type, not the type that are used to ensure an electrical and physical connection between segments of rail on a layout)

If you're a model railroader, be sure to drop me a note in my guestbook.

August 6, 2003

Michael completed a few frets of the new, enhanced code 70 joint bars and has mailed them out. Here is a close-up of the 0.038" joint bars for ME code 70 rail. 

They look great on the rail.  I'll post more photos as soon as I have them.

July 11, 2003

I recently picked up some rail joint bars from Michael Watnoski of Free State Systems.  These brass photo-etched detail parts are nicer than the plastic and cast offerings from most companies, in my opinion.  This particular fret is based on a newer prototype than my railroad, so I won't be using them.  The era I model (transition era) typically had 6" between bolt centers rather than the 8" as delievered with this fret.  However, Michael said he is going to design some that better fit the old prototype and fine-scale rail as soon as I give him the web size of the Micro Engineering Code 70 rail.

Extreme close-up taken via stacked 7x and 10x close-up lenses on my digital camera.

Here is a photo of the full fret.  One really nice thing about these is you can use the same strips to make four or six-bolt versions of joint bars (the WM used both).  It all depends on where you cut it.  You could even use it to represent longer bars such as those used on the turnout points.

If you want to order joint bars from Michael Watnoski, please contact him at freestatesystems1NOSPAM@comcast.net (remove the "NOSPAM" from his name)

Each set makes 168 six bolt bars or 252 four bolt bars, and costs $25

I am just a fellow model railroader and happy customer. I receive no compensation whatsoever from Mr Watnoski.