Bachmann and Kato Track realism

[ukguy]

Sorry buddy, I'm all flex with atlas turnouts [:(]

I was asking for future reference, for when I start construction on the x,y,& z railroad, I was considering it for some hidden track sections I have in mind. Sorry I cant help although I did read a month or two ago about the canfoam over on the layout forum which is why I mentioned it.

Take care,
Karl

[selector]

Jarrell, buy an Opti-visor (times 2 power should be fine, although you can get increments up to five, I believe....a VERY GOOD investment. In fact, please go out and get one....TODAY!! Also, double the lumens you have available in your working area. You need more light!

Karl, and friends, I simply find my system of track (beach sand half-glued over EZ-Track) to be too noisy for my tasts. By 'half-glued' I mean not thoroughly glued all the way through...I only added enough to wet the material down to about 1/8"-1/4".

If I had had the foresight, I would have filled the under-ballast with silicone caulk or with a lightly expanding foam sealant. Karl, or Jarrell, I would consider it a big favour if either one of you would try a test section and see which works best.

[jacon12]

I appreciate all the responses. I was told by a guy working in a hobby shop once that the Kato brand seems to be better quality -wise, but Bachmann has a larger selection. I have also been told that you can ballast it pretty good, takes a bit more ballast, but it can be done and looks good.
Sure is expensive though.. :) Oh well, can't take it with me.
Jarrell

[twhite]

Karl--there is a little difference in the sound qualithy with the EZ track, it amplifies the rail 'click' as the cars pass over the rail-joints, and actually, I kind of like it. [:D] I use WS foam risers under the track, so it doesn't 'echo' a lot . It's just slightly noiser than my flex-track.
Tom

[siberianmo]

QUOTE: dthurman

I like how you did the snow. Very sharp layout.

QUOTE: jacon12
Wow Tom, you've got a super layout there! Thanks ever so much for the link to the pictures, if I could get it to look half that good I'd be happy!
Jarrell

Appreciate the kind words, thanx! [tup]

Jarrell By the by - you CAN get it to look just fine, it's only a matter of trying and trying again until YOU are satisified with the appearance. [swg]
Tom

[ukguy]

Tom / Crandell, do you notice a sound difference with the EZ track, ie the sound resonating in the hollow space under the formed road bed? If so could it be filled with a foam filler such as non expanding/minimal expanding "Great Stuff" or other foam-in-a-can product prior to laying down?

Thanks,
Karl.

[twhite]

I've used the Bachmann EZ track with no problems. Even though most of my layout is laid with flex track, the Yuba Pass return loop portion is laid with 36" EZ track radius, and works very well. Since it IS sectional track, I've run feeder wires every two or three sections to insure good electrical contact, and though I've heard both pro and con on the matter, I've soldered the track connectors with no expansion problems. The EZ track roadbed will take ballast just as well as flex-track roadbed (I use WS Scenic Glue to hold the ballast down) and when painted and weathered, looks just like the rest of my layout. It's good stuff, in my opinion.
Tom [^]

Pioneer Zephyr on Yuba Pass. The track is Bachmann's 36" EZ track.

[Anonymous]

I have used both Bachmann's EZ-track and Kato's Unitrack in the past, and currently have Bachmann's track on the temporary On30 layout here in my den (it will eventually be replaced by a permanent pike, using Peco On30 flex-track, once I move again).

In my opinion, the Kato track is a better quality track overall, although it, like the Bachmann track, still doesn't have the "real railroad" look that one gets from applying ballast to track placed on a cork or foam roadbed.

Actually, the very best sectional track I have or have ever seen is Marklin's C-Track. It is the best engineered sectional track system in existence, bar none. Unfortunately, it is a (studded) three-rail system designed for use with Marklin's AC-powered trains, and cannot be used on a conventional DC-powered HO pike.

[jacon12]

Fellas, I appreciate your comments. I've only been in the hobby a short while and I've learned quickly that laying track is NOT my cup of tea. I don't like it at all but admire anyone that can lay flextrack etc and get it to look so good. Darned bifocal glasses are a pain when doing things up close and at an odd angle, but I'm not telling anything new to those that wear them. Having never been there, when I was a youngster and heard older guys talk about stiffness in the hands/fingers, I really couldn't relate. I can now.. [:)] The best I can figure the EZ track method is about twice as expensive as buying regular track and roadbed. Would that be about right?
Jarrell
Jarrell

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by siberianmo

[2c] on the subject - Seems we both have arrived at that stage in life where the fingers don't work quite the way they used to and the eyesight betrays us now and then. [swg]

When I began my rather extensive HO Can-Am layout a couple of years ago, I did so from scratch. Bought new - simply discarded decades of "stuff," including all brass track and turnouts. It came down to a choice between Bachmann's EZ Track and KATO. I chose the former. Both have the grey roadbed built in. That was a plus for me, and apparently for you.

With well over 500 sections of this stuff it became apparent to me that the look just was cheesy. So, I ordered a few bizillion containers of ballast, a 55 gallon drum of white glue, and began the tedius chore of ballasting over the manufacturer's roadbed. [yeah] It took time and many frustrating sessions when my eyes and fingers caused me fits. It's all history now and I'm extremely pleased with the results. The rights-of-way look fine to me - and after all, isn't that what counts with this hobby [?]

http://www.railimages.com/gallery/thomasweber will provide you with some photo's of the results ........

By the by - if I had it to do over, KATO would be my choice. Why [?] Quality.

Wow Tom, you've got a super layout there! Thanks ever so much for the link to the pictures, if I could get it to look half that good I'd be happy! [^]
Jarrell

[Anonymous]

I use EZ track and love it. I chose it because I don't like to screw around with laying cork roadbed and flextrack and soldering. Plus a lot of times I run my trains on the floor, so it's good for that too.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: http://www.railimages.com/gallery/thomasweber will provide you with some photo's of the results ........

I like how you did the snow. Very sharp layout.

[siberianmo]

[2c] on the subject - Seems we both have arrived at that stage in life where the fingers don't work quite the way they used to and the eyesight betrays us now and then. [swg]

When I began my rather extensive HO Can-Am layout a couple of years ago, I did so from scratch. Bought new - simply discarded decades of "stuff," including all brass track and turnouts. It came down to a choice between Bachmann's EZ Track and KATO. I chose the former. Both have the grey roadbed built in. That was a plus for me, and apparently for you.

With well over 500 sections of this stuff it became apparent to me that the look just was cheesy. So, I ordered a few bizillion containers of ballast, a 55 gallon drum of white glue, and began the tedius chore of ballasting over the manufacturer's roadbed. [yeah] It took time and many frustrating sessions when my eyes and fingers caused me fits. It's all history now and I'm extremely pleased with the results. The rights-of-way look fine to me - and after all, isn't that what counts with this hobby [?]

http://www.railimages.com/gallery/thomasweber will provide you with some photo's of the results ........

By the by - if I had it to do over, KATO would be my choice. Why [?] Quality.

[selector]

Jarrell, you'll have to slide a foam filler under the Flex-track patch so that it is supported properly..or perhaps foam or cork roadbed will do. You'll see soon enough.

Yes, although my layout is on the large end of what most would call small (8'X11'), I placed four sets of feeders around the layout, each coming from one two-wire bus that runs in a curved "C" under the layout, sort of following the main. You solder the feeders, keeping a sharp eye on which wire goes to which rail, right at the joins. Situate the rails, then mark two dots just inside the flange of the rails, and remove the rail. Drill a 1/8"-1/4" hole at each mark, and pass your feeders up from the bus. Relay the last piece of track, and solder. Then, add the next piece by lifting the soldered end slightly, slipping the new piece into the joiner, laying it all down flat, and mark the end again If you wi***o run soldered feeders to each piece. Personally, I relied on the joiners and ran feeders every 6' or so. So far, so good with three locos with sound.

I think Randy and Joe would impress upon you the need to gap each of those fed sections. About half-way from feeder-to-feeder, you leave the joiners out, both rails, and ensure that the ends are prevented from ever touching...gap them sufficiently, or use plastic joiners (the better solution to ensure that the ends stay aligned and electrically isolated).

[Anonymous]

Them "experts" put their britches on one leg at a time just like the rest of us.

QUOTE: Originally posted by jacon12

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

Jarrell, i was intorduced to EZ-Track by my wife and Mother-in-Law. They purchased me a On30 Christmas Train set that came with EZ-Track. I have found it to be useful and reliable. My pesent layout uses the product, and its electric switches, extensively, and I currently have no issues with it. Mine is placed, not glued, on extruded foam, and then thinly ballasted. It looks fine, if you ask me.

Just be careful when mating the ends; the joiners can cause one rail to climb over them instead of into them, so you end up with a bump. As you well know, you are constrained by the preformed (predetermined) curves and lengths of track. It can be a bu**er to get uncoventional track plans to align when you want to 'close the loop'. So, feel free to use it. Just acept that you will almost surely have to use at least one insertion of cut-to-fit- flextrack at one or two points to get everything to mate nicely. I did, and the rest is history.

I didn't realize you could use the 'regular' flex track with it, that's good to know. BTW, I'd love to have an On30 set! One of the best layouts I think I've every seen was an On30 built on a logging theme. It was super! 'Course, some experts put it together but thats beside the point.. [;)]
Crandell, as usual, I appreciate your input!
Jarrell
OH! one other thing! Did you run a buss and feeders and if so, is it easy to do?
Jarrell

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

Jarrell, i was intorduced to EZ-Track by my wife and Mother-in-Law. They purchased me a On30 Christmas Train set that came with EZ-Track. I have found it to be useful and reliable. My pesent layout uses the product, and its electric switches, extensively, and I currently have no issues with it. Mine is placed, not glued, on extruded foam, and then thinly ballasted. It looks fine, if you ask me.

Just be careful when mating the ends; the joiners can cause one rail to climb over them instead of into them, so you end up with a bump. As you well know, you are constrained by the preformed (predetermined) curves and lengths of track. It can be a bu**er to get uncoventional track plans to align when you want to 'close the loop'. So, feel free to use it. Just acept that you will almost surely have to use at least one insertion of cut-to-fit- flextrack at one or two points to get everything to mate nicely. I did, and the rest is history.

I didn't realize you could use the 'regular' flex track with it, that's good to know. BTW, I'd love to have an On30 set! One of the best layouts I think I've every seen was an On30 built on a logging theme. It was super! 'Course, some experts put it together but thats beside the point.. [;)]
Crandell, as usual, I appreciate your input!
Jarrell
OH! one other thing! Did you run a buss and feeders and if so, is it easy to do?
Jarrell

[selector]

Jarrell, i was intorduced to EZ-Track by my wife and Mother-in-Law. They purchased me a On30 Christmas Train set that came with EZ-Track. I have found it to be useful and reliable. My pesent layout uses the product, and its electric switches, extensively, and I currently have no issues with it. Mine is placed, not glued, on extruded foam, and then thinly ballasted. It looks fine, if you ask me.

Just be careful when mating the ends; the joiners can cause one rail to climb over them instead of into them, so you end up with a bump. As you well know, you are constrained by the preformed (predetermined) curves and lengths of track. It can be a bu**er to get uncoventional track plans to align when you want to 'close the loop'. So, feel free to use it. Just acept that you will almost surely have to use at least one insertion of cut-to-fit- flextrack at one or two points to get everything to mate nicely. I did, and the rest is history.

[jacon12]

I'm finding that, at age 61, my eyesight and manual dexterity gets the best of me at times dealing with 'regular' track such as Atlas or Peco. I'm wonder about Bachmann's EZ track and Katos similar brand.... is it possible to get them to look good in a realistic way?
I realize there are disavantages of this type track, but it must have its advantages and I may switch to it IF I can get it to look ok.
Any opinions.... and pictures would be great!
Jarrell