Layout design & parts help needed, please. N scale Kato Unitrack parts.

PRR1957 Oct 24, 2011

  1. PRR1957

    PRR1957 TrainBoard Member

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    First, I would like to apologize if it would seem that I'm becoming a nuisance with my questions and asking for input. So many of you are so capable & self sufficient that I truly feel it could be easy to be seen this way. I do not post often mainly because I'm not in your league. I would add no value to topics because I have no skills. I have no desire to become the guy that posts and eyes start rolling. That being said, I'm daring to ask directly for help.

    My layout will be small, even for N scale. I cannot go too tight in radius because what is the point in running a train if your begging for derails in advance?! I'm also not going to run a loco over 4 axles nor rolling stock over 50'. I'm limiting the length to 48". The width will be 30", but I could do 32". I prefer a two inch clearance from the track to the edge of the HCD. This is in case of a derail in hopes of limiting a tumble to the floor, thus perhaps destroying my engine or cars. Note: Maybe a rerailer piece or a crossing to help with the wheels?

    I would love to have both an outside AND inside track, but I realize this is probably not a good idea considering the limited size. The reason for wanting this is: I would like to run the inside track with a switcher, going to two different spurs, both hitching & unhitching units while the outside track has a loco running with its consist.

    I have now "fiddled" with three different programs. Atlas, XtrKCAD, and AnyRail. I seem to actually get a little accomplished with AnyRail, but the others are a complete bust. AnyRail even has the kato unitrack list, but I'm still a dunce with it. I'm frustrated that if this persists I'll see yet another year get away from me without a track down & a train running.

    Below, I will post a couple of ideas of the layout desired. If you have a modification, this is fine.

    [​IMG] <<< My idea without an inside track.

    [​IMG] <<< Found this interesting.

    I know you folks have other fish to fry, other things you need to do for yourselves. I'm just asking that if anyone would be so inclined, I would be grateful for the help. Time is a precious commodity and everyone's is valuable to them.

    Even if no one responds, I thank you for taking the interest & the time to take a read of my post.

    Blessings & best wishes,
     
  2. MC Fujiwara

    MC Fujiwara TrainBoard Member

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    One issue with the bottom design is only one crossover.
    After the train move from one loop to the other, it has to back up to return.

    There's plenty you can do on a 24"x48", so you have a little extra space to work with.
    Will this be an island layout (access on all sides?)
    Then you can use a scenic divider to "expand" the layout by creating two distant scenes / locations.

    If up against a wall, then there are some mountain / building / tree tricks to create viewblocks to tone down the "toy train" roundy round appearance.
    It might be worth looking at some 24"x48" designs and then rotating it to fit more on the diagonal so all tracks don't parallel the edges.

    Food for though!
     
  3. PRR1957

    PRR1957 TrainBoard Member

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    MC Fujiwara

    The layout will be up against a couch or a wall, depending on how the furniture is arranged at the time. But it's small enough I can access it all as the width will be facing me, & not the length (at least most often). I am going to do "something" to break the scene in two. I may place a thin board or something (a mountainous skyline perhaps) diagonally to break the full view.

    Wow! I really like that page link you posted. The "Punter Shunter" 2' x 4' N Scale Tabletop is really nice.

    I just don't know how all this will translate in kato unitrack. I like this track. I have a few pieces and it seems sturdy & the electrical continuity should be reliable. I know it's not prototypical. Plus, I want to keep the one half of the layout fairly clean, because I'll have a nice ice pond that people are skating on. (Only one half of the layout will have a couple of spurs.) Included on the open side (without spurs) will be people going for sleigh rides a & folks dressed like Eskimos .... oops, I wondered into a song there! *chuckles* Okay, up to the Eskimo part, people will be gathered around an outside bonfire as well. This is going to my little world.

    I appreciated your input & that dandy link :) Is that your website and your layouts?
     
  4. PW&NJ

    PW&NJ TrainBoard Member

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    Here's one that I just threw together. It still needs tweaking and can easily be simplified. Minimum radius is 9.75" and all track is Kato Unitrack.

    [​IMG]

    The yard can easily be torn out and replaced with a simple interchange track, or no track at all (more space for town/buildings/etc.)

    And here's another one I did a while back for a 2x4 pike:

    [​IMG]
     
  5. PRR1957

    PRR1957 TrainBoard Member

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    PW&NJ

    Just "threw together"? *chuckles* You guys are pretty handy with the software.

    I like them both, but prefer that bottom one.
     
  6. PW&NJ

    PW&NJ TrainBoard Member

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    Excellent. Here's some modifications to the top one. I think it's getting better:

    [​IMG]

    This features a river and some hills as viewblocks, plus I've simplified it a bit and added a station, and threw your locomotive and some cars on there to get a better idea how it will work. You could even connect the hills above in the top center of the layout and have it pass through a short tunnel. Lots of possibilities.

    As for the other layout, if you increased it from the 2x4 format, you could rotate it slightly and have more room for scenery and structures. Both are fun layouts to run trains on (which is why I like XTrakCad, since you can actually run trains on it!). Either way, let me know, I've got the XtrakCad files for both and changes are a snap. :)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 25, 2011
  7. PRR1957

    PRR1957 TrainBoard Member

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    PW&NJ

    Yes indeed. Looking tweaked .. looking good. :)
     
  8. Carsten Weye

    Carsten Weye TrainBoard Member

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  9. PRR1957

    PRR1957 TrainBoard Member

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    Carsten Weye

    Yes, I've seen those. They are very nice & I may have to go with one of those plans with truetrack. I just prefer the unitrack from all I've read and the few pieces I bought earlier this year. I know I couldn't go wrong with either one, the plans or the TT though.
     
  10. PRR1957

    PRR1957 TrainBoard Member

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    Um ... fellas? I'm trying not to get excited here, but ... am I actually learning the software? I've been playing with AnyRail tonight, here it is ... 3AM & just uploaded what I've done just a bit ago. Tell me if this looks like I'm getting the hang of the software or not.

    [​IMG]
     
  11. PW&NJ

    PW&NJ TrainBoard Member

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    Looks like you're getting the hang of it. :) Based on your feedback, here's version three:

    [​IMG]

    OK, in this version, notice that I ripped out the yard and just put in another interchange track. I also moved the passenger station to the outside track (since it has the wider radius turns) so now you can have a local passenger train run the loop while a freight works the sidings (there's also a passing siding to help that). I added a lake so you can have the skating scene, then increased the ridges to a mountain with short tunnel (as a viewblock and for some fun winter mountain scenes). I was thinking the tunnel could be a little longer, and maybe use a double-width tunnel portal over the switch. Let me know what you think. I also added more mountain and a ridge to the right side to again help block the "roundy-round" look. I put in a coal depot/mine on the top right and was thinking of maybe a dairy for the left rail-served industry? And since this is to be on an HCD and will fit under your bed, it may be possible to make the interchange tracks compatible with connecting to T-track modules. Think about the possibilities, you could take this layout to an event and have others bring their modules for more train fun! :)
     
  12. poppy2201

    poppy2201 TrainBoard Member

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    Pastor Dave, have you also checked out the Kato website to see if any of those would fit your needs?
     
  13. PW&NJ

    PW&NJ TrainBoard Member

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    And here's version 4:

    [​IMG]

    I made the tunnel a little bigger. Now it exits over the split of the switch. Plus I re-added the interlocking tower (can't have a good PRR layout without one!) and put a nice road in the bottom left (for us chasers to get the good photo-ops, of course).

    Let me know what you think. :)
     
  14. PRR1957

    PRR1957 TrainBoard Member

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    poppy2201

    Yes sir, I've looked over the layouts on the Kato site. I thought that if push came to shove I'd just get one of their layouts.

    I like my own, but I'm not sure I need to go that wide (30"). I could go a little tighter on the radius I believe, and narrow the layout a bit because I need it small. I just don't want derails and am trying to even avoid that bad look when a train is taking too tight a curve. Still playing with the program, but want to finalize the decision very soon. I want something asap to enjoy as winter heads in & I'm indoors.
     
  15. PRR1957

    PRR1957 TrainBoard Member

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    PW&NJ

    Now you're just showing off! *chuckles*

    You're having way too much fun ... and I'm enjoying the posts.
     
  16. PW&NJ

    PW&NJ TrainBoard Member

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    Glad you like em! Just using what God gave me to do something I enjoy (helping others... and designing layouts). If you're liking it, I'd be glad to send you the layout file for XTrakCad. It's 100% pure Unitrack and will generate a shopping list, too. Just let me know, glad to keep on tinkering. :)
     
  17. warnerj01

    warnerj01 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Don't forget that if you use Kato #4 Switches, the track bases will overlap. This requires you to either modify track pieces by cutting a portion of the plastic base off or use the special straight piece that comes with the #4 switch.
     
  18. PW&NJ

    PW&NJ TrainBoard Member

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    Oh, and if you like the other layout (the 2x4 pike I showed you), I can modify that one, too. Or start from scratch, even. :) This is fun for me, so just say the word.
     
  19. PRR1957

    PRR1957 TrainBoard Member

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    Thank you all for the interest & help in this matter.

    Now that I'm getting the hang of the AnyRail4 software I think I am able to give a layout a go. I'm having to be very careful here because even just my plain layout would cost approx $75.00. Anything fancier will not be possible. So, with that said, I'm going to tinker just a bit more & get finalized on this matter so I can get track ordered. I'd like to be working on this soon so I can actually have a running train.

    If anyone has anything further to add or wishes to share, or perhaps point something else out, please feel free to post. I always check & always enjoy hearing & seeing others ideas. I'm a happy camper that this board has such friendly members willing to help.

    Just understand, I'm not rejecting an idea if I don't do it, but "less & simple" is more for me at this time. I cannot afford so much track ... it isn't cheap. If I stay simple & have less track I'll at least have a working train up & running. Otherwise I'd have to hold out til I get more funds together & who knows how much longer that would be. I do not want to wait yet "another year" or tell myself yet again "maybe next year" to see if I can get a train running. I'm going to try to have one going before Thanksgiving. That gives me little time to finalize the layout.

    Thank you fellas a bunch. You've been aces!

    Blessings & best wishes,
     
  20. Seated Viper

    Seated Viper TrainBoard Member

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    David,

    I use Unitrack. The #4 includes a left and a right of these special straights. Ideally, and this means if you have room, a #6 is better than a #4. Look on here for a thread which TUDOR started getting on for 2 years ago now - soon after I joined Trainboard, about modifications to the #4. I've done mine and it makes a considerable difference in roadholding on the turnout. [This latter comment comes from someone who found it incredibly easy, given the only thing I ever managed to learn in metalwork classes at school is this: Davies does not solder!]

    Regards,

    Pete Davies
     

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