I have been purchasing my kits from Masterpiece Modules. They have announced suspension of manufacturing any kits. (See their web site.) It seems that not only have prices for their plywood supplies surged upward, but the source for their material ("Baltic Birch") is right in the middle of the current European conflict. Bummer.
Masterpiece has updated their web site. They have now decided to discontinue modules, permanently. Is there any source of module kits now? Or have they all shut down?
Not sure if you have access to or room for a table saw, but a few years back I started cutting my own modules out of 1/2-inch and 1/4-inch Baltic Birch from Lowes. It comes in a 2X4 sheet and isn't the 5 ply Russian type but it is good enough quality for the many FreeMo size HO modules and my current NTrak module is made from.
I still have a small number (ten or so) of T-Kits stashed away that I can ration out if anyone needs them.
So I have a solution to this problem. Contact the guy below, his name is Stewart Denniston. He is making T-Trak modules that look to be of good quality and the prices are right about the same as Masterpiece. dennind@gmail.com here is his price list and module availability
By any chance does he have a web site? I wonder what materials he uses? Masterpiece quit as they could no longer acquire Baltic Birch. If they could not, probably nobody else can, unless they are a mega-corporation. And likely the prices go higher anyhow.....
He doesn’t yet have a website, just the email and price list. I am getting a double from him, I will do a review on it when it arrives. From what I have seen of his work, it is top notch, and I have also seen some custom work as well that looks really good.
When I got my start in T-Trak, many years ago, (way back when the track spacings were closer together!), I had the tools and a place to build my own. And I did so. But life throws changes at many of us, which others do not experience and cannot comprehend. A major change ran over my life last decade. I no longer have a place or the tools where I can cut my own lumber. So kits are a must in many instances.
Thank you, Massey. I heard back on my inquiry to Stuart Denniston. He says he is working on a web site. His mouldes aare not kits. They come fully assembled. Meanwhile, for anyone curious, as am I, I found him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/249281465586141/user/100000035799447/ https://www.facebook.com/ddbflorida I will be communicating further with him. Have some questions I wish to ask...
The photos in the second link show a cabinet grade plywood with three equally wide veneers inside two thin outer veneers. Not Baltic Birch, but not bad as a stand in either given the size and loading requirements of the pieces he's building.
