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Author Topic: Kato UNITRAK turnout question  (Read 1788 times)

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brokemoto

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Kato UNITRAK turnout question
« on: January 25, 2013, 04:36:27 AM »
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I was looking at UNITRAK turnouts th e other day.  I  had always been under the impression that the UNITRAK turnouts had metal powered frogs.  When I looked at the #6 turnouts, it did appear that they had metal frogs.  When I looked at the #4s, it appeared that the frogs appeared to be plastic, therefore not powered.  I did not open the package.  The seller did not know the answer to my question.

This would seem funny to me, as the shorter wheelbase power, for which the #4s work well, would stall more on plastic frog switches.

The question is:  are the frogs metal and/or powered on the #4s or not?

Thank you .

--PL
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rogergperkins

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Re: Kato UNITRAK turnout question
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2013, 07:59:26 AM »
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Brokemoto, this may not be a direct answer to your question.  I can assure you that power is directed to the track to which a #4 or #6 Kato Unitrack turnout is directed.
The frog appears to be metal on both n-scale versions on my own layout.  8)
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Flagler

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Re: Kato UNITRAK turnout question
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2013, 08:02:26 AM »
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The switches will work the way you need them.The #6 are powered Routed.The number 4's can be adjusted to do things by changing contact screws in the bottom of the roadbed
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Mike C

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Re: Kato UNITRAK turnout question
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2013, 03:27:36 PM »
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Their plastic, but I have never had any problems with my #6s. Everything runs through then just fine. Only one I ever had a problem with was the 30* crossing. My MP 4-6-2 had issues with it until I put a Spectrum tender on it. ....Mike

Oops, brain fart...Yep their metal..

Must be an "old age " thing..LOL
« Last Edit: January 26, 2013, 07:24:15 PM by Mike C »
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sumfred

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Re: Kato UNITRAK turnout question
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2013, 05:31:52 PM »
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Both # 4's and #6's Kato turnouts I have do have metal frogs.  No stalls even with the old Life-Like 0-6-0's.
Fred
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Freight Train

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Re: Kato UNITRAK turnout question
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2013, 09:05:10 PM »
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Me too! My entire layout is Kato. The frogs on the #4's are metal. The metal is darken. Wonder why Kato did this since the #6's are rail colored and not darkened??  :facepalm:
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Bsklarski

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Re: Kato UNITRAK turnout question
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2013, 09:09:01 PM »
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My 4's have metal frogs also.
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Brian Sklarski
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u18b

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Re: Kato UNITRAK turnout question
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2013, 11:47:55 PM »
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I was a pretty early unitrak adopter.

I think the problem here is.....  there have been a couple of versions of the number 4.

I think the very first release had plastic frogs-- I have some.

But then Kato went all out and redesigned the turnout with metal frog an muticonfiguration of power routing.

So I think the original poster is seeing a REALLY old turnout with plastic frog.

My advice-- don't buy it.

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Ron Bearden
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sumfred

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Re: Kato UNITRAK turnout question
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2013, 01:12:26 PM »
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While on Kato turnout frogs -
- question??-
Does the Kato "Y" also have a metal frog?
Fred
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Carolina Northern

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Re: Kato UNITRAK turnout question
« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2013, 02:33:59 PM »
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The Wye has a plastic frog, but it is very short.
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