N scale Unitrack

[MK]

There's going to be a big T-Track layout at the back of the Young building at Amherst.  Northeast Regional T-Trak.

[Joetrain59]

OK, sorry for being naieve, but what is T-Trak?
 Joe D

[peteski]

OK, sorry for being naieve, but what is T-Trak?
 Joe D

http://t-trak.org/
It is a type of modular system (originated by NTRAK originator Jim FitzGerald's wife Lee).  Unfortunately both are no longer with us.

[GP40X]

OK, sorry for being naieve, but what is T-Trak?
 Joe D

Here's the WIKI sight.  Lots of good information including A LOT of module photos and some how to information.  Check out the tutorials.

http://ttrak.wikidot.com/

[nscalbitz]

>> I didn't like when I first saw Unitrack in person, was the big rivets at frog end of point rails. 


Too much concentration on real world effects and you will miss the scenery...
here we just levelled out the cambers, and didnt use ballast on the track to avoid pick up etc.
davew
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[mecgp7]

Joe,
PM sent.
Clint

[Joetrain59]

Wow, Fifer has a lot of info. Very informative. MODERATOR, I think I should start a thread in layout forum, for rest of my questions????? You tell me. How to mount to foam, show me your Unitrack layout, etc. Or just keep it here?
 Thanks,
 Joe D

[Joetrain59]

How do the turnouts work? I understand they're not your normal twin solenoid type. What type of toggle/flip would be needed, as oppossed to the Kato controller?
 Thanks,
 Joe D

[Maletrain]

The turnouts are a single coil solenid that pushes or pulls a magnet. 

They are pretty easy to burn-out  That is why the Kato controllers are spring-loaded so that throwing them makes electrical contacts quickly pass-by each other and not stop in a any position of electrical continuity.  Those are relatively cheap for Kato to make, but are not something that can be mounted in a control board on the track lines.  You could use a momentary contact SPDT center off switch, and get by with that so long as you just bump the switch up or down to avoid long contact.  But, somebody who is not familiar with the issue and your layout might hold such a switch in the closed position while watching the wrong turnout, waiting for it to move and thinking he was using a slow-motion machine like the Tortise.  That would be burn-out event.  Kato switches are easy but not cheap to replace.

There have been some discussions about how to make capacitive discharge machines to throw Kato and Atlas (twin coil) turnouts.  I am not sure where they are located (might even be a different forum).  Maybe some others can provide a URL.  I will if I find them before I get pulled away from my computer.

[Maletrain]

Pssst! Joestrain59  I found that capacitive discharge machine thead here http://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?resources/g-ray-stilwell-bcd-circuit.153/ [Don't tell anybody where you got it ]

[Joetrain59]

I found info on Fifer website. I have a bunch of proper switches, and I would be the only operator, or closely supervise guests.
http://www.fiferhobby.com/how-to-make-kato-turnout-control-switches/
 Maletrain, download is not available TB shows. Yes, I logged in.

Thanks,
 Joe D

[RBrodzinsky]

I found info on Fifer website. I have a bunch of proper switches, and I would be the only operator, or closely supervise guests.
http://www.fiferhobby.com/how-to-make-kato-turnout-control-switches/
 Maletrain, download is not available TB shows. Yes, I logged in.

Thanks,
 Joe D

Huh. I will have to look into that (just failed for me, too).

[Point353]

Pssst! Joestrain59  I found that capacitive discharge machine thead here http://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?resources/g-ray-stilwell-bcd-circuit.153/

Also here: http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?32023-Turnout-Control-Woes-Using-751D-s&p=462035#post462035

[Joetrain59]

That last link worked. A fellow forummer, mecgp7, generously sent me enough Unitrack to make a small oval, with a passing siding, and a spur. Was just unpacking it, checking it out. Made 2 ends of oval, and was assembling passing siding, but I need to disconnect one straight. How do you disconnect track pieces? Nice getting my feet wet with this product.
 Joe D

[peteski]

Just yank them apart by pulling straight out on them.  It is a tight fit, but they will separate properly.  That is one of the reasons (along with a springy design of the metal joiner in the coupling) that Unitrack is so reliable.