Actually, we (LHS) probably sell more Rail-Zip to some of our RC Airplane customers than to model railroaders. The guys that fly the really BIG airplanes often carry them to the air field in an enclosed trailer that they have modified to safely carry their planes....fuselages, wings, fuel, tools, controllers, etc.. Like other folks who have utility trailers, travel trailers, and the like having an electrical plug-in tether, many find dirt/corrosion of the several contacts at the connector to be a nuisance. Someone in that local group found that an application of Rail-Zip solved their towing continuity issues satisfactorily. Over time the hint has made the rounds locally. So we keep a small supply at the shop.
Re the experience of Rail-Zip exacerbating dirt on the wheels.... Again, locally we've also encountered that opinion. But through discussion/questions we feel most of the issues our customers encountered have to do with over-zealous application, not allowing the Rail-Zip to dry, and.......plastic wheels. It's not much of a model railroading secret, but plastic wheels seem to become dirty more quickly than metal wheels. Static electricity, rail cleaning fluids of all different preferences, rough/scratched railheads aggresively scoured to remove oxidation, even excessive humidity, etc., etc......they've all been blamed for dirty wheels, especially so for plastic ones.
Opinions AND facts abound on the topic, of course. Many tend to find solace in a favorite technique for maintaining reliable electrical contact/continuity. It's a TEHO issue.
FWIW....
KD
