Which Tomytec moving bus chassis works with Unitram?

[smitha54]

Hello, I came across the thread about combining unitram and the Tomytec moving bus system, and I would like to try it. I've seen 3 versions of the motorized chassis on eBay, but I'm not sure which is the older one with the black power switch. Could someone who's familiar with this please advise me on which one to get? Thanks!

[katoftw]

tomix and kato are not compatible.

Edited December 19, 2014 by katoftw

[kvp]

  Quote

 

I've seen 3 versions of the motorized chassis on eBay, but I'm not sure which is the older one with the black power switch.

The older one is the version 1 chassis. I assume you are thinking about adding wire to the bottom of the Kato roads and you would like to get the older Tomix chassis with the stronger magnet. It's doable, but the inner track and the road won't be usable at the same time, so the tram running on the inner track in the curves have to be extra careful not to hit the buses turning around the corners. Imho it's better to use the Tomix system for both the roads and the tracks, because it's easier to get everything up and running in a reliable way. Also many newer buses won't fit the old chassis.

[Vato]

I try to do same, add a wire on the kato unitram roads but chassis new versions (2 and 3) and faller trucks does not work, 

[Vato]

better way is if you use a tomix system for tram and bus

[cteno4]

vatato,

 

might check with dave at http://www.loco1hobby.net as i think he had worked with a client and getting the chassis that worked with rolling your own roads. might check with IST as he had gotten it to work with the unitram streets so see which chassis he was using.

 

jeff

[kvp]

The first chassis (not in production anymore) had a stronger magnet that could see through the thicker Kato plates. If you cut small grooves on the underside of the plates and place the wires in there, then you will get a system that works with available and hopefully any future chassis. Getting the grooves right without damaging the plates is imho a rather hard task, but it's possible.

[IST]

  On 2/13/2015 at 8:21 PM, cteno4 said:

might check with dave at http://www.loco1hobby.net as i think he had worked with a client and getting the chassis that worked with rolling your own roads. might check with IST as he had gotten it to work with the unitram streets so see which chassis he was using.

 

It was the first chassis, but it is quite painful to add the wires to the Unitram plates. Although I think it looks better than Tomix roads if you are modelling a big city and not a small village.