Modular layout decisions

[delamaize]

Hey everyone, so I have been milling over the small Unitrack layout for a while now, I have had the whole thing set up on a table for a while, and been fiddeling with it for months now. ( http://therailwire.net/forum/index.php/topic,23898.0.html ) I have a T-trak extra long strait/corner module built into the design, but now that I have been messing with it for a while, I am not 100% sure it is what I want, one reason is I want to have something that I can take part in a module club with, and seems that T-trak clubs are few and far between, and usually really hodge-podged together. Don't get me wrong, their is some nice looking t-trak modules, but some, GEESH. And I like the simplisity, and reliability of Unitrack, but something became very clear earlier yesterday, their is not room for adjustment if something does go wrong. I have a kitbashed 2-8-2t I built a while ago, that I have ran on N trak layouts, on people home layouts, and a multitude of other type layouts, never had an issue, then all the sudden, in one direction, at one switch, the pilot truck was riding up and derailing right at the points. I ended up fiddeling with the switch, and totally rebuilding the pilot truck, and finally, I was able to get it to work, but I ended up having to totally remove all vertical movement in the truck, and have it perfectly inline with the drivers, to keep all the drivers on the rails. So basicly, I am using bruit force in a way to keep the truck on. I have also been milling over doing a N trak module, and making myself 2 180 deg. corners, not meeting standard, and a small staging yard behing. something really simple. I love actual operations, but at this point, with my wife still in the military, I can not have the large layout designed for operation. so at this point, roundy-round is by best option. and I figure with the number of N trak clubs out there, I should be able to find something anywhere we go, Heck their is a N trak club here in my part of germany! although their meetings are few and far between.

ANYWAYS, I guess the big question is, if you were in my shoes, what standard would you go with? N trak, T-track, Bend track, Free-mo, etc. I am not looking for a whole layout to the standard, but a section that is standard, so I can have a module to be able to join up with other clubs as we move around. and a standard where I will have a fairly good chance of finding a club wherever we are.

[One of One-Sixty]

First I would like to say, thanks for choosing the dark-side, while using Unitrack, be prepared to get a lot of ppl clutching their pearls.  If you was using regular sectional track I would suggest Modutrack, as from what I seen it is great.  It is simple light weight and emphasis on detail. 

But since your looking for something highly adaptable and using Unitrack, I would go N-Trak, but be prepared to be apart of the every growing patchwork quilt that a N-Trak layout becomes.

There is a group of modelers, myself including that is coming up with yet another modular system that is designed around Unitrack, it will combine the best of whats out there and bend it to the will of Unitrack.

[inkaneer]

One word of caution if you are doing any Ntrak modules that you hope to bring to any layout setup.  Earlier this year Ntrak updated  their wiring standards to apparently pacify the DCC crowd.  What was once a "Recommended Practice" is now the standard.  Any modules built in 2011 and subsequent years will have to meet the new standard.  The new standard includes 12 gauge wiring on the common bus and 30 amp Powerpole connectors.  The new standard is detailed in the Ntrak website.  www.ntrak.org  This applies accross the board whether or not you run DCC.