I have done a new how to for all the Unitrack guys who stress about having the proper length of track handy for a plan. http://www.fiferhobby.com/html/how_to_make_your_own_lengths_o.html Thanks , Mike
Thnxs Mike... I have given Unitrack some consideration...but have also thought "What if it dont fit like I want?" Your tutorial answers a lot of questions...thnxs:thumbs_up: .
I'm sure glad that you have built your new layout using Kato Unitrack Mike. You have uncovered many quirks and come up with awesome work arounds!:thumbs_up::thumbs_up: Thanks for sharing. Jerry
Mike, Great tutorial. I like the idea of keep the rails intact and using those to insure a smooth transition over the cut zone. Nice work!
Thanks Guys , I might mention that the same cutting works for transition to other brands of track !! Mike
Great "How-to Photos" Thank you so much! I will use this technique this coming week to properly install the laser-cut modular trestles on my layout! I was trying to determine how to eliminate the roadbed so that only the rails would rest upon the trestle bridge. Now I know!:tb-biggrin:
I did something similar for my trestle, though taking it a bit further. Originally tried to patch in some ME flex bridge track, but had a very hard time getting the curves just right, and to eliminate derailments at the track transition. Instead, I took the two curved pieces of Unitrack that extended across the bridge, and cut most of the roadbed away, leaving just the 3/4 inch (or greater) of unijoiners on either end. I then carefully fed the Unitrack track into the plastic ties from the ME track. This gave me the perfect curves and metal of the Unitrack, plus the look of the ME bridge tie spacing, to sit on the trestle. The two sets of track meet in the middle of the bridge, held in place by the ties and a small spot of solder per rail. I dropped feeders from both ends where the unijoiners are to ensure electrical connectivity of the rails.
Great Idea Rick , Any picture during the making??? Or after???? It wouls make a great How To. Thanks , Mike
I didn't take any photos while doing it, but here was one I took afterwards The unijoiners on the far end are just at the end of the guard rail. I kept the unitrack roadbed right up to the edge (and it is ballasted). Here's the other end On this end, the unijoiners are just past the end of the track, just bare minimum of kato roadbed. The code 80 unitrack slides onto the ME flex ties very smoothly.
I have made numerous custom length sections of Unitrack and like how it eliminates using a lot of short pieces of track. I initially glued the pieces together using the recommended Testor's liquid cement; however I had better results using super glue. This is a great technique for improving the layout appearance and smooth running of the trains.:thumbs_up::thumbs_up: Thanks Mike. Jerry
