Is there a trick to it?

I have been working on my n-scale layout three weeks and I am having a blast. However I am having trouble with my Life-Like set. The track is very hard to properly connect. I always seem to have a couple of connections that do not connect correctly and I go to run my train and boom crash opera. Is there a trick to putting this together or is it a practice makes perfect thing? Maybe I should switch to some sort of Power Trak!? Any advice would be great. Thanks.

 

Is the track you are currently using sectional track? Regular black ties with metal connectors but no built in roadbed? The trick to sectional is to get it together and leave it together. Securing (gluing or nailing) it is really the only way sectional will stay together. Putting pieces together should be fairly simple if you take your time. One trick is to lay the pieces on a flat surface so that the rails will be at the same plane. It will help you line up the connectors.

If you are going to tear down and set up track on a regular basis then one of the built in roadbed tracks would be the best. Kato Unitrack is super stuff but Bachmann (E-Z track), Atlas (True track) and Life Like (Power lock?) all make their versions as well. My vote would be Unitrack.
Glad you are enjying the hobby!
CG

 

Unitrack is the best

 

From what I have read on the forums, Kato Unitrack is #1 then Atlas True Track is #2 and then #3 is, see #1 and #2 again.

 

And this opinion is so very frequent, it's practically fact. :thumbs_up:

 

Yeah I would also say Kato and Atlas true track are the best. With the Life Like track and B-mann you always have to make them better. I started with Life Like snap track and I ended up filing the track to make it fit better. With Kato or Atlas you don't have to do any of that.

 

power distribution for kato unitrack

hello friends my name is Barry and I am new to the train board I currently have an L shaped HCD layout and I have 2 kato v11 track sets I'm running alot of CSX CP and Amtrak I also have Santa Fe el capitan set. My question is how many feeders should I add to my current layout any help would be appreciated thanks

Barry,:tb-biggrin:

 

Hi Barry, welcome to TrainBoard.

The answer: As many as you're comfortable with.

Generally, you'll get recommendations of anywhere from every 3'-6'. But if you're only running one train, a single feeder could work for an entire HCD size layout.

Now, of course, for each feeder you add you improve to the stability of getting power from one point on the layout to the next.

Start out with one feeder per each train that you will be running, spaced evenly. If you notice trains tend to slow down the farther away they get from those feeders, add a second, third, fourth in those spots until you're comfortable with operation.

 

Pftttttttttttttt...*talk to the hand * !!! :tb-tongue::thumbs_down:

.

 

After looking an trying both (Kato-Atlas) uni-track, the only difference I see is the color of the bed.
Kato is pretty much in line, price wise compared to Atlas's tru-track.

There isn't any of it that will go together right if you have the least bit of bad eyesight. Even the Kato an Atlas track will walk around if it isn't nailed/glued down.

 

I only have the Atlas main feeder track section on my 30 x 44 inch layout with no slowdowns anywhere....:tb-biggrin:


But if I started getting much bigger, I'd probably add another one or two to it

 

My understanding is the Atlas track has United States tie spacing whereas the Kato track does not.

Mike C.

 

Your understanding is correct.

Unitrack tie spacing matches Japanese prototype.

 

Well, there ya go. U.S. or A-bomb Track, it's your choice.....haha