Has anyone used Unitrack in their layouts? If so I would like to know what if any problems you have had and what strengths you have experienced in the use.
Thanks
I am in the process of building a small bedroom sized layout with Kato N-Scale Unitrack. I think my comments would also apply to HO Unitrack except that I believe there is a wider selection of Unitrack N track components available than are available in HO.
On the negative side, I think it is generally more expensive and less realistic but adding paint and ballast helps a lot. I believe the tie spacing is actually Japanese tie spacing not US spacing but this is something that is not noticeable to me. Flat yard areas requires “filling” up the ground alongside the track. It is hard to use it to follow published track plans but it is very easy to use it to “design” your layout using actual track pieces laid out on the floor or benchwork which is what I did. Smooth grade changes may not be as easy as with flextrack but since I am not using any grade changes (instead dropping the scenery) I can’t comment on this issue myself.
On the positive side, the track connections are wonderful so you will have little trouble with derailments or loss of power and the built in switch motors are a life saver when you are my age and are no longer able to crouch underneath benchwork trying to install separate switch machines in inaccessable places. Even with the good electrical connectors I am still dropping feeders every 25"-30". I have seen many people say that Unitrack requires very little track cleaning compared to other brands of track but don’t know if there is any truth in that. It might be the only way to go if you are talking about some sort of temporary layout.
In summary, I would say if track realism is critical to you than I wouldn’t recommend it but if simple trouble free operation is a priority than Kato Unitrack would be something to consider especially if your track laying skills are (like mine) not t