Kato Unitrack N Scale Track Discussion

Hardcoaler Jul 6, 2017

  1. pdavidson

    pdavidson TrainBoard Member

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    Any 15 degree is correct but you probably need to experiment with different size curves first to see what size curves can handle your longest cars...probably your passenger cars.
     
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  2. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thank you guys. That 15 degree is what I needed to know mainly. Will probably go with at least the 15 inch radius curve for this. Would like to do the 19 inch but not sure space will allow for that.
     
  3. Maletrain

    Maletrain TrainBoard Member

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    The #4 turnouts come with 19" radius, 15° track segments, plus a short section of track that has some of its plastic roadbed cut away to allow it to fit against the other track section used on one diverging end of the turnout. That results in a track spacing that is as tight as you can get with Kato track. The #6 turnouts are made with slightly longer diverging track segments, so they do not need that type of special roadbed sections to fit together, but that results in a wider track spacing, even with the same 19" radius curved sections. Track spacing with a #4 and 19" curve comes out to 1 - 9/32" and the #6 with 19" curve comes out at 1 - 19/32", so 5/16" wider.
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2019
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  4. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks sir. Saw that the #4 came with a section of curve and figured that was probably what it was for. In my case, I plan to come off the main and parallel it for a bit before diverging so that wider spacing shouldn't be an issue. At least I hope not. :)
     
  5. Maletrain

    Maletrain TrainBoard Member

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    BNSF Fan, there is another issue you need to consider in your planning: Kato does not make 15° segments in all curved track radii. Definitely not in 15" radius or 13" radius. So, you are basically stuck with using the 19" radius or something pretty tight. I don't have any of the smaller track radius sections to check for you. If you find that you really need to use 13" or 15", you COULD cut the a section down, basically by removing half of the roadbed FROM THE MIDDLE of a 30° section, sliding the ends together along the rails and gluing them together, and then CAREFULLY cutting the rails to the proper length. There are some You-Tube videos on that, if this description is not enough.
     
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  6. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Oops, that 15 inch was a brain lapse on my part, should have said 12 3/8 inch 15 degree curve section. (it's Kato N part 20-121). Still may do the 19 inch if I can make it fit and the bigger radius is always better when possible. Really really really trying to stick to stock track sections and not modify anything if possible.
     
  7. pdavidson

    pdavidson TrainBoard Member

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    You can cut ant piece of Kato track to any desired length....straight or curved. Involves cutting a section from the middle and keeping the ends so it still connects together properly. Mike Fifer has a "how to" video on his web site.
     
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  8. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    I'm an old skool DC modeler, so isolated blocks are an important consideration in my Kato Unitrack track plan. When block boundaries fall near turnouts, I always install the insulated rail joiners at the end of the turnout closest to the points. This consistent approach helps me to recall where mainline block boundaries are.

    The conundrum with Kato turnouts is that you can't place insulated joiners and power inputs close by each other as I was able to do with my former layout with soldered power connections to Shinohara track. I then thought of an obvious solution as illustrated below, feeding the power into the block on the other end of the turnout. Duh. Sweet and simple using Kato's 24-816 Insulated UniJoiners and 24-818 Terminal Unijoiners to feed power, this should do the trick.

    Kato Turnout Power Feed and Insulation.jpg
     
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  9. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nice and easy solution. Have to go back and double check and make sure I didn't do any of my blocks incorrectly now.
     
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  10. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Has anyone powered these (Kato part 24-840) without using the Kato power pack?
    Kato24840.JPG
    I just saw there is a converter for these (Kato part 24-842) but was wondering if there are other options as well?
     
  11. viperjim1

    viperjim1 TrainBoard Member

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    I don't believe so as you connect the leads to your transformer and then the turnout controllers connect to your adaptor. These are nice and positive action also. But for control panel purposes DPDT switches are nicer.
     
  12. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    You can attach a 24-840 Turnout Control Switch to any 12V DC power supply, using the 24-842. Or, if you really want, just wire up the leads from a 12V DC supply to two female battery snap connectors. Besides not having any distinct polarization of the connectors on these units, they are also a non-standard spacing, so, honestly, I would use the adapter.
     
  13. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks guys. I'm probably going with the Kato adapter but was just curious about the other options. I have a couple of old 9 volt battery hook ups that I could modify but just wasn't sure about it and how it would work and look.
     
  14. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    I crafted my turnout control panel using DPDT toggles with a capacitive discharge circuit on each and LEDs. Am working on the Block panel now.

    2019-02-11 001 DS&N Turnout Control Panel - for upload.jpg
    2019-02-11 002 DS&N Turnout Control Panel - for upload.jpg
     
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  15. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

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    I have a question for the crew regarding Kato's superelevated concrete tie curves. I've used the 20-185 (superelevated curve) and 20-186 (easement) tracks on a past layout. Both of these items are the largest radii available (17" - 18"). I now have only a temporary layout requiring slightly less space than these sections require. I'm thinking of keeping the 10-186 largest radii easements, but substituting the next smaller superelevated curves between them. Those are the 20-181 sections of superelevated curve track (15" - 16"). Has anybody done this? I'm assuming that the "superelevated" interface on all of these Kato sections would be the same and mate up well. Ironically, this would result in the easement sections actually meeting the more traditional use of our term "easement" wrt curves (i.e. a broader radius at the beginning and end of a curved section of track).
     
  16. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    I had so much trouble with the superelevated track that I got rid of it.The pieces never fit together correctly. Maybe my issue was the wrong easement curves were packed into my set.
     
  17. Maletrain

    Maletrain TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, you can do that - I have done exactly that. Those sections do fit together properly and do provide a little bit of easement effect.

    However, be advised that using larger radius sections at the ends of semi-circles will give a slightly wider spacing between the parallel tangents that attach to the ends of the semicircle, as well a substantially longer curved sections. That is true for not just these superelevated sections, but also what I do when I use 15° sections of 19" radius for easements at the ends of my 15" and 13-3/4" radius curves. This won't be a problem if you are creating a track plan that uses two such semicircles facing each other with straight track between. But, if you are using just one such semicircle, mating it with other trackage might cause subtle kinks that can give you operational problems, if you are not careful to detect and avoid them.
     
  18. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

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    Sorry to hear that. I used those largest Kato superelevated components on my last shelf layout for over two years without incident.
     
  19. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks!! This is what I was assuming but it's nice to have some confirmation before exercising my credit card. My application will be a simple loop with identical facing ends as you mentioned, so I shouldn't have any problems. I've just completed a major life downsizing, and will no longer have room or desire for a permanent layout. Instead, I'll be doing it the Japanese way - setting up temporary Unitrack on floor (unlikely) or dining room table (highly likely) to run trains. I have a dining table that extends to 41" x 115", so there will be room for a decent length loop. Unfortunately those largest Kato superelevated sections would form a loop requiring around 39" width, so I would be pretty tight against the edges. It looks like stepping down to the 21-181 (15" - 16" radii) superelevated sections will reduce the required width to around 35", even if I still use the 20-186 easements. I always use the largest radii I can, but am sure I'll do just fine with a 15" min radius, especially with broader radii easements entering and leaving the curves.
     
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  20. Trains

    Trains TrainBoard Member

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    Switch question, how do you get the plug off the end so you don't have to drill a big hole for the wires? I don't want to cut the wires!

    Thanks
    Don
     
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