Does painting Unitrack make a difference?...HECK YEA!!!

[arbomambo]

Hello all...
first, let me admit; "I'm a scale snob and I admit it"...I completely embrace code 55 track, code 40, and when I acquire the necessary skill, will build my own switches and lay my own rail...
However...I'm also a staunch N scale supporter and will embrace any and all ways to promote N scale to the general public...
My current projects started innocently enough; We planned a trip back to Texas last June and I wanted to 'gift' my old Ntrak group-AustNtrak...I planned and built a 6' module that I transported and donated to the club...it was very strange using the Atlas code 80 for the module-after Atlas and Micro-Engineering code 55, the Atlas code 80 and the Peco switches just 'reek' (to me) of 'toy'...I have a bunch of Kato Unitrack on hand that I use for the grandkids, and to help 'mock up' layouts and modules, and, again, despite the beauty of it's reliability, just looks out of place after code 55.
during our trip, I was able to also see the T-Trak part of the AustNtrak group (this group had sprung up after I had moved back to the Gulf Coast), and was fully ready to 'pooh pooh' the T-Trak concept-my thinking that it was going in the wrong direction for public N scale modular displays (I love the freeMo concept!).
What We saw was completely unexpected...yes, we did see a few modules that were of the 'whimsical' theme, but we were blown away by some of the T-Trak modules that featured (apart from the Unitrack) some fantastic N scale modelling and realism...but even more so, we were imporessed with the amount of people we saw hovering around the T-Trak setup!...and the Questions about N scale, and how, and 'how can I get started', and so forth...
Fast Forward 5-1/2 months- my local all gauges-all scales Railroad Modelers group (SWARM-South West Alabama Railroad Modelers) wanted to add an N scale interest group, at the behest of all the N scale modelers...T-Trak was chosen for its portability, its scale, and its low cost of ownership.
I determined that all the modules I built and contributed would be as 'fine scale' as I could make them, fully understanding the limitations of using the Kato track (still, it was a welcome improvement over the 3-track standard of N scale)
Building these has been a revelation; I still get to model my fine scale track at home, but I remain continuously amazed at the 'draw' of the T-Trak setups at the shows...from ALL ages and skill levels of modelers...and promote N scale it certainly does!...the vendors have LOVED us being at the shows!
But MOST importantly, to my eye, is the result of the painted and ballasted Unitrack on the modules I've built...I finally understand the arguments for this track in home layouts, despite its oversize rail and non-North American tie spacing (LORD, I wish Kato would re-vamp their tie spacing!)
Here are a few pics of one of the End modules, with the track painted and in the provcess of ballasting (we're using the matching Kato ballast)-after the ballast is fully dry on this one, we'll be building the grade crossing leading to the ranch/farm group...
Thanks for looking,
~Bruce

[Ed Kapuscinski]

It's definitely a major improvement. Especially painting.

When I tried it, I reballasted it completely with sanded grout:




I like the way it turned out, but it looks a bit odd when in with all the other TTRAK modules, so I think your approach is probably even better.

[wcfn100]

This reminds me of a joke I just made up.

How is Unitrack like a pimple?  The more you cover it up, the better it looks.   

Jason

[packers#1]

I've never really noticed the tie spacing on Unitrak, it's just not been something that particularly jumps out at me. Painted and ballasted the way you have it, it "looks right," and at the end of the day, if the rest of the modeling is top-notch, then I'd wager everyone who has no idea that there is such a thing as different tie spacing is going to be blown away by the modeling and not even notice the Unitrak, since it looks like railroad track and that's all the brain really needs to see.

That said, great job! The more I see of Unitrak, the more I want to build a T-trak module...there's just no club anywhere near me to run with.

[Dave V]

Both those examples look quite good!

I had a similar epiphany after replacing a kink in a section of flex...  One of these tracks in Unitrack; the other is Atlas code 80 flex.  Hard to tell the difference.



Unitrack and code 80 always look fine to my naked eye.  The again, on a good day, I'm 20/25.  However, it's the close-up photography that calls out any code 80 track system.

I've never been especially offended by the tie spacing unless Atlas code 55 is nearby for comparison.  I'm not even sure I'm offended by the rail height either.  To me, where code 80 breaks down is in the rail profile.  In close-up photos, it looks like a 2x10 stood on edge...it lacks the iconic T-shaped profile with the rail web so characteristic of railroad rail.

Nevertheless, I do appreciate painted and weathered Unitrack as a great compromise between ease of construction/reliability and realism.  There are days I look at my code 55 stockpile and think to myself that it would not be the craziest thing I've ever done to trade it all for Unitrack and relay the Juniata Division with the most reliable track system I've ever worked with (having used Atlas 55 & 80 and Peco 80 as well).

Here's a more "classic" treatment on my son's layout.



Waiting now for more of the non-constructive "lipstick on a pig" comments...

[Catt]

Around here it seems to be a rule that you put down your scenery on your TTRAK modules then put the Uni-Track on top of it.I always did my scenery by bringing it up to and slightly over the edge of the track.Most folks at train shows thought I was using a different track than the rest of the guys.

When I built the Onandaga Sub with ATLAS tru-track I did the same thing with it.Makes all the difference in the world.

Oh and I do paint the rails too.

[peteski]

So you put lipstick on the proverbial pig? 

Seriously though, the appearance is much improved. Good show!

[Baronjutter]

Dave, what colour/paint did you use on your ties?

[Dave V]

PolyScale Railroad Tie Brown on the flex and Floquil Railroad Tie Brown paint pen on the Unitrack.  Both ties and rails.

[arbomambo]

Before finishing for the day, I wanted to tackle the grade crossing on this module-a slurry of the same materials I used for the gravel shoulders and lots was concocted with WS Scenic cement and applied to the area after the Blair Line wooden crossings were masked...I used a putty sculpting tool to smooth it, being careful not to obscure the 'sip-straw' culverts.
When it dries it should be the same color as the rest of the gravel areas...
Thanks for looking,
~Bruce

[Dave V]

Bruce,

That really does look good.  I think the other thing that many folks don't do (myself included) is simulate the ditches usually found along the ROW.  You've done that, and it really makes the whole ROW seem much more realistic.  I'm seriously considering having a code 55 yard sale and expanding the JD in Unitrack after seeing what you've done.

My motivation for something like that is I notice that my finicky brass steam rolls on Unitrack like velvet but is none-too-fond of my Atlas 55.

[wazzou]

My biggest gripe with Unitrack is the geometry of the turnouts and layouts with lack of easements.  Are easement pieces available from KATO?

The turnout geometry and easement issues remind me of funhouse or roller coaster track, if that make sense.  It's like hard to the left and back hard to the right.

[Mike C]

 Ever since I got back into model railroading 6 years ago , I've been a Unitrack user .  Stock it doesn't look all that great but with a little work ....

This is the super elevated curve trackage with concrete ties .  Weathered rails , painted ties , and added ballast.

Mix of concrete and regular track painted weathered and ballasted.

[Dave V]

My biggest gripe with Unitrack is the geometry of the turnouts and layouts with lack of easements.  Are easement pieces available from KATO?

The turnout geometry and easement issues remind me of funhouse or roller coaster track, if that make sense.  It's like hard to the left and back hard to the right.

That's quite true too, and I understand the analogy.  I recall someone on another forum years ago showing how he'd used the broader curve pieces to sort of simulate easements, and it looked convincing (although it made the overall track geometry very challenging).

If Kato would introduce curved turnouts, it would be a big help.  In the meantime, one colud use Peco code 80 curved turnouts with Unitrack, but Peco turnouts have their own issues.

[markt]

My biggest gripe with Unitrack is the geometry of the turnouts and layouts with lack of easements.  Are easement pieces available from KATO?

The turnout geometry and easement issues remind me of funhouse or roller coaster track, if that make sense.  It's like hard to the left and back hard to the right.

Bryan,
Mike Fifer has a video showing how to make Unitrack "flex track" using a saw. One way to create easements.