Recent content by inkaneer

The Kato expander tracks are not Ntrak compliant. Some clubs use track extenders in order to use them. Those clubs that are strictly Ntrak do not. So it is up to everyone to decide for themselves. One thing with the Kato track is that you still have rail joiners to deal with.

Our club also used the hexagonal corners but lately we are rethinking that idea. Ntrak plans date back to the 1970's. That was before the mini van came on the scene. There has been a lot of other changes also. We are seeing more one day train shows. Gone are the days when we would set up...

36 inch wheels are too big for the brake shoes. The trucks were designed with 33 inch wheels. 36" wheels would be prototypical so either cut off the brake shoes or try 33 inch wheels. Do you have any Atlas or Bachmann cars? Try the wheel sets from them.

Here is where some basic modeling tools come into play, such as a good calipher. Measure the height of the track including ties then use styrene sheet to build up your travel ways to match the rail height. If you are using code 80 rail with no ties that is .08" high. Two sheets of .040 would...

1. Where have you tried? 2. Are these the MT hoppers? 3. Does it matter if ribbed or offset side?

Like most minivans , the rear area minus the seats allows a 48 inch width and about 84 inch length. I have found that by clamping two modules togeter into pairs and keeping each set of paired modules to less that 16 inches in width that I can haul 6 - 2 x 6 foot modules if stood on their sides...

As mentioned in the first post on this thread, I am concentrating on modules that are 2' x 6' as these will fit into my minivan. While a 2 x 4 module would be lighter it does not 'pack' as well as a 2' x 6' module. Meaning I get better utilization of space in the minivan with 2' X 6'...

Atlas wheels are low profile so no need to replace them. MT wheels are all 33" so get the MT Low Profile wheelsets. MT wheelsets have a shorter overall axle length than Atlas so you cannot put MT wheels in an Atlas truck. Now Atlas makes wheelsets to fit both their trucks and other wheelsets...

Of course you must remember I model the Pennsylvania RR, "The Standard Railroad of the World" and therefore am well within my rights to get riled up when someone even draws near to dissing standards.

Standards are a bugaboo??? Without standards how would you spell anything the same way as others do? How would you communicate? If I typed "tyjas,fungfyaskricndfhyas" would you know what I meant? Most assuredly not. But if instead I typed "standards are needed" then you know exactly what I...

I do not think there is a standard track spacing. Even the real RR have increased their spacing to where they are now 20 feet apart. That equates to the same spacing as Ntrak. Previously 14 feet was typical then with more "high and wide" loads a 16 foot spacing was employed. Now with traffic...

Unfortunately I am unable to post photos. We have kept the 1/4 inch luan underlay plywood rather than go to all foam as the plywood adds rigidity to the frame and helps prevent racking. Also we preferr the plwood for gluing cork roadbed and the sound is preferable with it. Also 2" foam was...

As I get older I find that module weight becomes more and more of a factor in determining which modules to bring to a set up. We got a four foot module that has exquisite modeling on it and is a real hit at the shows. Unfortunately it is way over built and weighs a ton. So it is not the...

Well, first your math is off. 10 inches in N scale is a scale 133.3 feet. 183 N scale feet would equal 13.725 inches. Depending on the actual length, one could bash three or possibly four Atlas deck truss bridges together to span the gap.

Obviously not a subject people wish to talk about here.