I again figured out how to use the Kato Rail Joiner Removal Tool this morning and took this photo to remind myself. I later put a dot of white paint on the insert area so as to help. I should print this picture and hang a framed enlargement of it in my train room.
To answer your question, ". . . What is it that forumers don't like or like about it(sic)". I would say the reason is that Unitrack is seen as basically fancy sectional track and has the same undesirable features as such. It is not as flexible as flex track and limits one to certain radii. It has gained the moniker of 'lazy man's track'. That being said I use it for setting up a temporary oval to test equipment or to use as a programing track for DCC but for layout purposes I will go with Peco Code 55 flex and C 55 turnouts. No one brand of track is without its faults and Peco has its own. But for my purposes, Peco is my 'go to' track.
Never heard it called that....but...whatever ! Its more reliable and stays cleaner then any other track. I have made any radii track curves I needed.
One must remember why Unitrack was created. It was originally for the Japanese market (of course with Kato a Japanese company) where most people live in tiny apartments and have no room for a permanent layout. They might hijack a room for half a day to run their trains and then put everything away by dinner time. It was never meant to be permanent. If you see Unitrack as toy like, the Japanese might see your flex track as abominable over kill. 4000 SF houses with giant basements are not common over there, especially in an earthquake zone. People elsewhere like to use Unitrack for its reliability and their special sauce metallurgy that keeps the rails from oxidizing as much. They live with not having flex track (though Kato seems to have it now). What may be important for one person may not be for another.
It's funny how some flex track users may look down on Unitrack users, while being looked down upon themselves by some hand-laid track users. And there's the hand-spiked wood vs soldered PC tie crowds within hand-laid track circles. We all have our own means and dreams of what our model railroads need to be, and the market fills multiple niches for those means and dreams...
And its not like Unitrack users are always and only the butts of all the derision out there... I used to look down upon the Lego railroads. Then I saw the looks on the faces of those kids (and adults) around the Lego layout at the train show... Say what you want, but that group has captured hearts & minds! Sure, some of those kids may grow up and hand spike their own ties and rails, but some of them will continue to dance with the one that brung 'em. And fill every niche in between.
What he said. Use whatever track makes you happy I've seen some layouts that mix them all together also!
Is there an order part number for that. I have yet to see one on the site I am able to connect to. Along with other things that have been mentioned. I don't have stores close by and will have to order from some were. The ones nearby don't carry Kato.
The unijoiner tool comes bundled with a rerailer - Kato #24-000. http://www.katousa.com/N/Unitrack/accessories.html
Linn Westcott was advocating Unitrack-type track back in the nineteen sixties. He even wrote one of his "At the Throttle" articles about it. Doug
Thanks Point353. I should look into getting at least one of those. I don't want to be breaking anything and with my antique hands I need the rerailer. Have one for HO. I'll have to see if my other simple track gauges fit. The HOs do.
I looked up that rerailer and tool on there site. I also notice the video on the road crossing and that it can be extended to two tracks or more. Does that work with there double track system? If I ever get to it. It's bed time so I may have something the dream about.
Yes. My last permanent layout had to loops of the double track elevated pieces (i.e. four loops total). I had their new DCC friendly automatic road crossing with three of the extra track adapters (i.e. 4 track crossing). It's a fun "toy" for those who haven't ever fully left their Lionel days of the fifties and sixties.
