Kato Overhead Station Track- Flex track or Unitrack

[Spaceman Spiff]

Hi, my layout is being done in Atlas flex track except for a couple of Kato cross over sections. I was wondering should I use the flex track to run thru the overhead station area or should I go for the V15 set?  The lines will end at the station. I have noticed in European stations the lines going into the station are the regular tie variety but as the line reaches the platform area the lines are mounted on concrete with no ballast. I was wondering if doing the same with Atlas and Unitrack it would create the same look or will it weird?

 

 

 

 

Spiff

[Bernard]

Spiff - can you post photos of what you've done so far? I'm not sure what you mean when you say "Kato crossover sections".

 

On my layout, I would say it is 90% flex track with most bridges being Kato and some Kato Viaduct sections.

I prefer flex track because I can make any radius of shapes in the track plus the distance between pieces is a lot longer.

[to2leo]

Hi Spiff,

The Kato platform's height is designed to factor in the height of the unitrack.  If the height of the train door to the height of the platform is not the factor over price, then you can go with flex track.

 

If you want the look concrete track like you see in some Terminal station, then go with Kato's viaduct tracks or Tomix Slab rail.

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10047588

[Spaceman Spiff]

Hi Bernard, I still at the lumber stage. I am currently getting ready to place an order and was trying to figure out what to order.

 

The cross over I was talking about was a Kato N 20210 Unitrack Double Crossover (pic attached).

 

Also attached are couple of pics of the station area. The read area is where the station will go. It is about 5 feet long and will be abit higher than the mainline (green)

 

Spiff

[Spaceman Spiff]

to2leo, thanks for the tomix link. I imagine using flex trak I can shim it up to the proper height with cork.

 

Spiff

[Bernard]

to2leo, thanks for the tomix link. I imagine using flex trak I can shim it up to the proper height with cork.

 

Spiff

 

Yes you can shim it. Also for the Kato cross over piece you will also have to shim it with cork roadbed. There are 2 options you can do to join that piece with flex track ...add a piece on each side of Kato conversion track or just take out the Kato rail joiner and add in a regular rail joiner.

Here is what the conversion pieces look like:

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/KATO-N-20045-Unitrack-2-7-16-Straight-Conver-p/kat-20045.htm

[Spaceman Spiff]

Thanks Bernard, I already have the transition pieces. It would be little bit cheaper going with flex track thru out but easier with the unitrack. I like the look of the Kato pictures, I'm just not sure if it will mesh well with atlas and Kato look.

 

spiff

[clem24]

I find cork + flex track to be too high. A better alternative is that black foam road bed that Atlas makes.

 

I too like flex track for permanent layouts. I find modular track to look ugly because the track is either straight or turning and often makes trains look very unnatural. Now if only Kato or Tomix can somehow come up with flex Unitrack/finetrack hehehehe...

 

About the only thing that I can't model with flex track is concrete slab track. Any one have any ideas..? I think Shinkansen needs slab track but the best I can think of is using Peco concrete track and good 'ol ballast...

[Spaceman Spiff]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll stick to the flex trac and see what happens.

 

Clem24 where do you get the Atlas  roadbed?

 

Spiff

[clem24]

Clem24 where do you get the Atlas  roadbed?

 

DUH-me: correction it's made by Woodland scenics..

 

http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/category/TrackBed

[Spaceman Spiff]

Thanks clem24. No wonder I couldn't find it under Atlas lol.  I haven't used cork or the Woodlands scenic stuff. Is cork a pain to use? Is the Woodlands Scenic stuff easier to use?

 

Spiff

[KenS]

I've used both WS foam roadbed and 1/8" cork.  I prefer cork on a wood subroadbed, and have also used it on insulation foam and plaster.  But when I was using styrene to cover my subway tunnel and had to run track over it, I used the WS roadbed atop the styrene.  To glue it, I used liquid nails (the small tube, not the big bulk applicator; a very thin amount is all you need).

 

They're both easy to use; you can buy both in sheet form and cut them with scissors to fit odd shapes.  They both tend to curl if not glued down, but I used sheets of the WS foam in my viaduct station and just held the sheets in place with the weigh of the track and platforms, so I didn't need to glue it down.

 

The WS stuff probably does a better job of reducing vibration, but it also costs considerably more than cork bought in bulk sheet form.

 

I don't know how well it works with ballast as I've been using both bare on the current layout, just painting them with gray artist's acrylic (not model acrylic) paint to match the unitrack ballast.

[Bernard]

I've also have used both corkbed and WS black road bed. Personal tastes.....I prefer the cork roadbed. Why, I like the weight of it, (WS is very light...it's really a foam) and because of the weight it is easier to use especially when making radius.

I can't remember but does the WS roadbed split in the middle like cork?

 

One test you can do is....set up your station platform, on one side place a piece of cork roadbed with a section of flex track pinned on it, on the other side of the platform, place a piece of WS roadbed also with track pinned to it....then you can determine with height best fits your needs.

[rankodd]

I can't remember but does the WS roadbed split in the middle like cork?

 

Yes, it's perforated down the middle so you can split it.