Hi, all,
I was trying to post supplemental contribution to the other thread on 'what track to use?'
Somehow I mistakenly started a new thread and can't delete this post!
So, I'll let it stay here as a contribution.
If you see some things here that sound interesting, you can
find more information at my Community Webshots home page:
http://community.webshots.com/user/atsf_arizona
Thx.
==========================
How/Why I chose Kato Unitrack
Experiments in Painting Kato Unitrack for Improved Appearance
The bottom lines are:
===========
1) Wanted robust reliability and ease of use.
This is my first layout as an adult;
I have limited time due to career and family
and I wanted to do the track once and be done with it.
Unitrack has delivered bullet proof reliability.
Also, prior to April 2003, I had very limited
space, and needed the ease of setup/breakdown that Kato
Unitrack offered. (sort of Japanese-style requirements,
which is why Kato engineered their track the way they did).
I have needed to tune the #4 turnouts
(which I have on my mainline), by judicious filing and
sharpening of the points ,and making an indentation
in the adjoining rail for the points to sit into.
With those quick, easy, and pleasant modifications,
my #4 turnouts no longer give me any problems at all.
==========
2) My layout has grown organically.
I didn't start out with some grand plan to
make very realistic Unitrack, I just
wanted to enjoy my trains, with an emphasis
on scenery and one-train-per-scene style.
I came up with the track plan I have
by buying Unitrack pieces slowly and piecing it together
over time. It was great to be able
to know exactly what would/wouldn't fit on my
desired 4'x4' space. Given that Unitrack has the
28" and 19" curved sections, I created some easements
which improve the appearance and flowability of the
track noticeably. When I was satisfied I then started
construction.
===========
3) I really enjoy scenery and realistic appearances.
My first digital photos of the stock Unitrack on the
layout caused me to think, "Hmmm, not so great. Could
it really look better if I painted it?" So I started to
experiment......
The results are below, and on my Community Webshots
page.
At some point, I intend to sculptamold my Unitrack and
integrate it into the scenery, per my experiment blocks above. As you can
see, I have used HO scale Woodland Scenics roadbed under the Unitrack,
for sound deadening.
But that will come at a later time when I'm ready to
lock the track down for good. At that time, the sculptamold
will hold the track down just fine. (for right now, my track is
not glued down).
Then, after that, if I get the mood to be even more
realistic, I can ballast.
In the end, if I ballast, I imagine the Kato Unitrack circle will have
come complete, you wouldn't know if it was Unitrack or regular
track underneath. But the journey (and the reliability)
will have been worth it.
==============
4) As for what I used for painting
I use PollyScale water-based Roof Brown with a little PollyScale
Grimy black mixed in. On the Community Webshots page
Volume I, I have described what I have done in more detail,
go there and have a look in 'Vol 1: Kato Unitrack Painting".
I have a text file that describes my steps in a little more detail, if
there's interest I can repost that here.
==============
5) Price of Unitrack
If I were to do it all over again in my specific circumstances,
Kato Unitrack fit the bill and I'd use it again. The painted
appearance fits my needs as 'good enough for now'.
The initial price of Unitrack I agree is higher,
but given the small size of my layout it was acceptable.
There are many online hobby dealers that can give discounts on
Kato Unitrack, in particular, those of us on the Yahoo Kato
Unitrack group have found the best prices are generally at:
http://www.toytrainheaven.com/
And then go to 'N scale Products', and then go to 'Kato'.
===============
6) The future
If I ever build a much larger (permanent) layout I will
likely try Peco C55 and/or Atlas C55. Any way you cut it,
those tracks would look better after they are all finished.
At such time I would plan/allocate a significantly larger amount of
time to getting the track running right.
But for now, I am quite happy with the way the Kato Unitrack
has turned out.
==================
I was trying to post supplemental contribution to the other thread on 'what track to use?'
Somehow I mistakenly started a new thread and can't delete this post!
So, I'll let it stay here as a contribution.
If you see some things here that sound interesting, you can
find more information at my Community Webshots home page:
http://community.webshots.com/user/atsf_arizona
Thx.
==========================
How/Why I chose Kato Unitrack
Experiments in Painting Kato Unitrack for Improved Appearance
The bottom lines are:
===========
1) Wanted robust reliability and ease of use.
This is my first layout as an adult;
I have limited time due to career and family
and I wanted to do the track once and be done with it.
Unitrack has delivered bullet proof reliability.
Also, prior to April 2003, I had very limited
space, and needed the ease of setup/breakdown that Kato
Unitrack offered. (sort of Japanese-style requirements,
which is why Kato engineered their track the way they did).
I have needed to tune the #4 turnouts
(which I have on my mainline), by judicious filing and
sharpening of the points ,and making an indentation
in the adjoining rail for the points to sit into.
With those quick, easy, and pleasant modifications,
my #4 turnouts no longer give me any problems at all.
==========
2) My layout has grown organically.
I didn't start out with some grand plan to
make very realistic Unitrack, I just
wanted to enjoy my trains, with an emphasis
on scenery and one-train-per-scene style.
I came up with the track plan I have
by buying Unitrack pieces slowly and piecing it together
over time. It was great to be able
to know exactly what would/wouldn't fit on my
desired 4'x4' space. Given that Unitrack has the
28" and 19" curved sections, I created some easements
which improve the appearance and flowability of the
track noticeably. When I was satisfied I then started
construction.
===========
3) I really enjoy scenery and realistic appearances.
My first digital photos of the stock Unitrack on the
layout caused me to think, "Hmmm, not so great. Could
it really look better if I painted it?" So I started to
experiment......
The results are below, and on my Community Webshots
page.
At some point, I intend to sculptamold my Unitrack and
integrate it into the scenery, per my experiment blocks above. As you can
see, I have used HO scale Woodland Scenics roadbed under the Unitrack,
for sound deadening.
But that will come at a later time when I'm ready to
lock the track down for good. At that time, the sculptamold
will hold the track down just fine. (for right now, my track is
not glued down).
Then, after that, if I get the mood to be even more
realistic, I can ballast.
In the end, if I ballast, I imagine the Kato Unitrack circle will have
come complete, you wouldn't know if it was Unitrack or regular
track underneath. But the journey (and the reliability)
will have been worth it.
==============
4) As for what I used for painting
I use PollyScale water-based Roof Brown with a little PollyScale
Grimy black mixed in. On the Community Webshots page
Volume I, I have described what I have done in more detail,
go there and have a look in 'Vol 1: Kato Unitrack Painting".
I have a text file that describes my steps in a little more detail, if
there's interest I can repost that here.
==============
5) Price of Unitrack
If I were to do it all over again in my specific circumstances,
Kato Unitrack fit the bill and I'd use it again. The painted
appearance fits my needs as 'good enough for now'.
The initial price of Unitrack I agree is higher,
but given the small size of my layout it was acceptable.
There are many online hobby dealers that can give discounts on
Kato Unitrack, in particular, those of us on the Yahoo Kato
Unitrack group have found the best prices are generally at:
http://www.toytrainheaven.com/
And then go to 'N scale Products', and then go to 'Kato'.
===============
6) The future
If I ever build a much larger (permanent) layout I will
likely try Peco C55 and/or Atlas C55. Any way you cut it,
those tracks would look better after they are all finished.
At such time I would plan/allocate a significantly larger amount of
time to getting the track running right.
But for now, I am quite happy with the way the Kato Unitrack
has turned out.
==================
