i am currently using kato unitrack, my question is other then maybe the cost are there any other drawbacks, like, once you start using it that is all the type of track that you can use. any thoughts on the kato unitrack will be very helpful
I’ve just gone through the same process, Bruce. Kato makes a snap track conversion track that makes it easy to hook up Atlas or Peco track. To go to EZTrack, you’d have to use this conversion piece with a section of Atlas or Peco, then go to the EZTrack. (I’m using N scale, I’ve just assumed you are, too)
I have only had some unitrack for a couple weeks now, but I love it already. It is very reliable and smooth. I have yet to have a single derailment, even on the switches and its so easy to set up, pull apart and move around. But it is very expensive. I’ve estimated to build my two 3x6 sections that it will cost me about $1000Cdn for the track, but the switches alone are about 40% of that. Still, reliability in N scale with this stuff is worth the premium to me.
If I was still in HO, I don’t think I’d fork over the extra cost for Unitrack, because I got good reliability using Micro Engineering track.
I have some HO Unitrack that I really like for what I purchased it for. I got it to be able to set it up and take it down easily, which it does quite well. For a permanent layout, though, it can get rather expensive as skiloff stated. In HO, Unitrack can be used with sectional or flex track fairly easily, just by removing the “Unijoiners” and connecting the regular track to the Unitrack. The regular track will need some type of roadbed to bring it up to the same height as the Unitrack. To use it with other types of roadbed track will require the necessary adapter for the other brand of roadbed track. I hope this info is helpful.
-Joe
I use HO Unitrack. I like it.
Bruce,
As a beginner in model railroading I thought Id try Kato track and for the last 7 months I have been all KAto Unitrack! No Derails or no uneven track. No there are a couple of down sides that Ive experienced other than cost.
1 Realism- I have painted the road beds black and other colors to match Ballast for settings.
- Not as easy to create your own Layout as it would be with flex track, and hobby stores that Ive visited dont always have the stock of all the pieces you might need in Unitrack
If those 2 items dont bother you, and money isnt an object than keep trackin.
I have a 3x5 Layout, and what I did do was visit the Kato website to get layout plans and see what pieces are necessary for the layout.
Need any help woudl be happy to assist. But I am new to the hobby as well.
That is a good point, marc. My LHS carries no Unitrack, so I either special order it (takes three to four weeks) or just order it off the internet. I choose to order it off the 'net because I also save about 30%.
In another thread, Istella was asking about XtrkCad. I downloaded that to design a layout, and they have all the Unitrack templates there, so you have a better idea of what you can do. Kato also makes an expansion track that you can adjust in size somehow between 3" and 4 1/4" in N scale. I haven’t seen how it works, but it can help fill in gaps if I’m understanding it correctly. The problem is that XtrkCad just uses it as the whole length and I haven’t figured out a way to adjust it to the size I want.
I see I am posting 4.5 years later but… do you still order kato unitrack off the internet saving 30%?? I’d love a reliable trustworthy website if you have one, thanks!
One of the many fine online retailers is M B Klein t/a www.modeltrainstuff.com
They not only have good prices,but show their actual on hand inventory and ship very promptly. You will like them.
Happy Modeling,
Bob
Most of what I have to say about Kato Unitrack can be found in this thread.
I found that Unitrack turnouts need to be on a level subroadbed. My engines tended to stall and derail on turnouts that were on a warped surface.