I'm trying to figure out what track pieces I need in order to make a runaround using HO Kato unitrack pieces. I'm using SCARM, and having trouble figuring out what I need. I want to use four switches to do this, so a track continues on both top and bottom of the runaround, like this: <==============> ....//....\\.... ...//......\\... <==============> =, //, \\ is track . is empty space I want to limit myself to Kato's manual switches, since they are more economical. These allows me #4 (2940/2841) or #6 (2862/2863) turnouts. I can't find any information sheets on the geometry of these, so far as making a runaround based on four switches. I can make a two-switch runaround using the suggested pieces in the HV2 kit. I'm also using SCARM to try to figure this out, but can't seem to find the pieces that make it match up properly. Anyone have any advice? Thanks.
Doesn't look like you can use the manual switches and maintain proper track-to-track spacing. The diagram attached shows the #4 remotes on the left with proper track spacing, on the right are the #4 manuals. Kato Ho by drbnc posted Dec 2, 2018 at 11:05 AM
Of course, "proper track-to-track spacing" is subjective, at least until the boxcars start rubbing their doors together. But that difference is enough to foul up efforts to adapt a plan designed around the one and use the other. If you use the same type of switches in all four spots, the two parallel tracks will come out parallel. That I can guarantee. But I can't guarantee you can make standardized straight pieces fit between both pairs of switches. That's why I seldom use those systems. When I need 4 and 39/47th inches of track, I do have just the right saw to get it!
I predict that you will necessarily, once you manage to cobble this all together using the track elements to which you are limiting yourself, the Kato track elements, find the siding part, and its extensions in either direction, to be rather well separated from your main track. This might be a non-issue for you, but my point is that the arrangement will result in a separation that will eat up a lot of space.
I figured out for my purposes I could use all left turnouts, for example. This makes sure you can always add middle pieces and it all stays parallel. This is okay if it doesn't matter to you how your ends come out. This means your runaround looks like this, though: ..<============> ....//....//.... ...//....//..... <============>.. Works for me.
