OK so there are quite a few T-Trak modules available on the market today. Most of them are all the same boring box flipped upside down. Since that is what basically is needed why not? Well I have ran into ideas that I would like to turn into a module but there are no kits that would suit my needs in this matter. I know I can just make what I need, and yes I have the skills to do just that, but I know not everyone else can. So I have been tossing around the idea of producing some of my own ideas for T-Trak modules. I will offer of course the normal upside down boxes, but also some bridges (not just the same Lackawanna looking one), modules with a channel in the middle for a river or highway. Things like this. What would be different with my ideas? Well I have been looking at the offerings and I have noticed a couple things. The river modules I have found have 2 flaws I see. First the area where the track goes is open underneath to the scenery. This makes it so the modeler has to build some type of wall to prevent the scenery from being in a cave. Also there is no reinforcement to the base piece of ply. This will cause the base to sag over time and with the weight of the scenery materials. Both of these issues are easily corrected, it just requires a little bit of extra material in the design and construction of the module. There are offers a similar looking bridge, and one is close to $100. First that is too expensive, and second I want something different, I'm sure I am not the only one. With laser cutting and making an interlocking structure why not a plate girder or similar type bridge for single or double modules? This could also be used to make up the odd offset that happens when using an internal corner. This is usually fixed by just bridging the gap with a section of track, but there are 4 to 6 inches of track with no support underneath. Why not a small bridge module that is self-supported to make up the gap? I have also noticed that there are no kits for a return loop module. While I would not offer this at first, this could be added in the future. I have also been thinking about making these modular so you can interchange pieces for different results. For example you want a double river module, but you don’t want the river to be as wide as the entire module. It would only require the change of a single piece (the face plate) and you could use the deck of a single module and have an offset river with a normal deck for whatever scenery/structures you want. If the pieces all have interlocking tabs in the same locations then goings on like this make a simple module into whatever you can come up with, without re-engineering the entire structure of the module. Think Walther’s Cornerstone Modular building kits but for T-Trak modules. These are some of the ideas I have rattling around in my head at the moment. I do not know what costs would be, I need to learn the CAD software I just downloaded and submit a design to the cutter for an estimate. I was thinking of starting with a river module. This module will be a unique design to any on the market right now, and would most likely be the most expensive to produce. I have always appreciated your opinions on the matters I have brought up and I would like to hear from you on this one too!
I would have thought so, but at this point 113 views and no comments but yours. So that’s telling me there is either no interest or no one is reading the whole thing.
I know of several individuals who might be interested in something different. Downside they are Z Scalers. Give it time and this subject may take off. After cutting my layout down, moving it and now restoring or rebuilding it. I might be persuaded that what you are doing is the answer to having a mobile layout. Anything that is a dog bone gives the appearance of double tracking, allows train meets and can be fun to operate. The other thing your modules will need to interact and connect to the modules already out there. I think you covered these points already. Just throwing it out there. This is one of those years things happen and change almost overnight. So don't give up. Hang in there.
I am waiting for more input...from everyone. Some of what you explained is greek to me....lol. I dont do modules...but the subject still interests me...
I’m not giving up, but I’m not in a position where I can invest a couple thousand dollars right now if there is no market to make a return or a break even at least. Hence the title of “Testing the Waters”. Also since I don’t own the laser cutter the prototype work is out of pocket with no return. If I can get the design right for my modular idea, then I may try to crowd fund it. I’m still in the concept and doodle phase. Next is the design phase, then the hand made prototype, then the laser prototype. I know my wife thinks I already have too many modules laying around the house! I need 2 more doubles then I’m good... for now... . But then I need another single for my Halloween/X-mas module that will be fun but out of scale!
Massey, maybe ask a moderator to change the thread title to 'Gauging interest for new T-Trak modules' or 'Interested in New T-Trak modules?', or something similar. Are there T-Trak modules with double the radius? 11 and 12" radius seem awfully small, especially if you want to take advantage of the modular system to run longer equipment and longer trains.
I'm working on that right now. I wanted to get it a little better defined than the paper napkin stage!!
This is one of the freedoms you get when working with modules. So long as the module meets the standard dimensions you are free to do what ever you want on the inside. If you wanted 20" radii curves that's fine you would need to make sure your modules at the end (multiple modules or one single) conform to the standard. Modules like loop backs are usually much larger and don't meet standards which is fine as they are at the end of a run and not linked in series with another module. Also things like branchlines don't have to conform so long as they are not connecting to anything else to form a loop. I have been tossing around the idea of a stub ended passenger station facility on a single 8' long module to go on the end of my branchline module. This would simply form a peninsula off the main line and not interfere with any other module further down the line. I hope this answers your question.
Z scale modules are out there, and if I can get this going I could easily adapt anything I make in N to Z or HO. I'm starting with N as that's my current scale I am modeling which makes it easier to work with.
OK I got a small update. I finally found a good tutorial on how to use LibreCad and I have enough knowledge on how to build the main pieces of the modules. I have yet to learn how to put it all together into a complete 3D model but hey, baby steps right? When I am done with the work I am on currently I will be able to submit this to a laser cutter for an estimate. I also will have models of several major pieces that will be usable in other models as well. Cut and paste and save hours of work. Right now I am working on a single river module. 14" deep, with 62mm lead in tracks. This will let whoever use any of the Kato 7 5/16th inch bridge options or any other bridge they can build. Stay tuned for more, and I will screen shot the pieces when I get them all finished.
OK here is what I have. So the Red is the bottom, there are keyways to help the sides and center pieces lock into place better. The 4 holes are for the adjustment legs. I have not yet built the adjustment blocks or the slots where they will go. I didn't think that was really all that important for this demonstration. The light green is the front and as you can see has a cut out for the river. I left it only as wide as the top panels so to allow the modeler the choice of how wide exactly to make the riverbed, giving the widest option available. Other modules I have seen will have angled pieces here which forces you to shape the riverbed according to the shape of the module. MY design does not do that. I know having a 45 degree angle here would make is stronger but this should be strong enough when fully assembled. In the cutting process, this could also be where the leg adjustment blocks go. A feature of my design is the 12mm lip that extends across the module. This will attach to the lower base and help provide rigidity and also give a dam for your favorite water method. Running a bead of silicone around the inside of the riverbed would be recommended to prevent the Evirotex or whatever from seeping through the bottom of the module. The dark green is the back, nothing special here. I may create slots in this to help lock in the side pieces... Yea prolly will. Front piece too. The purple and dark blue are actually the same exact part (modular design concept) that make up the inner and outer walls of the riverbed and module. The pink is the top. It is 60mm wide, which is only enough for the 62mm track section leaving a 1mm overhang on each side. The power track is 62mm which is why I chose that to be the length of the top. I did not provide a hole for the power wires to come through on this module. A single can run without being powered and due to the small size of the channel for the wiring I decided against it on this module. My double design will have a wider top area to make adding a hole for a power pole plug to fit. I hope this all makes sense and you can get an idea of how the module will go together. Tomorrow I am going to see about learning how to make the line drawings into objects (3D) then assemble them for a complete module. I don't know if this CAD program can do it.
OK I got the line drawings of the river module finished. Still need to learn how to make them into objects and assemble them but all is good in the world of T-Trak design for right now. I highly doubt that I need any more than this for the cutter. Let me know what you think. Oh new additions since the last pic. The bright yellow is areas to be routed for the feet, the dark yellow are the feet modules.
Here is a standard single module. It's about as basic as you get, there are holes in the back for backboard screws as well as a Power Pole panel mount.
The next one I am going to work on is a double with an offset river. Since many of these pieces have already been drawn it should not be too hard. I needed templates from the single module to get me started on the offset. Let me know what you all think?
So, these parts would be laser cut 1/8" plywood? And you would be selling kits? The yellow is impossible to see on my screen.
I have these set for 3/16 ply and yes my goal would be to sell kits. the yellow is mostly insignificant as far as any of this goes. It is mainly there for my purposes and would be routed out after the laser cutting is done. I will most likely be doing that part myself before delivery. My over all goal is to get my kits inline in price to compete with the other kits on the market, and also to offer something just a bit different. My standard module is pretty much the same as 3 other kits on the market right now, it’s my river modules that will have the largest variety. It’s really hard to make a standard module different when you are building to a set standard.
Don't forget to consider/factor in shipping cost for relatively heavy items like these. Shipping costs have gone through the roof lately!
