Jump to content

Unitrack 8.5in/216mm radius curves -- what are they for?


scott

Recommended Posts

I have a bunch of these 216mm curves that I must have originally gotten for tram purposes (the mind is the first thing to go...). I know I eventually used them on the tram line that we eventually removed from the basement layout.

 

Anyway--does anybody else have/use these curves, and what are they good for? (First person who says "absolutely--nuthin!" gets a demerit.) They seem too big for urban trams, and too tight (and silly-looking) for regular passenger stock. (RailModeller says "not for large 6-axle locos.")

Link to comment

Except for Shinkansen all my other Japanese trains and rolling stock I have right now run through R216 just fine - even the newest Kato body mounted close couplers on the 20m EMUs do it, albet very tight and a maybe a bit silly looking. Remember that space is very limited in Japan, and you don't have to show your curves - you could use a tunnel to hide the tight 180 degree turn at each end of a straight run layout.

Link to comment

Nice layout! That's very cool. And the curves look fine with those cars, which seems to answer my question.

 

What does "tani" mean?

Link to comment
Martijn Meerts

 

Nice layout! That's very cool. And the curves look fine with those cars, which seems to answer my question.

 

What does "tani" mean?

 

Valley I'd guess.

Link to comment
Mudkip Orange

"Nekotani"

 

My 3'x2' interuban layout using Kato 216mm radius curves.

 

 

 

You totally stole that track plan from the "suggested track plans" page on the Kato USA website.

Link to comment

 

Nice layout! That's very cool. And the curves look fine with those cars, which seems to answer my question.

 

What does "tani" mean?

 

Valley I'd guess.

Correct. Nekotani=Cat Valley.

 

My brother's railroad is the Cat River RR, so named because years ago we had a layout with a river on it and a cat that liked sleeping in the river. I borrowed the theme for my Japanese layout.

Link to comment

"Nekotani"

 

My 3'x2' interuban layout using Kato 216mm radius curves.

 

 

 

You totally stole that track plan from the "suggested track plans" page on the Kato USA website.

Also plan No.201 from the sadly out of print "Kato Collection of Layout Plans" book.

Link to comment

Are you using DCC on that layout?

Yes, the only wiring is a pair of feeders to the track, well two actually, one either end just for good measure. The turnouts have stationary decoders. The Tomytec mechanisms are easy to install decoders in.

Link to comment
Mudkip Orange

"Nekotani"

 

My 3'x2' interuban layout using Kato 216mm radius curves.

 

 

 

You totally stole that track plan from the "suggested track plans" page on the Kato USA website.

Also plan No.201 from the sadly out of print "Kato Collection of Layout Plans" book.

 

Well I like your version better than the "winter wonderland"/US prototype sketch Kato has up.

Link to comment
×
×
  • Create New...