N Scale T-Trak

I gt yo y r message, and a wiling to try a group in Phoenix again, ast time i set my layout up by the front dor on the sidewalk and had running trains, vut got no interest. I can mention it here, but i doubt I'd. Set up at a hobby shop again, to hot right nw, and we've lost some hobby shops.

 

I found this T-Trak club in Arizona listed on T-Trak.Org's website.

http://ttrak.wikidot.com/arizona-model-railroading-society

 

As compared to what?
How much Unitrack are you going to need?
Have you factored in the cost of roadbed, ballast, switch machines, etc?

You do have the option of installing 20-045 conversion tracks at the ends the modules and using whatever other code 80 track better fits your budget.

 

The switches are less expensive than conventional units plus roadbed, plus motor. With Unitrak it's just wire, solder and if using BCD, about $1.50 in parts. Actually cheaper than any other way.

It always bugs me when people say Unitrak is expensive, when it's actually much less. Plus any track you buy is a lifetime investment. You can use 100% of it over and over. - steps off soapbox.

Don

 

I've done five modules so far and other than at the ends and two Kato #4's that I had to use because they were right on the edges, no Unitrak to speak of. I normally use Peco and Atlas products on Midwest cork roadbed and also whatever I have left over from older projects - everything from Atlas C80 on down. All manual switches. I simply cut the shorter Unitrak chunks in half for end connectors and solder them up to C80 or Peco C55, file smooth. And I watch the auction sites for used Peco switches - they really hold up and are the only ones I'd ever recommend buying used.

I had a couple of the curved Kato track sections and used those as templates to make sure my flextrack curves were compliant. I also got one of the short double-track, concrete-tie sections to use as a 33mm track spacing template, highly recommend that.

I had no electrical or track issues at all with this philosophy running on the big T-trak layout at Altoona.

I also did all my own module boxes out of 1/4" birch plywood - bought 2x4 precut sheets at Lowes only where I need the good stuff. I will fess up to having an excellent table saw and all manner of woodworking tools left over from my father's shop 45 years ago so I didn't have to buy module kits.

The only oddball thing I found that was really absolutely, positively, necessary was a good accurate metric tape measure to check and recheck dimensions if you aren't using stock Unitrak to ensure your end-to-end dimensions are right on within a mm.

The other thing that you pretty much have to buy into is some manner of standard power supply plug (Kato) if you're working with other modules. But other than that, pretty much two track feeders per main to the plug and at minimum, you're done electrically.

My modules have just been dirt-cheap to do in comparison to a normal layout construction project, mostly because I used leftovers and used material wherever I could.

The only thing that gave me sticker shock so far was the Woodland Scenics deep-pour water..... ouch! 8 inches by 33 inches by 1/4 inch was almost 36 oz. and $60. Worth it, but a surprise.

For transport and storage, I make two drilled end plates out of 1/4" cheap plywood and 'flip' one over top of the other upside down so that the underneath of one module is the cover to the other - with the skyboards. I drill out 1/2" holes where the Unitrak joiners go on the ends and just hold everything together with screws. Minimal cost. I wanted to do this on the cheap as much as I possibly could.

There's no Ntrak or Ttrak clubs near me at all, but Dave Ferrari's invitation to the annual Altoona shows gave me some motivation to do this, plus these modules are highly portable to community events in the area. Mine are based on actual local real locations and are intended (eventually) to the local museums in the area as displays of local railroad history, not just a portable train layout.

 

I believe I will visit there the next time I am down in the Valley !! Thank You

 

Gotta see how the other half lives from time to time

 

I use Kato on the corner modules because I don't like to bend flextrack into the relatively sharp curves, and because the Kato track is used as module connector. I don't think that those curved tracks are that expensive.

On straight modules, I only use Kato on the edges because they have to connect to other modules. The rest of the tracks are Peco code 55. The Peco turnouts are manually, so I save a lot of money on switch machines. Many of my turnouts have already been used on several layouts and modules, and thanks to the quality of Peco, can they be reused over and over again. And since Peco is not an expensive brand, it's not a big problem to buy some new turnouts when necessary.

 

The AZ club is a long way out from my house, and the membership is pretty steep for T trak. I'll just use my own layout.

 

MasterPiece modules has a 19" R corner module that uses the Kato track that is almost 19" and 17some". Check it out. The modules are about 20"x20" so you would need two tables next to each other to have space for them to work/ later, craig

 

Hello all!
As planning progresses We'll be updating this page regularly...I do want to clear up a few things that we've been hearing here and there..
1) no tables will need to be furnished by attendees... We've heard all the chatter about past shows and venues, and the issues with tables, etc. We're working to make sure that tables will be available and there will be NO need for module participants to provide any.
2) There will be NO participation fee to be part of the layout! We're organizing and planning this event so that there will be no charge for your participation in the T-TRAK layout.
3) Along the same theme- membership in the NMRA is NOT required to participate in this layout at the National Train Show, nor are participants in the layout required to sign up and attend the NMRA Convention- The Convention is separate from the National Train Show (although both are NMRA hosted events)
4) Again...if you are interested in attending, email us at layout@t-trak.org
please include your name, contact info, and a description of your module(s), including dimension, wiring, and any other information...

Thank you and We look forward to seeing you in Kansas city in 2018!

 

Here is the official participation form for the 2018 NTS T-TRAK layout in Kansas City: