are any of the type with road bed compatible? ie Bachman, Kato, etc.
Thanks for info. Very new to n scale due to limited size I'm going from O to n for layout reasons.
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Simple answer - no!
If you have a choice go For Kato Unitrack! It is the best sectional track I have come across and with a little effort, you can make that plastic ballast look good!
Sir Madog Simple answer - no! If you have a choice go For Kato Unitrack! It is the best sectional track I have come across and with a little effort, you can make that plastic ballast look good!
The complex answer is also no . . . but possible.
You'd have to sawcut the left end of a section of one brand and the right end of a section of the other and then finagle a transition piece using solder, CA glue, files, shims, and a lot of patience.
Sir Ulrich is right about Kato. That stuff is very reliable and doesn't look too bad. The built-in ballast and the joiners can be touched up without a whole lot of fuss.
Good luck.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
Kato N Unitrack as sectional track system with build-in roadbed is really a very good choice and there are also a lot of accessories from Kato for the railroad modelers. Just one example:
Mixy
SCARM - free and easy to use model train layout editor with 3D preview
Free track plans and railroad layout designs >> O gauge - HO scale - N scale
I agree that as a rule, the various systems of what I call "integral" track (with roadbed, generally plastic, integral to the ties and rails) are each proprietary and do not mate with each other; as suggested above, "ya makes yer choice an' den live wid it."
You are wise to choose the one with the most options and flexibility. The praise for Kato on those fronts seems warranted to me; a good modeler here in the Milwaukee area uses Kato unitrack and every few years totally changes his large layout arrangement, at which time he has another open house. The flexibility it gives him is impressive and is perfectly suited to his desire to change often.
However in my experience working with commercial makes of track as part of giving track clinics, I have found that just about every make of integral track can, with work and experimentation, be mated to "standard" track (sectional or flex track) of the same "code," and cork roadbed. It takes surgery on the integral track, and elevating a subroadbed beneath the cork roadbed, which in turn can call for multiple layers of N cork roadbed, or even using cork roadbed meant for HO or O. It also calls for blending the look of the one with the look of the other.
So, yeah, in theory that means that a transition of "regular" track appropriately elevated could be used as a transition piece between differing makes of integral track. But you are talking about real work, real tinkering, the very real possibility of (expensive) failure the first few attempts until you get it right, and in general, a lot of sweat equity - and for what?
I'd say the same if the question related to HO integral track.
Having said that, Kato does make a transition piece between its unitrack and the similar track system from an outfit whose integral track product I have never seen or worked with, TomyTec Tomix. The photo seems to show the unitrack with a "normal" rail joiner on one end and even if I was not mating the unitrack to TomyTec Tomix but to "regular track," I'd be tempted to get one of these transition pieces and see what it could do for me in making the task easier.
https://www.walthers.com/snap-track-conversion-track-2-1-2-quot-64mm-pkg-2
Walthers Part # 381-20045
Dave Nelson
Thanks for all the inputs. I presently do O gauge but at present don't have room for a layout other than a small oval, but with n I can do a lot more and will be a good subsute until I can get the garage converted to a building for trains. Which I see at the soonest like 2 years with all I need to do, Probably more like 3-4 years. Because of $$ and what all needs to be done. I can do a lot of it my self but not all of it. I presently have room for a 5' x 8' L shape layout. I'm thinking like 30" deep maybe a little more. That ought to give me a good size layout in n. I feel I can incorperate the n scale into a O gauge layout later as either a kiddie ride thing or back in a corner as a train in the distance. My O gauge layout will be like 14' x 16'
I have a lot to learn here. Do you all put anything down between the Kato track and say a board. I was planning on putting down some indoor out door carpet but then got thinking do I need to put some type of sounding down instead or not.
rtraincollector I have a lot to learn here. Do you all put anything down between the Kato track and say a board. I was planning on putting down some indoor out door carpet but then got thinking do I need to put some type of sounding down instead or not.
Thanks for your reply. I figured if I use a track with a roadbed to it I shouldn't have to worry about lint. and if the kato track is put together correctly I would think I should not need to nail down or if I do not every section.
So far I have bought the V-6 set of track,20-000 ( times 5 times 4 ( 20 packs )( 80 pieces of 9 3/4" straight track plus whats in the other sets), V-5, then some older packs supposedly never opened one is a K1 and a train set 106-0009.
On my way lol