I model Japanese as well as U.S., want to swap bank balances?:tb-biggrin: Tomix and Micro-Ace have similar monthly release announcements. The smaller Japanese manufacturers that non-modelers of Japanese trains have never heard of would equal the yearly output of the U.S.'s largest manufacturers.
Jeff, Yes, The Curve was 3 tracks when concrete ties were common. I had been thinking about painting the concrete ties to look like wood but I digress. I REALLY want Kato to duplicate the line with wood ties. You're right about the flextrack shipping. Most dealers charge a premium to ship it though. See another post about 31" (80 cm) Unitrack. Dave
Sierra117, My #1 advice is to avoid #4 turnouts. Next, try to use the small pieces of track in the assortment (20-091) instead of the expansion track, I have had a few derailments due to them. I use feeders only about every 6' and it works fine. I have not had much luck with UniJoiners but I know a lot of people who swear by them. Don't forget that the turnouts are power routing. I have a couple sections of "switchback" spurs that only get power by feeders. Dave
Now there's an idea, a #8 turnout, with 1-1/2 track center spacing. I'd like that better than a new #6. And I'd love a piece of double-track with 20 and 21-1/2" radii. Dave
Mark, Character flaw: I don't know the meaning of the term "give up" so we have this thread. Are you listening Kato? Dave
I used to get a Kato catalog every 2 or 3 years but I've been a little busy and haven't got one now in a few years. I have a bunch of old, light brown Unitrack and it's single track with concrete ties. I didn't know they made an 80 cm piece, interesting. I also talk to Leon and Michael any chance I get. You're right about manufacturers and their home markets of course. (Thanks for your comment about the CB&Q car, we aim to please.) Dave
The 21-000, 80cm track is standard flex track, I recall reading somewhere that it is actually rebranded Atlas.
Dave, I assure you its no character flaw. It's called picking your battles. But by all means, go for it. Before you do, you might be interested in the past threads related to this very topic. Some are not as relevant as others, but similar topics are at least mentioned in each one. Good luck! If Kato produced USA prototypical Unitrack... N Scale Kato Unitrack vs Atlas True-Track Track. Realism. N scale. AARGGH! N Scale..Time For Change? More different Unitrack peaces Kato #4 or #6 turnouts? N scale track questions Different versions of Unitrack Your predictions for the model railroading hobby in the new decade? Doing what Kato should have done... N scale Kato questions Unitrack Flextrack? Unitrack question Kato Unitrack Question Sorry for not taking Unitrack seriously Atlas N gauge track Failed 1st n scale layout with turnouts leads to questions Conversion to Atlas Code 55: To Be or Not to Be? Atlas True-Track vs. Atlas Code 83 track
I don't solder ANYTHING. The one thing I managed to learn in metalwork classes at school - Davies does not solder. Regards, Pete
Doh! That just figures. Atlas flex track - it's everywhere. Probably why Kato makes the Unitrack transition piece.
Ah, the light brown Unitrack. As for Kato, after the whole problem in 2008 with announcing Japanese prototype for sale in the U.S. and then not shipping them to KatoUSA, I can't help feeling that they treat KatoUSA as a country cousin. I'm sure they paid Model Railroader to build a Unitrack layout with their new track so I can't say all hope is lost though and I'll continue to give them an earful. As for a #8 turnout, what radius curve do you thing they could use coming off of it? That and the #6 with normal Unitrack spacing would be high on my list. I have all of your CB&Q box cars (and multiples in some cases) including the weathered car. You do another run, I'm in.
I think Dick just wanted to use something very easy to work with for the article. A #8 would need to have something like a 960 mm or 38" radius coming off it. That's just doubling the one used for a #4. Normal inch-and-a-half spacing is the key though. We should do a new CB&Q car every couple of years. The last one was the Unit Trucks car and the next one will be the Abe Lincoln car. Dave
Try not to loose any sleep over it. The few threads at the top of the list have the best info, the rest approach redundancy very quickly. If you can come up with a different approach/proposal than those from the past, I'm all ears. But as I said, I'm all out of breath from pushing the idea in the past.
The #6 is 28 1/4" radius (#4's are 18") so a #8 would probably be up around 36". I'd like to see chemically weathered rails to save me painting them. You may have something with your theory about MR's current project layout, they are not usually known for their promotion of N scale.
Funny you mention that. I ordered a bunch of their Japanese stuff back then when they'd post it on their website. I got maybe 20% of it. Yesterday, my LHS called me and told me that the EH200 I ordered in 2008 had just come in. I get the feeling that Kato only shipped to KatoUSA whatever they had leftover. I ordered the PORTRAM a few months ago from the LHS, but I won't believe it till I have it in my grubby little hands.
Get your Japanese stuff from Japan via Hobby World, Hobby Search or Plaza Japan, you'll get 100% of it, probably cheaper and definitely quicker. The only problem is there's more to choose from.
