Author Topic: Kato Switches  (Read 1136 times)

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Paradise275

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Kato Switches
« on: September 01, 2022, 02:38:47 PM »
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Hi Guys.
Does Kato make a curved switch? If not does Tomytec make one?  Is the Tomytec track compatible with Kato?
I think the name is correct (or close ) for the other Japanese n scale track.
Rick

Jbub

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Re: Kato Switches
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2022, 02:56:54 PM »
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Kato doesn't but Tomix does. I'm not sure if it's available in the US but here's the website for it. You can use Tomytec and Kato track together with an adapter piece that Tomytec also makes.
https://www.tomytec.co.jp/tomix/products/n/1278.html
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ncbqguy

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Re: Kato Switches
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2022, 07:29:27 PM »
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Tomix and Kato use “standard Code 80” rail and can be joined with rail joiners.  Pull off the Unijoiner and shim the thinner Tomix roadbed track.

I don’t know why Kato doesn’t match or exceed their competitors range in Japan much less address the North American market at all beyond the right hand crossing gates and roadway makings on Unitram….

Charlie Vlk

Maletrain

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Re: Kato Switches
« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2022, 08:42:03 PM »
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That is a pretty tight curved switch.  Outer radius is 12.5" and inner is 11".

I would at least like to see 15" and 13.75".

Paradise275

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Re: Kato Switches
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2022, 08:03:22 PM »
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How do the curves compare to Peco Electro frog switches?

randgust

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Re: Kato Switches
« Reply #5 on: September 15, 2022, 11:29:18 AM »
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If you get brave, and don't mind going 'old school', both Trix and Fleischmann make larger-radius curved switches.    R1 and R2 are like 7 1/2 for R1 and 9 for R2, R3 and R4 are like 11 and 13 I think in the metric translation.

Trix at least put metal strips in the bottom of the frogs to try to help pickup, work if they are kept clean.   All C80, but I've mated them up well with Peco C55.

Peco has larger radius curved switches, too.   They often show up on Ebay so if you do PayPal the currency doesn't get in the way.

More options than you'd think, and don't sweat mixing stuff if you don't mind the chore of dealing with the roadbed adjustments.

nickelplate759

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Re: Kato Switches
« Reply #6 on: September 15, 2022, 12:25:04 PM »
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I think the radii for Peco code 55 curved turnouts are 36" (outside) and 18" (inside)
George
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peteski

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Re: Kato Switches
« Reply #7 on: September 15, 2022, 01:31:34 PM »
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Trix at least put metal strips in the bottom of the frogs to try to help pickup, work if they are kept clean.   All C80, but I've mated them up well with Peco C55.

Those are designed to work with typical Eueopean "pizza-cutter" flanges which are still being used in Europeam N scale.  I wonder if those also work with the current American models which use much shallower flanges?

The tread of those wheels will still be supported by the plastic frog's railheads, and the flange will likely not be deep enough to contact the metal strip on the bottom of the flangeways.
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randgust

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Re: Kato Switches
« Reply #8 on: September 15, 2022, 02:21:25 PM »
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I'm using them (Trix curved) a lot on my logging modules, and with the Kato 11-105 critters - that don't have a minimum flange but aren't pizza cutters either.  Along with the Atlas Shay and 4-4-0.   I convert them over to manual with a switch throw and also solder jumpers to the points from the stock rail to make sure the rivets don't fail in contact.

Those trucks, when used as intended, equalize wonderfully and the wheel drops slightly going through the frog to contact it.

The other thing you can do to a plastic-frog turnout is file/sand the frog slightly lower, that works too....

Another one of those things that shouldn't probably work but actually does in practice.    I'll admit I didn't think it would work at first.   And I'm just creeping through those turnouts, too.

Marklin does the same thing on their Z curved turnout, that's on my Nn3 logging trackage and will be running at Altoona.   Same deal, the Rokuhan flanges are smaller than Marklin, the wheel drops a hair, and if the strips are reasonably clean, crawls right through  it at about a walk. 

Back to Katos - I've now got a dead spot on one of mine on the straight route, probably due to the sliding contacts on the inside of the turnout that route track power.   Not a big fan.  I didn't do major jumper surgery on them before installation, probably should have, because it's the stock rail between the frog and the points that came up lame.   In Nn3 I heavily jumpered the very similar Rokuhan Z design before I installed and it's been quite reliable so far.  But all those sliding contact parts inside the roadbed, not a fan, not a fan at all.   I made sure not to glue down those Kato turnouts, but I'll not repair it until I get the modules back from Altoona and can rip that switch out.  I only use Katos where I need the joiners to hit another T-trak module, everyplace else it's Peco 55 electrofrog with hand-throws.

« Last Edit: September 15, 2022, 02:36:26 PM by randgust »