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Ah-Hah Moment: N scale flex track comparison Magazine feedback
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Ah-Hah Moment: N scale flex track comparison - Model trains - MRH feature January 2024

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Reply 13
MikeHughes Super User 7,367 posts
MikeHughes
Thanks for the update, @joef.  It appears that not much has changed in a long time.
 
IMHO, KATO Unitrack, painted and lightly ballasted, can look better than either Atlas or PECO Code 70/80, especially the ties and spike detail.
 
If one wants super realistic looking N-Scale track though, Code 40 is far closer to scale. 
  • Central Valley makes gorgeous looking tie strip that will take Code 40 rail and it is not much harder than flex track.  
  • Fast tracks makes straight and curved track fixtures 40 Code 40 ME rail.
  • This coupled with Fast Tracks code 40 turnout fixtures makes for scale track.
  • ME lists Code 40 Flex in their catalogue.
I handlaid code 40 on wood ties but found the  turnouts to be a real challenge.  The trck looked great though.  Today I would not have trouble using Fast Tracks.  The CVT strips look fabulous and with barge cement, it would not be hard.
Happy NMRA Member since 2024
Reply 2
ednadolski Frequent poster 851 posts
ednadolski
f one wants super realistic looking N-Scale track though, Code 40 is far closer to scale. 
While still evolving, 3D printing and photo etching are opening new possibilities.  With the latter, you can even get all-wood ties.
 
[DJiD9Si]
 
[image]
 
[T65zSrM]
 
[pTID6gr]
 
Ed
Reply 7
MikeHughes Super User 7,367 posts
MikeHughes
That track looks fabulous Ed.  Is there a build thread somewhere?
Happy NMRA Member since 2024
Reply 1
ctxmf74 Super User 17,047 posts
ctxmf74
When I was modeling in N scale I was quite happy with both Atlas and ME code 55 track. They looked fine from the aisle,were  easy to use, and reasonably priced at that time....DaveB

1990.jpg 
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Reply 3
joef MRH Founder 19,135 posts
joef
When I was modeling in N scale I was quite happy with both Atlas and ME code 55 track.
Ah, the three foot rule. Yep. Peco code 55 is something of an odd duck, though. Far greater space between the ties (more like branchline track) and that unsual dual flange rail that's half buried in the plastic ties looks like a royal pain to join with any other brands.

Joe Fugate​
Publisher, Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine

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Reply 1
barr_ceo Super User 4,014 posts
barr_ceo
Ah, the three foot rule. Yep. Peco code 55 is something of an odd duck, though. Far greater space between the ties (more like branchline track) and that unsual dual flange rail that's half buried in the plastic ties looks like a royal pain to join with any other brands.
Well, that's because PECO is N GAUGE, but not what the US considers N SCALE... it's what,,, 1/148th?  Not 1/160. Still 9mm gauge.
As for the dual flanges, you can make it easy by grinding off the lower flange and web, leaving only the upper flange, web, and head. Now you can slip on a rail joiner and match it up easily to other code 55 track. But as we discovered in one of the other forum topics, the PECO track eats almost twice as much ballast as Atlas, due to the thicker and more widely spaced ties.
Was there anything about the infamous "vaporware" ME concrete tie code 55 track? It's been in the Walthers catalog a long time, but I've never seen even the first piece of it in person...

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Reply 2
joef MRH Founder 19,135 posts
joef
Well, that's because PECO is N GAUGE, but not what the US considers N SCALE... it's what,,, 1/148th?  Not 1/160. Still 9mm gauge.
Not sure I follow this. 9mm is 0.354331 inches. Standard gauge, 4'-8-1/2", is 56.5 inches.
 
If I do some math:
 
0.354331 x 160 = 56.69296 inches (~4'-8-5/16", off by 1/16")
 
0.354331 x 148 = 52.440988  (~4'-5-1/4", off by 1-1/4")
 
160 sounds a lot closer to right than 148. Not sure where you got that from, but the math does not bear it out. Maybe an old wives tale?

Joe Fugate​
Publisher, Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine

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Reply 2
barr_ceo Super User 4,014 posts
barr_ceo
From the Wiki page "British N Gauge"
British N gauge is a model railway scale and gauge, rolling stock is to a scale of 1:148,[1] track is 9 mm (0.354 in) width as with all other N gauges making track and rolling stock approximately 10% out of scale with respect to each other. The 9 mm (0.354 in) track width derives from a scale of 1:160 for 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge rails.
 
Rather like Japanese N... the Shikansen bullet trains are 1:160, but the rest of the trains are 1:150.
 
See also the Wiki page on N Scale.

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Reply 1
ednadolski Frequent poster 851 posts
ednadolski
Is there a build thread somewhere?
A few over on TRW (with more in the works).  I've not done as much etching lately, as I become more proficient w/the 3D printing, plus I'm preferring to avoid things like individual scale tieplates and spikes.   😉
 
 
BTW here is a look at the difference between a hand-built Code 40 turnout and a commercial Code 55:  (not a great comparison, since the C55 is not painted)
 
[akd64oj]
 
Ed
Reply 5
ednadolski Frequent poster 851 posts
ednadolski
that unsual dual flange rail that's half buried in the plastic ties looks like a royal pain to join with any other brands.
 

 

 
I haven't used it myself, but I think most folks just file it off from the bottom side, and then maybe shim if needed.    Yes, it would a drag to do at every turnout  😉
 
Alternately, some folks have made a 3D printed adapter.
 
Ed
Reply 2
Andy Reichert Super User 2,250 posts
Andy Reichert
Not sure I follow this. 9mm is 0.354331 inches. Standard gauge, 4'-8-1/2", is 56.5 inches.
 
If I do some math:
 
0.354331 x 160 = 56.69296 inches (~4'-8-5/16", off by 1/16")
 
0.354331 x 148 = 52.440988  (~4'-5-1/4", off by 1-1/4")
 
160 sounds a lot closer to right than 148. Not sure where you got that from, but the math does not bear it out. Maybe an old wives tale?
UK "N" started out as 2mm/ft scale.  Half  4mm "00". There were originally some cute unpowered cast mazak toys and sectional track.  "Lone Star Models" IIRC.    As in most UK  MR things there are three scales and gauges.
 
 
For a quick breakdown/.
 
Andy
Reply 2
Popcorn Thad Regular poster 244 posts
Popcorn Thad
just file it off from the bottom side
Yep, that was what I did with mine long time ago. I no longer mix brands for tracks unless I really have to.
Thad
Reply 2
MikeHughes Super User 7,367 posts
MikeHughes
While I realize the article is about flex track, I had a chance tonight  to photograph some Unitrack.  IMHO, the rail looks as good as either Atlas or PECO, and the ties no worse.
A6703BDA-86C2-4D62-BB9F-0443765C285C.jpeg
 
E4AE1B50-1A15-45B0-81A9-49B9520E5AF4.jpeg
Happy NMRA Member since 2024
Reply 1
barr_ceo Super User 4,014 posts
barr_ceo
If you want concrete ties, KATO Unitrack is pretty much the only widely available option.
IMG_0292.jpeg
 
In over 30 years of active model railroading, I 've never seen ME's vaporware concrete tie flex in the wild, only in catalogs. Peco appears to be a LITTLE more available than ME, but i haven't seen anyone use it.
 
The KATO concrete tie track is "only" available in double track pieces, but for a T-Trak user, that's a feature, not a bug! And the curves are already super-elevated, with transition pieces available. 
 
If you want single track, it's trivial to cut the double track pieces down the middle with a razor saw, and the molding of the roadbed provides a guide that simplifies even the longest cuts.
IMG_0293.jpeg
 
Just make your cut right up against either ( or both... ) of those "walls" down the middle.

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Reply 2
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