N Scale Unitrack #6 slice and dice

[robertjohndavis]

I am rebuilding a Unitrack layout and need to get around the turnout issues. I don’t want to modify the #4 turnouts, but I don’t want to the wide track spacing the #6 turnouts result in.

In my HO days, I used to cut down turnouts to fit all sorts of areas. It’s not easy with Unitrack, but it can be done to an extent.

Today, I shortened the diverging side of a #6 turnout by almost half an inch (cut back to the edge of the metal plate in the underside) and mated with the 481mm curve from the #4 turnout. I got the standard 32mm track center spacing I want, and with the #6. It’s still a S curve, just a different one.

It seems to have worked.

I have run a variety of long and short equipment through it, from a Big Boy and stack cars to 6-axle diesels and passenger cars. No issues.

Has anyone else had success with this method?

[Steveruger45]

I just use a 15 degree R282mm, stock No. 20-111, with a No.6 turnout to get me pretty much right on the 33mm track center spacing. No cutting needed.
Attached photo from a siding on my layout.

[robertjohndavis]

Interesting! Thank you, Steve.

[learmoia]

Using the 282 reverse curve kind of defeats the purpose of a #6 switch..

The ideal solution would be to mod a switch and graft in a 481.. (grafting a 718 would push you back towards 44 spacing.)

This should help..

[robertjohndavis]

Thank you. A graft into a 481 is what I tried, seems to work well. Glad to hear someone else already leans that way.

Using the 282 reverse curve kind of defeats the purpose of a #6 switch..

The ideal solution would be to mod a switch and graft in a 481.. (grafting a 718 would push you back towards 44 spacing.)

This should help..

[nscaler711]

I made a #6 crossover like Mike Fifer did outside of one thing. I left the diverging legs long enough to meet the frogs and slid them in to the spikes. Also used one wire to get them to operate at the same time.
It's given me 0 issues, even where it's at the end of a curve.
Unlike the #4 cross overs...
I don't understand how Kato can make a # double crossover but ignore a single #6 crossover with the 33mm spacing.
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[learmoia]

The #6 switch geometry is my biggest gripe about Kato Track..

The #4s can be easily modified to make them... better.. not perfect.. but better..