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Post by riogrande on Dec 1, 2012 20:30:00 GMT -8
I am planning on buying some sectional track to lay on the living room rug as a means to test run some loco's and trains since I don't have room for even a 4x8 to set up right now.
Since Bachman EZ track and KATO uni track both have larger radius curves, such as 28 inch etc, I am considering an oval made from one of these makers. Comments? Pro's or Con's to either? Cost seems very similar if I were to buy it from Kleins for example
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2012 21:10:43 GMT -8
Go with the Kato...much better quality, looks a lot better and the price is about the same.
Keith Turley
The Original Whistle Stop
Pasadena, California
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Post by valenciajim on Dec 1, 2012 21:47:40 GMT -8
I wholeheartedly agree with Keith. Go with the Kato track.
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Post by riogrande on Dec 1, 2012 22:05:59 GMT -8
I don't anticipate getting turnouts but I did read that the B'man turnouts dont' work as good nor the electrical connections between the sections of track as reliable as the KATO. I almost bought the B'man when I was in Kleins today but held of to measure the space and also double check on the quality issue, even if this is just a test track oval! Never know, it might grow hair arms and legs eventually but when I get space for benchwork, I'll probably go back to flex track etc.
BTW, I noticed the B'man says it takes for packs of 5 curve pieces of the 28 inch radius. It looks like KATO 28 inch radius comes in packs of 4 however. What do I need to make up a full circle?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2012 5:07:12 GMT -8
Stay away from the Botchmann Sleezy Track.
The pins that join the sections on the Bachmann track break easily. Kato is just a better engineered, designed and manufactured product. If you were stringing together four sections to mount permanently on a work bench for testing of equipment, any brand would do. But, if you are setting up a loop you may need to break down and move every once and a while, go with the Kato. The Bachmann might not make it together and apart once.
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Post by riogrande on Dec 2, 2012 6:38:21 GMT -8
I noticed the KATO 28 inch radius comes 4 pieces to a pack but says 22.5 degrees.
The B'man 28 inch radius comes 5 to a pack, and the pack says you need 4 packs to make a complete circle.
Soooo.... based on the above, do you need 5 packs of KATO or only 4? I guess 22.5 degree's added up = 90 degree's = 1/4 of a circle? So still need 4 packs of KATO curves with 4 to a pack for a circle?
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Post by bnsf971 on Dec 2, 2012 6:46:28 GMT -8
I noticed the KATO 28 inch radius comes 4 pieces to a pack but says 22.5 degrees. The B'man 28 inch radius comes 5 to a pack, and the pack says you need 4 packs to make a complete circle. Soooo.... based on the above, do you need 5 packs of KATO or only 4? I guess 22.5 degree's added up = 90 degree's = 1/4 of a circle? So still need 4 packs of KATO curves with 4 to a pack for a circle? That's what I remember from my Unitrack days. You are going to get the straight terminal track and at least one section of straight track to have an oval, right? |
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Post by riogrande on Dec 2, 2012 7:18:43 GMT -8
Yes, I plan on setting up an oval just to be able to test run engines and train cars etc. Planning on 28-inch radius so I can run long cars such as 89' flat cars and passenger cars so want something wide enough but still fits in the small area. I noticed that even the BLI California Zephyr cars amazingly say they can run on a 22 inch minium radius but I'm going with 28 inch for test track purposes.
The annoying this is the power feeder track comes as a single so if you make an oval you buy packs of straight tracks which naturally come in packs of 2 or 4 so there is an odd track out! Grrr...
Another thing is I wouldn't mind having a rerailer as part of the loop just for convenience but KATO doesn't seem to offer them either.
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Post by marknycfan on Dec 2, 2012 9:47:50 GMT -8
Spend the money on the Kato track
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Post by riogrande on Dec 2, 2012 10:15:00 GMT -8
Spent! I placed my order with Kleins Model Train Stuff to get a basic oval going. Hopefully it will arrive mid week.
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Post by catt on Dec 2, 2012 13:57:17 GMT -8
I must be doing something wrong.While I am a fan of KATO Uni-track I have to tell you I've probly set up and taken down the B'mann easy track in my On30 set at least 50 times with no problems.
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Post by riogrande on Dec 2, 2012 14:16:14 GMT -8
I must be doing something wrong.While I am a fan of KATO Uni-track I have to tell you I've probly set up and taken down the B'mann easy track in my On30 set at least 50 times with no problems. Too late Catt, I've already ordered my KATO unitrack. I figured the B'man would probably do what I need, but I spend some time reading a lot of comments on the internet, reviews etc. The biggest re-occuring theme was the turnouts not working very well, but one or two mentioned electrical connectivity also. Anyway, if you are happy with your EZ track, then I'd say it's no foul then. |
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Post by Amboy Secondary on Dec 2, 2012 16:27:02 GMT -8
You made the right choice. BTW: Bachmann EZ is Code 100, while KATO is Code 83.
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Post by riogrande on Dec 2, 2012 18:34:34 GMT -8
You made the right choice. BTW: Bachmann EZ is Code 100, while KATO is Code 83. Yes. For test track purposes, to me the code wasn't that important, although if for some reason I end up using the KATO track on a future layout, it might matter then. I prefer the look of code 83 for sure. A bit off of topic, on my last layout I used a lot of Atlas code 83, but the rail didn't look much different from Atlas code 100, mainly because the surface of the Atlas code 83 looked nearly as wide as the code 100, although the rail was shorter. So the "look" of the Atlas code 83 wasn't as "fine" as it should have been. |
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Post by spookyac47 on Dec 3, 2012 4:37:24 GMT -8
You made the right choice. BTW: Bachmann EZ is Code 100, while KATO is Code 83. Yes. For test track purposes, to me the code wasn't that important, although if for some reason I end up using the KATO track on a future layout, it might matter then. I prefer the look of code 83 for sure. A bit off of topic, on my last layout I used a lot of Atlas code 83, but the rail didn't look much different from Atlas code 100, mainly because the surface of the Atlas code 83 looked nearly as wide as the code 100, although the rail was shorter. So the "look" of the Atlas code 83 wasn't as "fine" as it should have been. The difference between Code 83 and Code 100 track railhead width is 0.005" (0.040" vs 0.045") per the NMRA specs |
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Post by riogrande on Dec 3, 2012 5:01:46 GMT -8
The difference between Code 83 and Code 100 track railhead width is 0.005" (0.040" vs 0.045") per the NMRA specs That looks good on paper, but like I said, my Atlas code 83 flex visually had a wide top/suface area so it didn't look much different than my code 100 which led me to the conclusion that it must have met the code 83 height spec but width, not so much. I had other code 83 track such as Walthers code 83 turnouts to compare the Atlas flex with and the Walthers track looked better/thinner. |
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Post by drolsen on Dec 3, 2012 8:03:13 GMT -8
I've had a test oval of Kato track for about 10 years now, I think. I went with the 31 1/8" radius curves because it was the largest radius "snap track" available. When I eventually build a layout, I'd like to shoot for at least 30" radius (preferably 36") as my minimum, so the Kato track gives me an idea of how my models will look operating in that radius range. It's really nice track, although I've had rails separate from the ties at the end of a couple straight sections from taking it apart and putting it back together so often, but it hasn't impacted reliability.
Dave
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Post by riogrande on Dec 3, 2012 9:00:10 GMT -8
Dave, good feedback. I expect I"ll be taking mine apart often as I don't have a place to set up where it can be left assembled until I move to a larger place, which will hopefully be next summer.
Wide radius is important to me to test all my rolling stock regardless of size, but I opted with 28-inch radius as a compromise for space vs ability to run most longer rolling stock I have. I plan on getting a set of 31-inch curves eventually also.
The two layouts I have built do far used similar radii. My first layout was built in a garage (16x19') and used all Atlas code 100 flex and the minimum curves were 28-inches on the insides of two staging reverse loops, although all the rest of the layout had 30-inch minimums - I could run most trains on minimum 30-inch curves, with the exception of the inside loop of 3 storage tracks in a 3 track teardrop reverse loop at each end. I had a 36-inch curve on the mainline that I found my 89' autoracks still looked quite long on and the curve looked sharp under them. Everything operated just fine however. You need really wide curves for 89' freight cars to look decent on, I'd say 48-inches or bigger. But... what can you do?! My second layout I tweaked up my minimum radius slightly to 32-inch minimums, primarily because I had brass Kumata (OL/Challenger) CZ passenger cars - which some of them didn't even like the 32-inch curves and seemed to need 34 or 36 inches. I consigned my brass CZ set when BLI offered there plastic cars and the box says they need a 22-inch minimum radius - although with full side skirts I wonder how they an get around such sharp curves!
Anyhow, I ordered enough track from Kleins to set up an oval using 28-inch curves - will have to put it on the carpet for now and try not to step on it!
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Post by atsfan on Dec 3, 2012 10:01:09 GMT -8
I am planning on buying some sectional track to lay on the living room rug as a means to test run some loco's and trains since I don't have room for even a 4x8 to set up right now. Since Bachman EZ track and KATO uni track both have larger radius curves, such as 28 inch etc, I am considering an oval made from one of these makers. Comments? Pro's or Con's to either? Cost seems very similar if I were to buy it from Kleins for example KATO is the only choice you want to make. |
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Post by el3637 on Dec 3, 2012 22:12:43 GMT -8
The Kato track is vastly superior although quite a bit more expensive. If you want to use any turnouts, it's even more important because Bachmann's are junk. If it's just a temporary setup, maybe it's not that big of a deal. I actually used some Bachmann track for the staging yard on my Kato Karpet Route for a while... I made a conversion section. The Bachmann rail is so rough you could hear the difference when a train passed from the Kato to the Bachmann, it sounded like something had derailed. The turnouts were really trash, and that's why I eventually ditched it and went all Kato.
The little table top layout I built for my wife is Bachmann track - it has one turnout and siding which doesn't cause any problems, but the QC is poor - one of the #6 turnouts I had before was unusable.
Andy
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Post by riogrande on Dec 4, 2012 9:20:41 GMT -8
The Kato track is vastly superior although quite a bit more expensive. Surprisingly, the B'man EZ track was more expensive than the KATO, at least for the curve pieces. Kleins prices for a full circle of 28-inch radius was about $43.50 vs about $52 for the Bachman. My order for the KATO Unitrack oval of track plus a re-railer ramp was about the same as it would have been for the Bachman, except but it the straight run part of the oval was longer so in the end, the KATO was less expensive!! I almost ordered the Bachman but something told me to not hit the "commit" button in the order screen at Kleins. So I backed out and started doing some google searches etc. The most common complaint about the Bachmann was the turnouts were poor quality. While I am not planning on using this loop for much more than testing, I might buy turnouts some day and do more with it, at least it's good to have the option. So that was enough information for me to decide against Bachmann. I did read one review that said the electrical connectivity was an issue - ie dead spots or inconsistant power feed to all the track what was connected. After reading all of that plus comments here, I went back and ordered the KATO unitrackand it should arrive in another day or two. I haven't gotten the shipping confirmation email from Kleins yet so they must be backed up for holiday orders. I ordered on Sunday but hopefully it will arrive later this week. BTW- I had talked to a guy who had some KATO unitrack curves for sale, and emailed him how many did he have so I could figure out if there was enough for a circle. His answer was there were 10 pieces and that would be enough - 22.5 degree's each. I guess they don't teach math in schools these days because 22.5x10 = 225 degree's and last time I checked, there were 360 degree's in a circle. I thought EVERYONE knew this?!!!! I politely corrected him, and reminded him of the basic math! |
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