I'm not talking about hollow core door layouts or 4x8's. I mean like room sized. I am in the process of revamping a loop on my 7'x19'x5' U - shape with about 140' of Unitrack and I wondered if anyone else has a decent sized Unitrack layout.
N Scale Diesels......I like 'em
If you want to see REALLY BIG layouts laid with Kato Unitrack, check out the modular club layouts in Japan. Some of them fill basketball courts.
Of course, the individual member modules are small - space is at a premium in Japanese dwellings - and 'scenery' usually consists of railroad-related structures, period.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - on flex, with hand-laid specialwork)
There are quite a few out there. I visited a couple in the Baltimore area.
It's a room-filling layout built by a guy who's main interest has been running trains with an N track group. Since these shots were taken, though, he's pulled up all the Unitrak in favor of Atlas Code 55 since it looks better, costs less, and is pretty easy to work with. Expects to have the whole layout converted by the end of the year.
One of the benefits of Unitrak is that if and when you decide to use more prototypical track, it's pretty easy to sell it off.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
The Jan-Feb '09 issue of N Scale Railroading includes an article on Bill Kent's over 1000 square foot Unitrack layout that has hundreds, probably thousands, of Unitrack turnouts. That's the largest I've seen.
I've designed a couple of fairly large Unitrack layouts for clients and there can be some challenges in track geometry to get things to fit and not look too "regular". But if one is willing to cut a few pieces to length as "fitters", it's not too bad. N scale Unitrack offers an adjustable length straight fitter track that's very helpful (I wish they offered it in HO sale, it would help me with some projects), but occasionally curves must also be cut -- not too onerous.
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JimmydieselfanI'm not talking about hollow core door layouts or 4x8's. I mean like room sized. I am in the process of revamping a loop on my 7'x19'x5' U - shape with about 140' of Unitrack and I wondered if anyone else has a decent sized Unitrack layout.
Maybe I'm missing something here, but isn't using Unitrack on a larger layout on the expensive side?
I know Unitrack is a solid product, but I always considered it more appropriate for the hollow core door and 4x8 type of layouts due to it's cost. Anything beyond that (and as you go larger) and you're looking at a significant price escalation between Unitrack and traditional cork and flex track. Besides, for the effort on a layout that large, wouldn't you want to go with something that will look more prototypical (and would give you more flexibility in layout plans) like Peco, ME, or Atlas C55? Just wondering...
It does cost more and doesn't look as prototypical but its bullet proof. Besides I didn't buy all the track at once and I got some good deals on Ebay too. It might not be for everybody but it works pretty good for a lot of us. Once you paint the rails and put a little Kato ballast along the edges it looks fine. I got trains running right away too. Maybe my next and final layout will have Atlas code 55 but not until I get tired of this layout.
Check out the following thread over on TrainBoard.com:
http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=107043
Thread is up to 37 pages long and growing. As you can tell, this is a major layout in N scale Kato Unitrack. The owner is one of many Unitracker's that frequent that board.
Hope this helps!
John Sing Modeling the Santa Fe's Peavine Line (Ash Fork - Phoenix, Ariz) in the 50s and 60shttp://home.comcast.net/~j.sing
NMRA PCR Coast Division Model Contest / Photo Contest / Show and Tell web pages: http://www.pcrnmra.org/coast/contest.shtml
Thanks John. I've been watching Bob build this from the beginning and I think he is still laying track. It will be a nice layout.
Hi, Jimmy. My layout is all Unitrak, and it's probably about half the size of a barn door. You can see it at: http://ddwngauge.homestead.com/index.html
Don Agne
Wow that is a really nice layout. You've done some great scenery work.
Tim Fahey
Musconetcong Branch of the Lehigh Valley RR