This is absolutely great, at least for a fellow like myself who can't have a permanent HOn3 layout. Blackstone is going to produce sectional tracks for HOn3 gauge: http://www.blackstonemodels.com/track/protraxx.php The product follows the KATO unitrack system. Thus, durability and secure electric connections should be guaranteed. For starters, there will be a curved and a straight piece. They will be sold in packages of four, and there will also be a starter set. 16 pieces of curved track will do a circle with 19" (48 cm) radius. On the down side, the tracks are not exactly cheap. List price for a 4-piece set will be $ 18.25. Availability is said to be fall 2012. Deadline for initial orders is June 1, though this will - of course - not be a limited production. But they need to get an idea about how much to produce initially. and they say that the lead time for a next run will be considerable. Turnouts should be announced later in the year.
Potential Game-Changer This could be a game-changer for HOn3. Personally, I like Kato Unitrack for its ease of use and have found Unijoiners able to hold up to literally hundreds of setups and takedowns. Here's a picture of an unpainted prototype. Andy Tetsu Uma
Very interesting. I agree about the Unijoiner. They seem to be rock solid. Mine, used in T-Trak application, are holding up very nicely.
I have a couple of sections of Unitrack at my desk, ostensively for testing and photography, that I join and disconnect over and over as a nervous habit. They still hold tight and run smooth when I really do need to test something. I think track system will appeal to people like Robert and I who don't have permanent layout and for others who are thinking about taking the NG plunge but want to get right into operations. I'm sure Blackstone did their market research. I personally wouldn't be surprised to see that HOn3 track system turning up at Japanese hobby shops as well. Andy Tetsu Uma
The mfr posted on Fb today the track has arrived and those who have ordered should be getting them next week.
This is more good news from Blackstone, especially for those of us doing modules & non-permanent stuff. RTR makes entry to narrow gauge easy for my son and I.
Just as I finally managed to build a permanent space to run some NG. It's a small platform over my HO layout. But better than nothing, anytime.
I certainly agree. More folks, in all scales, should knock something together, rather than to continue going without....
I'm happy when I just get a chance to set up some Unitrack and run them. Blackstone HOn3 Protraxx will help me run even more.
That platform will see the Protraxx pieces in action. I'm presently experimenting with my Bemo HOm tracks that are/were intended for the same purpose to run some Swiss meter gauge NG. But these sectional tracks are just too flimsy, they come apart while a train runs over them, and all too many engines only barely make it over the optically very beautiful looking double slip crossings. So I guess beauty is one thing, but functionality should not suffer to the extent that it becomes unuseable. I hope the Tillig TT gauge tracks might serve me better. Just learned that they can be used for Bemo trains; they are also 12 mm gauge. So like with Blackstone's very limited variety of track pieces, I may actually use the Tillig pieces as well; that is, the ones with bedding. They look surprisingly like the Kato and Blackstone tracks. And there is even mention of "unijoiner" being a Kato trademark. So there is hope, I guess.
Let me know how that Tillig track works out. I took a look at it on their website and it sure looks like they are using Unijoiners. Maybe you could start a thread on the Tillig and also one on the Bemo with photos if possible. I'm always looking to learn and 12mm track in 1:48 works out to just about 2' gauge. Andy Tetsu Uma
Not ready yet for a separate thread. But I got a few test tracks of the Tillig TT bedding tracks. The positive, and for me match winning feature is the unijoiners' stability of holding the connecting pieces together. On the negative side, the tracks model a prototype with concrete ties. And they are gray and have the typical center depression. Thus not exactly what one expects on a NG railroad. The scale and the fact that the ties have very narrow spacing are additional negative features for using these tracks as HOm tracks. But in my case, the stability is the most critical point. Presently, I can't run a train for a very long time before there is a place where the Bemo tracks are coming apart. And in true "Murphy's law" manner, it's mostly in an area where I have problems getting to. Just check post #7 to see what I mean. Most derailments and disconnections of the tracks occur close to the white wall. And that's about 4 feet from where I have to reach in. Without lying flat on that board, I can't get to the things. And with my need for glasses, I usually can't get the critical distance into focus. So lots of reasons why my priorities are set on a track system that stays together. The new Protraxx HOn3 tracks should be just perfect for my purposes. Now, if we could just get some turnouts as well. Regarding turnouts, I have not had a chance yet to try the Tillig turnouts. Some are on order though.
Problem attaching pictures Trying to add some pictures that I could not attach to the previous post. But again, it does not work. I get error messages like "P1160373red.jpg not a valid image file". As this has always worked in the past, unless I ran out of attachment storage, I wonder whether the problem could be at the Trainboard end?
Does Swiss meter gauge prototypes run on tracks with concrete ties? I see you have problems posting pictures. I was thinking of a thread for the Bemo track so we can keep this open for Protraxx. But that's just me.
They do have some areas with concrete ties, but the majority is brown looking, either wood or steel. I agree with your idea of a separate thread. Just did not want to start one with the preliminary info I have so far.
Picture upload works again Here are the three illustrations I had intended to attach to post #12. They show the comparison of the Bemo and the Tillig tracks HOm. It's clear that the Tillig bedding tracks are based on the same Kato Unijoiner principle as the new Blackstone ones. More in the separate HOm thread.
My loop of B-l-a-c-k-s-t-o-n-e track is in at my L T S, haven't picked it up yet. I did take a couple of pieces out of the box and connected them and they go together with a nice click. Has anyone tried it yet?
I haven't ordered any yet as my pusher in Baltimore had a sale and I picked up a B-l-a-c-k-s-t-o-n-e Class 70 instead. Let me (and the rest of the group) know how you like the Protraxx, see vous plait. Andy Tetsu Uma
I had an order in for some N scale freight cars with the OHS north of Baltimore and decided to pick up some Pro-traxx as well. They are already sold out of the starter set. Wow.
