Right now I still have the full 'day job' which is railroad-related and keeps me more than busy, as well as travelling a lot. So I don't volunteer for much more travel, and I get about as many orders and sales as I can handle as a closet kit manufacturer. I say closet because it's the next step UNDER being a cottage business, I'd have to be bigger to be a cottage. For years, with my kids in college, I couldn't even do Altoona because I was always moving somebody somewhere that weekend. So things change, maybe someday, but not for now. I do travel all over though, have been in all lower 48, and done some pretty surprising home layout visits. My favorite off the wall incredible one has been the Mud Bay & Southern (Jim Youkins) in Tacoma, second all-time favorite was John Coots layout in Reno - since passed, but my inspiration for sure.
Finished up Rail Camp at the museum today. I had five guys making modules, two of them corners. If they are there for the third year I start them on corners so if they come enough years, they have an oval. I don't do standard corners, just the regular size modules with tighter radius ( 20-100 and 20-110) Trying to keep the cost down. They all had a good time.
OK, here's a challenge to you T-trakkers. The PRR river line that I've been doing modules of- West Hickory, Trunkeyville, Thompson, etc..... has a really cool junction on it. On the surface, it looks pretty much like the geometry for a T-trak junction module - Irvineton, PA. Here's the depot, but look at the lower LH shot: http://www.west2k.com/papix/irvinepa.jpg So, looking at a typical T-trak junction module: http://masterpiecemodules.com/index_files/T-trak/12R_Junction_Images/pic_01.jpg That's a double x single, which looks rather normal. But what I'm looking at in terms of track plan is more like this: http://www.masterpiecemodules.com/index_files/T-trak/Branchline_Images/pic_01.jpg with two-track main on the straight side and what I assume are Kato 4's on the ends. Is that a standard curve geometry or is that a complete oddball; i.e. will it be usable in a typical T-trak setup or do I have to stay with the first design? I see that it looks like there's two different curve radii in there? Now what makes this really unique is that there's also double track on ONE SIDE of the curve (say the right side of the plan above) with a curved diamond in it. https://www.ebay.com/itm/OLD-LARGE-...884454?hash=item44219f9c26:g:bc8AAOSwYTVZoND8 For module purposes, this track could be dummy. Or, like all my other modules, only the end tracks are Kato and everything else is Peco or scratch. So as you can see, I need all the radius I can get away with here so that second plan may be all I can work from. I spent a lot of time around that depot before it was demolished. I'm several years ahead of myself on this one, but I'm still puzzled. The other one that keeps calling me as the 'ultimate junction + turnback curve" in T-trak is Oil City, and these bridges (if not all the track) are still there: http://www.oilcitypa.net/images/OilCity/FromTheAir/100_1226.jpg http://www.oilcitypa.net/images/OilCity/Misc.Images/RRRoundHouse&YBridge1.jpg That's an epic project, for sure, but same problems with double-track curves.
Have a "What-I-Did" delving into aligning track on T-Trak modules: http://www.chainsawjunction.com/n-scale/t-trak/aligner/ PDF version at: http://www.chainsawjunction.com/n-scale/t-trak/aligner/aligner.pdf Thank you if you visit Harold
that works. here are 2 other options. https://www.shapeways.com/product/TYXE7P7FH/t-trak-corner-template?optionId=63981908&li=marketplace https://www.shapeways.com/product/23DMXZ7JU/t-trak-gauge?optionId=64527271
Harold, I visited your site, and I agree with your basic point that the T-Trak concept is very good for home layouts that allows a "rough draft" and cut-and-past approach! I keep saying in various venues as well that the underside of a T-Trak module is a great place for mounting electronics.
T-TRAK, Model Railroading, and the world of Man lost a great one last week... Terry Nathan passed from us on June 5th, in the evening...he managed to continue to operate his business, T-KITS, almost all the way up to the time he entered hospice a few months ago. Denise and I last visited with Terry 2 months ago, when he drove down to meet us in New Braunfels. We had a great, long lunch over conversation about friends, T-TRAK, and the state of model railroading in general. We will miss him dearly... Here is a link to his obituary: http://wcfish.tributes.com/obituary/show/Terry-Nathan-106248006 ~Bruce
Be sure to watch next week's Model Railroader Magazine's "Ask MRVP Plus" end of July episode, teasing the T-TRAK layout at the NTS in Kansas City!!!
I've been following this thread for a while and I'm getting the feeling that T-TRAK seems to be replacing N-TRAK as the choice of N scale clubs for portable layouts. Maybe it's just because there are so many people here showing such great work. Is this the case or am I wrong? I was actually hoping to find an N scale freemo type club to join, but seems everyone around here in the north Texas area is going to T-TRAK. There are still a couple N-TRAK clubs in the metroplex, but T-TRAK seems to really be gaining steam here in Texas and other places.
I do not think T-Trak is replacing NTRAK as much as the older NTRAK modelers are aging and find that it is a lot easier to carry 2 or 3 doubles about 1' x 2' each rather than 1 2'x4' large module plus legs. Also, as people buy smaller cars, even SUV's like the Escape and others in it's class, an NTRAK module is difficult to fit, but the T-TRAK modules are not. In my Escape, without putting down the rear seats, I can carry 3 doubles. I need to put down the seats and can carry 1 NTRAK 2x4. With the seats down I can carry a carrier with 4 19R corners and a carrier with 8' of T-TRAK modules in 2 layers. T-TRAK modules are just easier to transport to and from shows. Also, easier to set up and tear down.
I agree with your assessment. I would also note that many folks live in smaller rental units, and having modules which allow participation can be greatly limited by restricted storage/living quarters. Where I am now resident, likely for many coming years, my space is about 80% less than the home I knew just a couple of years back!
So what you guys are saying is ease of transport is yet another reason more T-TRAKers are popping up and the hobby is changing. I can see the appeal of ease of transport and the big shows having combined large layouts which are appealing as well. The ease of set up also is a plus too. And the smaller modules could be made a part of a home layout to make them useful outside of setting up with a group. I'm looking forward to our next big shows here so I can see some more T-TRAK clubs in action. Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Not just module size, but also curve geometry restrictions. Ntrak is wonderfully famous for long trains but that also means that you're stuck with some pretty restrictive switch and curve geometry ON the module. I could do things with T-trak and stay legal that I just couldn't do in Ntrak. I'm imitating a prototype track plan that had sharp curves on it to begin with, and the other issue is that the number of prototype triple-track main lines is dismally low. Even on T-trak I do it as a single-track main line with a passing siding, and I've got an 'adapter double' to split the mains into two single tracks with the inner main line going semi-hidden across the back. The Trunkeyville module functions as one of those adapters. The single-track "Hickory Bridge" will be back at Altoona again August 4-6 showing this design concept again - fitting two narrow single-track modules back-to-back and fitting the T-trak design width standards.
For those of us who cannot make Altoona, go if you can, can you post some pictures of your modules and any others you think photo worthy? thanks
New module and some new kits I'm working on. The Speed Shop should be on the web site this week. Will post a link when it is with special pricing. The Speed shop will come with detailed interior, lights and two car. The poor Quonset hut has seen better days after being in boxes and traveling to shows. Hope to have that kit done next week. Rich www.rslaserkits.com
I've built two 180 degree corner modules, now I just gotta add track and figure out what to put on them! Hopefully I can also get a few more people interested in ttrack here on the west coast once I am able to exhibit at shows. 180 corner modules by Kiha66 posted Jul 30, 2018 at 9:43 PM
one week away!!!! here is the layout, as it will appear in Kansas City! Expect minor changes as folks check in...but the layout will look very much like this! (not meant to be a detailed view)
