What Bridge Abutments for Kato Unitrack N Scale Truss Bridge?

Kisatchie May 6, 2022

  1. Kisatchie

    Kisatchie TrainBoard Member

    1,031
    1,322
    44
    I'm going to order a Kato N scale Unitrack 9-3/4" truss bridge (single track) soon. I was wondering what type of bridge abutments I could use for it. I can't seem to find out what Kato offers. Any advice?

    Thanks.
     
  2. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

    3,259
    6,173
    70
    Depending on what you want for the abutment, that bridge incorporates a modern abutment (or at least the bridge side of one).

    Kato's incline pier set (23-015) includes a pair of abutment complements that make up the approach side of an abutment, and mate up nicely to their bridges and Viaducts. They're likely Japanese prototype, but it may be close enough to what you want. They are unpainted gray plastic.
     
  3. Inkaneer

    Inkaneer TrainBoard Member

    4,325
    1,424
    77
    Abutments are an easy scratch build project. Save your cash for the stuff you cannot build. You will not only save money but get more enjoyment out of your efforts.
     
    MK and Kisatchie like this.
  4. Kisatchie

    Kisatchie TrainBoard Member

    1,031
    1,322
    44
    That sounds like a good idea, scratch building the abutments. Except I don't know what I could use for the abutments. I'll ponder it for a few months and make my decision :LOL:

    Hmm... that soon...?
    [​IMG]
     
  5. pomperaugrr

    pomperaugrr TrainBoard Member

    224
    1,645
    39
    I used "Chooch" abutments and piers for my 3 bridge span over the Housatonic River. This scene is only roughed in and is far from finished, but shows the piers and abutments in place.

    These are Kato single track through truss bridges. I took off the attached Kato abutments, plus I shortened the length of each span to better match my prototype. Once they were sufficiently weathered, I installed them, using white metal cast bridge shoes from MicroEngineering on the piers and abutments.
    NM Bridges.jpg
     
    MK, Allen H, BNSF FAN and 2 others like this.
  6. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,821
    143
    MK, BNSF FAN and BoxcabE50 like this.
  7. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

    10,677
    44,870
    142
    I think you have two bridge pier choices with Kato -- 23-017 and 23-047. The 23-047s are getting hard to find. I went with the Kato piers because the bridges easily snap into the piers, but as you see above, better alternatives exist. I'm just getting lazy.

    I chopped 3/8" out of the center of my Kato 23-047 piers to lessen my grades. Here's a comparison, which also shows how the bridges attach to the piers.

    2021-01-10 001 New Bridge Piers.jpg
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2022
    MK, BNSF FAN and Kisatchie like this.
  8. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

    3,259
    6,173
    70
    The grey pieces shown atop the piers are the attached abutment piece on the Kato bridge I referred to. Apparently they snap off easily (I've never tried).
     
    MK, Hardcoaler and BNSF FAN like this.
  9. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

    3,259
    6,173
    70
    I guess technically, they are only abutments if the bridge end is at ground level (more or less). Atop a pier, I'm not sure what they'd be called. They do match the outline of the other, Kato Unitrack piers (modern, pre-cast concrete piers, available in full height or inclined sets). Kato also has a gradual incline pier set that adds intermediate height piers that fit in between the standard incline set's piers.
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  10. Inkaneer

    Inkaneer TrainBoard Member

    4,325
    1,424
    77
    Use sheet styrene over a wood core then paint it a concrete color. Works for abutments as well as piers.
     
    MK and Kisatchie like this.
  11. Kisatchie

    Kisatchie TrainBoard Member

    1,031
    1,322
    44
    Thanks Inkaneer! I'll do just that.
     
  12. mrhedley

    mrhedley TrainBoard Member

    402
    1,402
    38
    The abutments on this pair of deck plate girder bridges were made from shaped wood blocks, which I covered with Plastruct random cut stone pieces, painted and weathered with pastel chalks. They very closely resemble the prototype. IMG_2202.JPG
     

Share This Page