CodyO`s Unitrack Helix Build

[CodyO]

Been really late on doing this but here we go!

The helix use 4 pieces of MDF for each full rotation
Here they are traced out on the MDF which was then cut out using a Jig Saw


Cut one piece out sand as needed to make nice and use as pattern, then rough cut more pieces out
Screw the pattern onto a rough piece then use a router or router table with a duplicating bit(has bearing on it same size as cutter) and then clean up the rough cut one and will be exactly the same.




keep orientation of each piece the same.
make 4 of them and should work out as a "perfect" circle, If its good then keep making them until you have enough for your height helix


There`s 8 sets of risers
Lay all 8 side by side and mark on side 1" from the bottom going from the right side and only marking on the right side of the board for the notch start at 1/4" and work your way up to 2 1/4"

Next we took it over to a radial arm saw with a dato blade. Make sure there is a bit of a gap in the groove for the boards. If they are too tight fitting it will be hard to assemble and the boards won't get to continue their raise though the cut.
After that we started putting it together and then held it and tighten it all up with the help of some ratchet straps and clamps, we used no glue to hold it together.The ratchet straps stayed on until it was secured to the benchwork.
The base and top of the helix will keep it together




Here`s our base with a hole cut in it, which we then screwed the helix to from the bottom




To support the tracks going around the helix we cut a series of angled supports to hold the 1/2" ply that would carry the 3 tracks and reversing loop around the helix, these where screwed into the raisers and the ply was screwed down into the angled supports.



After all that started putting together the unitrack and pushing it down the helix.

[tom mann]

Nicely built.

[soo]

Very clean looking!!. Very nice work, the router table and radial arm make short work of certain tasks.  Plus the radial arm is safer to cut the dado's on the supports than a table saw.

A HA!!! that is why Klein's does not have much of that track in stock,, rats,,foiled again.

Looks awesome!!

Adios, W

[Smike]

Nice work Cody, looking at way to build my own as well. What advantage is there to using Unitrack vs laying down say code 80 flex?  (other than the simplicty factor?)  The cost of that much untitrack is a big deterrent.

Mike

[Lemosteam]

Fixed centers, accurate curves, bulletproof track, less soldering, no tie re-fit at joints, super-elevation, those are just some benefits that outweigh the costs, IMHO.  Damn near a "set and forget".

[C855B]

Excellent. Quality work, for sure, and an example to follow. Were you a cabinet maker in a previous life? The dressed corners on the risers are a nice touch.

[CodyO]

Fixed centers, accurate curves, bulletproof track, less soldering, no tie re-fit at joints, super-elevation, those are just some benefits that outweigh the costs, IMHO.  Damn near a "set and forget".

All of the above after putting it in thats been it, none of it is solder, just attached feeders ever rotation.The cost is high (I think $200)but never having to worry about your tracks in the helix is amazing
I would personally never use flex in a helix and kato now has bigger radius superelevated unitrack which wasn't available when we built this.

Excellent. Quality work, for sure, and an example to follow. Were you a cabinet maker in a previous life? The dressed corners on the risers are a nice touch.

Actually my dad was a cabinet maker and this was built in the house his father built and was then installed in a house built in the 20s that my dad restored.

[seusscaboose]

lookin' good!

[basementcalling]

Bulletproof hidden track is priceless.

Nice work, Cody. I'm now wondering why I didn't think of that, especially after my cat got inside my helix to climb up onto the second deck and pulled out about 30 feet of flextrack.  I may replace it with some UniTrack if I can make the slight radius shift work.

[John]

so whats the cost of all that unitrak?

[glakedylan]

Cody
a really fine job here with the Helix
you have constructed not only a great working one, but also one that is eye candy!

a question please if I might: when cutting notches in the vertical supports, did you cut on angle or perpendicular?
if angle, what "degree" did you use.

thanks so much for sharing.

sincerely
Gary

[soo]

Gary,

 You asked if you cut the dado's on any angle. I know when I constructed my first helix I used a 1/2" plunge cutting bit in my router to cut my grooves. I then used 1/2" ply for the sub roadbed. Which is not truly 1/2" so the roadbed being narrower than the dado cut with the router allowed for the deflection of the roadbed.

I actually used the same dimensions that Cody used,,, 0"- 2 1/4" for the risers, worked like a charm till I went hulk smash on my helix


John,

 I know I had priced the unitrack to redo my helix,, I need 8 complete circles plus the easement curves. I chose Kato 20185 18 7/8"- 17 5/8" double track super elevated. Total cost: 342.37$ . Definitely not cheap.

Kato 20187 is 19"-15" which is 3.10$ cheaper per pack than the 20185. Maybe I can not wrap my head around it,, by would a double track section have one radius at 19" and the other at 15"? By looks it should be maybe ,,,19"-17",, now that would be perfect.

These prices are from the favorite shop on the east coast,, that everyone knows about.

Adios, W

[glakedylan]

SOO

the kato packaging notes radius as 19 and 15, but it is an error that continues.
the actual radius is 16-3/8" and 15"
this track according to the math will give you at that vertical rise slightly more than 2% grade
the larger 17-3/4" and 19" will give you just under 2%

fwiw
Gary

[CodyO]

We didn`t worry about cutting any angles into the raisers
since the cut is bigger than the MDF used it allows it to float and this way it could also be installed clockwise or counter clockwise

The 16 3/8"/15" with easements for 6 1/2 turns was $205.23 on modeltrainstuff
Yes the helix is slightly over a 2%

So yes its not cheap but great since you don`t have to worry about a couple hundred dollars worth of engines/rolling stock having any problems
IMHO the unitrack helix is bulletproof
Even though I wouldn't use unitrack on my main layout because of looks but for hidden track its perfect

[basementcalling]

You did say one pair of feeders per turn? Did you solder them to the rails or the joiners?