So I took the long couplers on one car (both ends) and replaced them with short couplers. This is a much more prototypical appearance and does not effect opperations.

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the original

The changed distance on left it makes a difference even on curves

I was trying to come up with a good track cleaning design and here it is. It uses a freight car (boxcar or tall covered ones best), a cleaning cloth, small piece of wood or similar and nails/screws. To use it you simply wet the pad with your preferred cleaner and off you go and it can easily be added to a train.

Building:(Sorry no photos) To start out you find a good sized base and drill holes in your car base to line up with that. Through those holes you place screws and into the wood. Mounting the cloth can be done in many ways and two are shown.

Use:

With all the various types/brands of solder, flux and cleaning products available, what are peoples favorite brands of each?  Please discuss but differentiate between soldering track and electrical connections from soldering brass models and locomotives.  Or any other situation in which you had to resort to solder...

If you want to include comments on specific soldering tools you have come to know and love, please add commentary on this too.  I have a resistance soldering unit I have yet to learn how to use correctly so...