Can anyone out there give me the facts on comapatability with DCC and Kato unitrack?? I want to build a fairly large n scale layout using unitrack, BUT if there is any amount of extra cost involved, it may sway my decision, bottom line can I lay down the track and run? Or do I have to make modifications? Thanks!!!
Yes. Two members of my club use Kato Unitrack on their home layouts with DCC. You do have to use it and wire it just like you were using standard flex track or sectional track,
Our club built the N Scale display layout in M.B.Klein’s store last year. It’s 100% Unitrak powered by a Digitrax Chief system. It even has a DS64 to controlling turnouts. We added a dozen or so terminal joiners around the layout for reliability. All of the electrical hookups were off the shelf Kato parts because they wanted to assure their customers that no extra tricks or non-store supplies would be needed. (I did shorten a couple of the Kato extension cables to neaten up the wiring but I reinstalled the factory plugs)
Martin Myers
Baltimore Area NTRAK
Thanks so much, this helps my decision, just one thing, can you still controll the turnouts w/ the kato switch throws? I didnt want to use my dcc to controll the turnouts, if i remember correctly (its been years since ive done n scale) they are power routed. Do I need to modify ANYTHING?? Again thanks guys for you help, any advice is greatly taken!
My last layout used all Kato along with Easy DCC. It all works fine. When it works. You can keep the Kato turnout controls or do it through DCC. Whatever you want. I personally don’t like Kato track. It is way overhyped, doesn’t look very real, and fades to a noticable yellow after a few years of light exposure. That is something no one told me about! I also had to modify half of my #4 turnouts due to derailing issues. The Kato supporters kept telling me that it was a wheel gauge issue when wasn’t. It was a design flaw and problems only showed up on certain turnouts but with any train. I pulled it all up and literally threw away lots of it. Only the pieces that I had added ballast to which was a severe pain btw. I’ve still got quite a few track pieces that aren’t painted or ballasted that I saved since they are reusable. I’m not going to. I’m getting rid of it. Kato track was the single worst waste of money I have ever spent on trains and it totalled around $1000 in just track. Their engines are nice though. Those I like. My current n scale layout is all Peco Code 55 which is far and away nicer. There are little issues with it here and there but overall a much better choice.
HO scale may be different but in my opinion for n-scale Kato track is pure and simple junk.
wasnt what i wanted to hear but thanks for your honesty!!! it is expensive, and id be spending a small foutune!
In model railroader Kato is selling the n scale salt lake track set for between 7 and 8 hundred dollers but i added the price of the parts and if you bought the parts seperate it was over 900.00 dollers.
i had some straight kato track from when i bought a kato passenger set. i wanted to make a test track so i bought enough curve peices to do a 15" curve . The circle costed me 30 dollers. After that i desided it was to expensive for me to do a layout in kato track.
Sometimes people will talk about “DCC turnouts” or “non-DCC turnouts”, they’re really just referring to some issues as far as to whether the turnouts are power-routing or non-power-routing. With Kato (at least with the HO ones I use) you have a choice to set it either way, for DCC non-power-routing seems to work best IMHO.
Otherwise, although some people haven’t had success with it, generally Unitrack has a high reputation of reliability and ease of construction…plus I like that you can test a trackplan out first before making it permanent, don’t have to glue down that cork roadbed “stuff” first. In N scale there’s a big assortment of track including double track with built-in superelevated curves (see the current Model Railroader project layout).
Cost can certainly be a factor, especially if you’re going to build a large layout all at once. But you have to offset that (I believe) with the ease of construction and long-term reliability. I’ve found a lot of the fun of model railroading goes away if the trains aren’t running!!
Honestly, comparing Kato Unitrack to Peco code 55 is not much of a comparison. Peco just doesn’t have cast on ballast.
Now compare Atlas code 55 or Micro Enginerring code 40 and you’re comparing scale model track to Train set track.
That said, the Kato track is practically “bulletproof”.and will give reliable service for years to come. It can be painted and ballasted. Have a look at the Kato track on John Sing’s layout.