Hi all,
Brand new to this forum. Have looked quickly for this but don’t see it, so forgive me if I am asking a questions that has been asked 40 times before.
I’ve currently got a Bachman simple RR set for my son. I’m thinking of expanding it, and was looking at the Kato track.
The Bachman is their EZ track system. The Kato track is their Uni-track.
They sure both appear similiar. Can I mix and match them?
– Thanks in advance,
RR Dude.
First off, welcome to the forum. I can’t answer your question, but also have a quesiton along the same lines for anyone that can answer it.
I was going to post a similar question in regards to Micro Engineering code 83 flex, and Walther’s turnouts. Are they reasonably compatible (I also plan on using code 70 on a few of the industrial spurs and sidings)?
The Bachmann EZ Track uses code 100 rail. The Kato Uni-Track system used code 83 rail(smaller profile). Also both track system have a different attachment system. I am unaware of any ‘transition’ piece to mate the two systems together. If you have EZ Track with black roadbed, it has steel rail. The grey roadbed has N/S rail(better).
Jim
If you are determined to stick with snap track, regardless of source, and want to mate them, you will have to add a short piece of track between them, and shim one end to get it the additional 0.017" up to the Code 100 EZ-Track. If you can use track joiners, do so; otherwise you’ll have to solder them together…not an altogether bad thing. Otherwise, there is no practical way to make them “meet”.
Smitty:
Not sure about ME flex with Walthers turnouts, but I do know from other forums that Atlas flex with Walthers turnouts is as issue; the Walther’s ties are thicker, so that the Atlas flextrack has to be shimmed to attain the proper height at the turnout. Interesting to see if any others out there have used the ME with Walthers turnouts, as there have been a lot of positive reviews on other threads about the ME flextrack looking more prototypical. I had originally planned on using both Walthers flextrack and turnouts in order to avoid the shimming issue, though it has also been mentioned that Atlas flextrack is easier to work with than the Walthers; also appears to be better priced than Walthers. Another reason I’d planned on Walthers turnouts is that I plan on using their double-crossover between my mainlines in one area.
Jim
And just to add fuel to the fire, I definitely find Atlas code 83 flex track to be easier to work with than their code 100…
I really am after the look that you get with the ME track. As far as price goes, it is worth the extra few bucks to have it (which it really isn’t a whole lot more than Atlas). I have heard great things about the Walther’s/Shinohara turnouts, but remember seeing somewhere about the ties being thinner on the Walthers turnouts than the ME flex track. I was looking for some sort of confirmation on this. I also wanted to make sure that the rail profiles are similar enough that it won’t require any filing right off the bat to fix that sort of problem.
Also, has anyone had any experience with the ME transition rail joiners (I will be going from 83 to 70)?
Actually in code 83, the Atlas ties are thicker and you have to shim the Walthers turnouts. This is easily done with 1/64th inch wood verneer, styrene or even cardstock. Don’t let it eliminate a good choice of components.
In code 100 Atlas flex and Walthers/shinohara TOs fit just fine.
Karl
This is a semi bump, since Smitty’s question above wasn’t answered, at least on this thread. As per above clarification, when using Atlas flextrack with Walthers turnouts (we’re talking code 83 here), you have to shim the Walthers turnouts as the Atlas flextrack ties are thicker.
Same question with Micro Engineering flextrack with Walthers turnouts: any shimming or other modification needed?
Jim
Kato makes an adapter that goes from UniTrack to regular snap track. I think Bachmann also makes one that does the same. If you can get these pieces it would go as Unitrack adapter to EZ track track adapter.
I’ve been known to eliminate the need for adapters altogher by cutting the mating end off the end of the track and connecting them directly with rail joiners.
My experience has to do with mixing shinohara turnouts with atlas code 100 flex and micro engineering flex.Also transitions from code 100 to code 83.I find that I can get them all together, but it takes filing,trimming,sanding,soldering,etc,but it can be done (I’m sure that it is a lot easier to go with just one brand and code