I usually use track nails and tack the Unitrak pieces directly to the painted wood surface. I have never noticed a noise problem with T-Trak modules. Perhaps the relatively small area of each module plus all the scenic material dampen any vibrations and inhibit any resonance.
The simple answer is yes. I just posted a photograph on August 5, 2015 of an small section showing use of the two. In this case, True-Track in the mainline and the lead to a siding where a Unitrack turnout is used. I also experimented with Unitrack mainline and Unitrack turnout to a yard with True-Track for the yard. There is a minor difference in height, but removal of Unitrack joiners and replacing with True-Track rail joiners works.
Craig, How often are ya'll able to get together and run trains?...only at shows or do ya'll have a place to meet and set up apart from shows? Bruce
Arbomambo, my club, Central Ohio N-trak has a club location with a t-trak layout in it, in addition to an N and HO layouts. We also do about 5-6 shows per year with both t-trak and n-trak layouts and set up the t-trak at Columbus Children's Hospital 3 times a year. We occasionally will reserve a room at my church and set up a large t-trak for the day on a Saturday. Later, Craig
Craig, I'd love to be able to set up our SWARMTrak T-Trak set up more often than we're currently able to...We should look for a local club location! since I had the pastels out, I went ahead and weathered the grease strip on the roads of the unsceniced modules...
As I was weathering the roads on the two original Mother Road double modules (in the posts above) I realized that I still hadn't added the Kato ballast to these yet. I went ahead and decided to do this before starting the ballast on all the new modules...it does make a difference and now they 'tie in' a lot better with the modules that flank them.
And I also took some time to start adding the 'gravel' shoulders to the new modules with roads... ...and added a 'gravel' parking area around the "State Line Farm Supply"...
Looks like a gravy de-fatter. Pour the hot gravy/meat juices into it, let the fat rise to the top for a few minutes, then it pours from the bottom.
yes, a gravy separator...a trick/tip I learned from Kim Saign in Austin/Round Rock. I find it works very well in helping apply ballast exactly where I want it...after a few minutes of using it, I can apply the ballast so well, along the sides of the rail, that many times I don't have to 'manicure' it any further with a soft bristled brush. Bruce
Bruce, what material are you using for your shoulders and parking lot? Looks a lot like good ole Texas shoulder dirt.
I have been meaning to ask- Bruce- What blend of ballast are you using with your Unitrack? It seems to match quite well.
The ballast is the Kato ballast product...I like it better than mixing WS ballast as it's actual rock... my gravel formula consists of equal parts WS fine 'gravel', Highball Z scale 'limestone' ballast, and Arizona Rock and Mineral 'earth' pigment powder... Bruce
Thanks, Bruce. I have made a note of this formula. I'm planning on some module work as the weather closes in, and will see....
Thanks Bruce. Heading to the hobby shop this weekend to order supplies. Scenery starts in earnest when I get back from the Labor day Houston trip.
time is getting tight-have 10' of bare tabletops to get some appearance of scenery of scenery on for the closest show...at this point, if I, at the least, get some grassy areas on them, they'll be somewhat presentable. I have no illusions about having details, such as road signs, etc. on the rest by September 25th. I took an opportunity to add 'grass' and gravel to two singles and a 90 degree corner (I'd like to add a cornfield to the outside edge of the corner)... Here I'm misting one of the singles with Scenic Cement (after misting it with my 50% rubbing alcohol wetting agent) Here are some pics of the gravel and grassy areas I added...I drizzled several different colors of WS static grasses to model the grassy areas-I used the same colors I used on the previous modules to provide some continuity. I took this quick pic of the 'Mother Road' from the Dari King module; these modules add three more feet to the 'Mother road'...and, around the corner, the 8' of grain elevator modules will extend the 'Mother road' that much further...
