Hi guys, I've been wondering if it's possible to change this: Into this: (HSL track from the Netherlands) I did manage to weather some Unitrack. I like the result and I want to use this for station tracks: I would really like to get the HSL look from the Netherlands. I guess I need to heavily modify the rails to do so? Just fooling with my camera, a fleet of Eurostars:
Hey SmolderZ, I see you are interested in highspeed trains too. I think the easiest solution to your problem will be to purchase the double track viaduct series. These beauties are similar to what you are wishing for. In addition, you can take out the track and use the bridge for highways! Hope that helps!
Thanks to2leo!, I have been looking for these but I don't want to purchase them untill I seen a closeup. They're pretty expensive so first I want to be sure. Maybe someone knows where I can see a closeup? This is what I found, it does look pretty close! I just need to add a strip through the middle.
Hey SmolderZ, Check this link. I think that site will provide close enough view. The pictures are in the middle of the thread. http://www.tts.tw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8687#68213&sid=13f1eb5e581adc449556aadbb04b03b7
If it was me creating this type of rail in bulk I would take a piece of flex track and glue it down to a styrene strip that's 1/8" bigger then the width of the track on both sides.....but only glue the track to about 1/16" inside each rail...then cut out the middle section. Add another strip of styrene right down the middle and paint the entire assembly gray. It might work.
to2leo, Ready interesting link! I too have been collecting Japanese Bullet trains and have converted most of them over DCC. I worked in Japan for a month and it is very interesting why N scale is so popular there, they have very little space. Smoltz - You did a great job on the high speed track. How do you like the Thalys? Kato besides the double viaduct set they also makes a double plate high speed set.
Wow, those Japanese really put us to shame with the number of pictures they include in their posts. :teeth:
Haha! Theres a ton of pictures in there indeed! I love that thread! Thanks to2leo, I did find the closeups I want It does come very close! I guess it's a winner! edburchell, that idea has crossed my mind. It's a bit labor intensive but it could give a nice result indeed. Bernard, I love the Thalys! It runs sooo smooth! I only tried it out once on a small loop of Unitrack, now I can't wait to start building my layout! Anyone interested in my layout plan? I could post it in here to keep the topic alive.
I am always game to see other people's layout plans.....it is fun and inspiring to see what others are doing. Interesting topic.
I am glad everyone enjoys the pictures and SmolderZ got his answer. The site is from Taiwan but the trains and tracks are from Kato and Tomix. It is good sometime to see what others across the globe are doing! Hey SmolderZ, any luck in installing Kato LED lights inside your Eurostar?
HSL layout plan Here is the trackplan I designed for my High Speed layout: There are 2 fly-overs, the main line (red) continues underneeth the station. The fly-overs not only look visually interesting, I also putt them there so the trains don't have to run on full speed through the station, which looks unrealistic. You can also see that the station tracks have very sharp radiuses, these are not ment for high speed. Theres also the main station building. I'm planning to scratchbuild a station roof like Waterloo's International Station. I designed the station to hold a 14-car long Eurostar. Waterloo International Station: Behind the station there will be a yard for maintenance. I'm thinking of 1 maintenance building which could hold 4, 10-car TGV type trains. These will be used for staging area's so my trains don't have to collect dust. The Eurostars can rest in the tunnels beneath the station. I'm currently designing trackwork and catenary. The catenary will be based on the High Speed Line from the Netherlands, just like the trackwork. I'm pretty far with the catenary system, I just need to find a place which could suply me with 0,02mm copered steel wire and then I can build my own catenary at a very low cost!
to2leo, I always imagined how they would build there layouts and I would never know because of the language-barrier. When I read through that topic it was the first time I seen stuff from them! I want more! I haven't tried installing Kato LED lights inside my Eurostar's yet. I don't know if I will try this in the future. I don't really see the need for it. I have seen pictures of the Thalys with interior lighting and I have to admit it does look nice!
Wow, we're all going to want to see photos of that station when your done...:teeth: ...and we'll want to know how you did it, too!
ME Code 55 problem I bought some ME Code 55, concrete ties for the yard area. I tried to run the Eurostar and Thalys on it but the wheel flanges slightly hit the top of the ties so it makes a nice "rrrrrr" sound when it goes down the rail What should I do? I cannot return it. Maybe I could file a bit of the top of the ties? Or adjust the 300+ wheelflanges of my rolling stock?
Hmm you can sell it on the auction site and purchase the Kato tracks. Unitracks are amasing to run highspeed with. I never encounter problems when running my high speed train collection. JaggedBen, you can actually purchase something similar with Trix in HO Scale http://catalog.lokshop.de/TRX/2006/E/image_124.html
SmolterZ, I love the pix you have of the Waterloo station. I just tried to download some pix of the High speed layout I'm building but I'm having trouble. In designing your layout be very careful about radius sizes with Bullet trains, the min. I have is 16" which is part of my yard. My 500 & 700 Bullet trains have trouble with this radii, whereas everything else runs fine. Have you decided if you are going to run your layout DC or DCC? I went with DCC, Kato trains aren't that hard to install decoders.
Hate to be a stickler, but although the Trix model is a very nice thing, it's not similar to what SmolderZ is talking about...the trix model does not have a see-through glass roof, or a curve in the middle, and it's not scratchbuilt.
Smolderz, that station looks awesome. I too run some high speed train every now and then on my layout but on slow speed track. verse
The min. radius I have is 8,5". The Thalys I have runs great on 7,6" radius turns. The Eurostars have no problem either. I really like those 700 Bullet trains! But if what your saying is true then I can't run them on my narrow 8,5" station tracks. I have decided to run DC for now, for operation theres no need to go to DCC atm. Maybe when I got more trains I'll go DCC 'cause like you said, Kato trains are easily fitted with decoders. Kato announced the TGV Atlantique...well, I didn't hear from Kato but it's on the tee-usa website. http://www.tee-usa.com/kato10912.html KATO10912 (N scale) Ten unit high speed train TGV Atlantique composed by two front end locomotives (one powered), seven passenger coaches and a bar-lounge coach. Set includes ballasted track for model display. Epoch V, metal chassis, full interiors, bi-directional lights, DCC-friendly, short coupling between cars, 5-pole motor with flywheel. $309 delivery 2007 I found this image a few years back on the Kato website, this is the one! Don't think they're going to release the red Thalys color scheme though.
I ordered all the Unitrack I need for my new layout! It will be send to me next week, I'll post pics when it arrives! Can someone unravel what kind of ballast is used in the following picture? It's a picture from Don Rickle's album. I pm'ed him but didn't get any reply. It looks GREAT! Btw, should I use cork underneath the Unitrack? Or just glue it straight down on the wood? I'm affraid it would be too noisy. Thanks!!
