So Kato Flex Unitrak will be a thing...

[Sokramiketes]

and frankly I see no reason for anybody to buy it even if they tooled their own flex since it has no advantages over Atlas or Peco.
Charlie Vlk

There's still some magic sauce in the metallurgy of Kato rail that helps it stay cleaners.  That would be the only possible advantage.

Would have loved to have seen the North America unitrack as well...

[peteski]

There's still some magic sauce in the metallurgy of Kato rail that helps it stay cleaners.  That would be the only possible advantage.

Would have loved to have seen the North America unitrack as well...

The cross-section of Atlas and Kato c80 track seems identical (I have not actually measured it). Both have the same odd, unrealistic profile.  Do you think each company makes their own track (or has it made by different outside vendors)? I never really gave it much thought - I thought they both used the same source for their track stock.

But if they are in fact different then yes, there could be different versions of the nickel-silver alloys.

[Chris333]

Maybe Kato just polishes the rails during mfg ?

[Point353]

The cross-section of Atlas and Kato c80 track seems identical (I have not actually measured it). Both have the same odd, unrealistic profile.

Kato Unitrack profile:

[learmoia]

Maybe they apply the Gleam effect...

~Ian

[MetroRedLine]

Weird flex, but OK.

[ncbqguy]

Only old-timer N Scalers and maybe some Europeans will recall that Fleischman made a true flex track with roadbed.  It had normal flex encapsulated with a flexible grey roadbed around the ties.   It worked pretty well but never caught widespread distribution here. 
The dilemma is that the rail needs to be cut if there is any curve in the flex and that is counter to the rigid geometry of a roadbed track system like Unitrack.  Kato doesn’t make Unitrack for the North American or European layout builder....it is for the Japanese who set up temporarily on the floor of their living space hence the durable Unijoiners.  No Code 55 with standard gauge tie proportions/spacing because the track is 1/150 meter gauge and that is what their market wants.
That being said I hope Kato has something up their sleeve to disprove my statement.
Charlie Vlk

[Leggy]

1/150 to give the impression  of 3'6" (1067mm) gauge. Shinkansen models however seem to be 1/160 as they ride on standard gauge track.

[learmoia]

2 things...
1: Fleischmann still makes the flex track (for $13.50 a piece)
https://www.eurorailhobbies.com/product.asp?mn=5&ca=9&sc=N&stock=FL-9106
Which seems very similar in profile to Tomix Fine track.


2: Failing #1 as an option, It seems like Peco's solution would be better for Kato.. with the foam with the same base color and profile as Unitrak with the tie inlay to match the flex track.
Then the modeler can choose to ballast or not ballast.. and it would somewhat match normal Unitrak.
https://peco-uk.com/products/ballast-inlay-roll
Strangely, Kato is not marketing the Unitrak Ballast along with the flex track supplies.

A 30" section (or whatever 3 Long straights adds up to) of actual Unitrak seems like it would be more useful than trying to market a complete Flex Track system...

~Ian


 

[peteski]

If the flex track roadbed uses any sort of squishy foam product, I wonder what is its longevity.  Will it crumble and deteriorate after 20 years?

Like others mentioned, the big problem with flex track is that if it is used for any sort of a curve, the end of the track has to be trimmed. Not longer a sectional track that can be just set up and disassembled easily.

[ncbqguy]

I haven’t looked at the Fleischman flex for years but as I recall the roadbed was a fairly hard flexible vinyl or rubber.  I am opposed to foam of any kind in track either as a roadbed or base.  I don’t know if any of the filament printers offer a flexible vinyl but that could be a solution,,,,a roadbed insert with an end section that holds the Unijoiner sockets to fit Atlas or Peco flex would be a good product.
One would think that a full long (1X or 2X TTRAK length) Unitrack section would also be a no-brained but....
Charlie Vlk   

[peteski]

One would think that a full long (1X or 2X TTRAK length) Unitrack section would also be a no-brained but....
Charlie Vlk

Yeah, many decisions made by Kato's "mothership" in Japan make no sense to us mortals.

[basementcalling]

Why flexible nails though? How ya supposed to hammer those?

[Maletrain]

Why flexible nails though? How ya supposed to hammer those?

With your flexible hammer.     (Some people just aren't flexible enough.)

[djconway]

Why flexible nails though? How ya supposed to hammer those?

9

You have to be flexable.