More serendipity!

First the clouds, then then the silver lining. While omscaler was checking supplies for confirming inventory levels (shuffling through cardstock), two different types used for track components was discovered. There should only be one type used for this. What is specified is 110# smooth (business card) stock. What was discovered was “Vellum” 110# cardstock. What happens when you use Vellum is that Vellum is not as smooth as 110# smooth. The rougher texture somehow acts a little like a sponge when glued. The results seem to be drying out at a thicker profile. This explains some strange equipment performance on the track in the affected areas. On closer inspection, the appearance at the central gap is odd as well. How did this happen? Omscaler suspects that he may have “asked” for Vellum by mistake. It seems like I got 110# smooth almost by chance during a later purchase. Or, and this is a big “or”, the sales person gave me the wrong stuff. We may never know. As a result of the discovery of the problem, omscaler decided to source some additional stock at an office supply store. We checked the price of a full pack. $17.99 plus tax. We asked about single sheet price. $0.81 per sheet plus tax was the response. Since we had some of the correct material on hand, omscaler decided to think about it and research some more. My subsequent stop was at a craft store. I went to the art supply aisle and began looking. What attracted my attention was Bristol 100# smooth. I decided to make a design change right there on the fly. When I returned to my lair, excuse me, craft studio area of my apartment, I compared the thickness of the new cardstock to the thickness of a measuring gauge I use to correctly mount running equipment on railcars. What I found was that they were apparently equal. It was almost like the problem corrected itself. Serendipity! Now, all I have to do is replace all the current trackage. But, you know what? Well, we will explain that next post. Jumping for joy, omscaler