Although i would love to use code 55 track my physical problems with one hand precludes that so i was thinking of using kato unitrack. Can i build a layout that is prototipical using this track? The rails looks to be about c80 and i think i could scene the roadbed to where it was not so perfect. It seems to be a nice system and easy to work with. Thanks for your help. Dave
Dave, I would highly recommend Unitrack There are at least five other forum members who are using it. That includes me, and Grey One. Click on the link below and you can see some early pictures of mine. Alan
Hello Dave, The answer is yes though it does depend on what you mean by prototypical. There are folks who can get someone perfect down to the last rivet but just enjoy running trains in circles. Others have a superbly run very realistic operations but lack much in the way of scenery. And yes, there are those I hate, er, I mean admire who can pull it all together and use Unitrak. On top of all of that they take the time to help us. As for me, my vision is so bad I don't really care about appearance except on the macro scale of long sweeping curves and yards full of colorful cars. The present layout is an elaborate "roundy round". Works for me.
Thanks guys, i just want a layout that looks and runs great. I'm no rivit counter but i want it to look right. It seems to me that the unitrack will work for me. Thanks for the pics Alan, the layout is looking good, gives me some idea's also. Dave
Howdy Dave! I think Alan's estimate of "at least five" is possibly conservative. And if you include people who use Unitrack for test loops and hidden trackage it goes up even more. Any time spent weathering the rails and adding ballast can greatly improve appearance, if you lean in that direction. For what little it's worth, I'm about to get into On30 scale and am seriously considering using HO Unitrack! mg: You'll probably be happy with Unitrack. My attraction to it is three-fold: 1) everyone who uses it says it's "bulletproof" 2) you can put it together and take it apart nearly indefinitely 3) has good re-sale value on Ebay if you change your mind Well, that's my narrow gauge opinion, anyhow! :teeth:
Viva la Unitrack! I've been messing around seriously with Unitrack for the past year, and I've learned many things. Perhaps the most important is this: Don't use a computer program to design your Unitrack layout, even if it "supports" Unitrack. There is a certain amount of latitude in the Unijoiners that enables things to be done that can't be envisioned in mathematically perfect world. Just take a look at the following "impossible" Unitrack configuration. You are looking at the tail end of a horseshoe curve built with R315, R348, and R381 curved track, but with easements constructed with R718 and R481 lead-in tracks. The resulting alignment anomaly was resolved, and further easement gradation was achieved, with 18mm track segments: When Unitrack is properly aligned, it connects easily and each piece lies flat independently, almost loosely, without any lateral tension. As in in the above. This track is capable of flawless performance. --Bryan
It's simple- PERFORMANCE! An engineered rail system designed to perform. I appreciate bryan9s note. Lay it down and see how it really lays out. Geesh- trying to force flex track to do something that you know and I know just ain't gonna happen... I think Kato- lends to me serious design concepts as far as limitations as to what I should "want" to do with trackwork. Sure, everyone wants that kewl~~~~arrangement of wierd tracks in a corner or just "wants" to cram as much possible into a spaghetti bowl- but I say, "Grasshopper, learn your layout, know your grade, understand your reallity through dimension. Experience dimension Grasshopper. And most of all, enjoy running trains Grasshopper". Okay- I like Kato track. Simple- and I can accept its appearance and make it work for me. The best part- I run trains. Not a maintainer service- we're not union and (pardon me boys- luv ya's) but we got keep 'em rollin. Wait'll Kato comes out with the VERSE55! Mark I deny any inside on the KATO direction to coded N rail. 55 or otherwise.
New to trainboard.....just bought out a collection with hundreds of pieces of Unitrack...like someone above.....not a rivet counter but looking for realism.......so how do you weather and ballast Unitrack?.....or point me to some previous posts. Thanks, Sam
Howdy Sam! Wecome to TrainBoard. Here's a link (off TrainBoard, but a TrainBoard member) to John Sing's ATSF Arizona Peavine layout, It's a really small layout, but he gets awesome pictures from it - makes it seem a lot bigger. (warning, picture intensive, dialup takes a while to load) John Sing's Unitrack Layout Once on his site, he has stuff about weathering and ballasting, and tuning up Kato #4 Turnouts. I'm sure lots of other people will chime in with more help, cheers!
Glad to see Bryan's back at it again. Y'all take what he has to say about Unitrack and easements to the bank! Good as gold.
I'm using Uni Track on a small table top module set. A couple photos, showing ballasted track, from above and near track level. From above Near track level More photos can found found here: http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=1110
I'm still waiting for it to happen... Should I start selling off all of my existing Unitrack? Sell now while the price is still high... in anticipation of such a ground-shaking... earth shattering possibility? If Kato really did such a thing... I would really be surprised... but it might be a pleasant surprise.
Could have fooled me! Many people would not have known that was Unitrack... nice work! Only the tie spacing would have tipped-off some of the most observant modelers... and they might have guessed Atlas Code 80 instead of Kato Unitrack. BTW: What are the radii used on those two tracks?
I was going to use Unitrack for my expansion but changed my mind and will be using Atlas Code 55 for the following reasons: It looks better. It has a wider selection of track and switches It has flex track It looks a lot better than ballasted Kato track when properly ballasted with a lot less effort. Rails are easier to weather It takes more effort to properly join and solder the Code 55, but I am gambling that it is worth the effort. If not......................... Another LESSON LEARNED
Unitrack Kato's "Unitrack" is an excellent product for building a layout. Whether HO of N it works well and looks good. The only drawback I've noticed and it goes for all the ready track products is you are limited by the the product line. Curves and turnouts being the most limiting. Good planning and using the highest radii curves available will result in a layout that operates well.
You can checkout my railimages postings and you will see where I use a combination of Unitrack and the "Old School" cork road bed and Atlas flex track. The only problems I've had with the Unitrack, and I will take the blame is ... heat kinks. I have the layout in a metal shed and it can get hot. I built the shed under the protection of two shade trees and that helps...a lot. I took pictures of the heat kinks. They turned out lousy and I'm embarrassed to share them (fuzzy and out of focus). I'm certain I shook the camera. The heat damage required that I re-gauge the track, file off some divits, cut some gaps-in, a conservative application of cyanoacrylate and the slow order is lifted...time to highball. The switches took a little more work to correct and re-gauge. One more switch to go and the layout will be back in shape. I'm a supporter of Kato Unitrack. I like the combination I used. It allowed me to use radius curves not available from Kato. However, for a pre-fab track and the variety of curved track sections available, you have it made. Just lay the track out, secure it to your layout, wire it-in and in no time, you have a operating railroad. One other feature I like...I can cut the track to fit. The fewer railjoiners the better I like it. I do solder the railjoiners, allowing for electrical consistency all the way around the layout. The best part, I discovered...you don't need to solder the railjoiners when utilizing Unitrack. Just an old habit that makes me comfortable. Nothing but pure OD fun!
Kato's Uni-Track has been uniformly praised for its bullet-proof performance. There have been many threads about it. I suggest you just search the N Scale forum for Uni-Track. You'll get a lot of hits. I use it for my test/break-in loop. I'm thinking of expanding it for a second railroad in my office, one where a train will run by my keyboard every few minutes. Others have related how it can be scenicked to reduce its C80 rail height.
Here's a few shots of my door top layout in progress using Unitrack: It can be made to look good, just ballast it like regular track- it just takes a little more precaution around the turnouts.
