So you’re really looking for that [Norman Rockwell] Christmas
and want to set up your train to encircle the Christmas tree
this year. The problem is that all you’ve got is an old LEGO
train set and not enough track for it. You can’t just buy some
more, because the technology has changed; or can you? [Chris]
was dismayed to find that newer LEGO train sets have gone to
battery operation rather than drawing power through metal
tracks. The new tracks are plastic, and buying extra segments of
the older version is cost prohibitive. He figured out a way to
add power conductors to the new track pieces. It turns out the
design of the new tracks matches the old, except they’re all in
plastic instead of having metal rails. He bought a plastic add-
on set, then picked up some copper foil from the hobby store
which is meant for stained-glass work. It’s adhesive backed, and
after working out the best way to apply it, he coated the rails
with the stuff. As you can see above, the new mates perfectly
with the old, and keeps th