More concrete tie NA appropriate Unitrak announced including #6’s (Kato Japan)

[turbowhiz]

With all of the foaming over the Pioneer Zephyr, this announcement from Kato in Japan seems to have slipped through the cracks around here. The addition of more appropriate looking tie profiles in the traditional single track sectional formats make a real difference in how good Unitrack can look, especially with the #6’s being added. This stuff is just SO much better looking, and I’d suggest the concreate tie profile is a much better starting point then the typical Japanese 1:150 narrow gauge profile traditional Unitrack models even for people looking for wooden ties.

[dem34]

Welp, think they noticed the sudden proliferation of 3D printed NA tie beds in the last few months.
But I guess that solves my turnout issue more elegantly.

[Dave V]

Just as I finished stockpiling all the track I'll need for my new T-TRAK layout... Sigh.

I wonder when they'll be available here?

[dem34]

Just as I finished stockpiling all the track I'll need for my new T-TRAK layout... Sigh.

I wonder when they'll be available here?

Limited Japanese says July for release there. You could probably get it imported through plaza.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Just as I finished stockpiling all the track I'll need for my new T-TRAK layout... Sigh.

I wonder when they'll be available here?

Still in the return window?

And don't worry: the stuff generally holds its value pretty well.

[Dave V]

Still in the return window?

And don't worry: the stuff generally holds its value pretty well.

No, not really. And a bunch of it was secondhand. No worries. If this stuff looks as good as I think it will, it's actually not going to be difficult to swap out someday. I'm gonna need to make sure there are products made available (or that can be modded) such that I can use #6s and still maintain 33 mm track spacing at Huntingdon. I'd have to see what the total product line looks like.

But first, that's a lot of ties to paint!

[ski]

I wish Kato would make Number 6 (or greater) single crossovers with 33 mm spacing.

While I am at, I might as will wish for code 55-ish size rail Unitrack too LOL. (oh yeah...and deeper space in between the ties for ballast would be nice as well.)

[OldEastRR]

Not keen about the "bubbling ballast" look of recent Unitrack straight sections. I had a bunch of Unitrack from over the years and decided to make a staging yard connecting to my layout. Needed turnouts and more track sections so I ordered up new ones this last spring. And right away I noticed a difference in the "ballast" cast into the track.
My oldest straight sections have speckled gray, flat-angle sided edges, with almost no texture. My next oldest ones have the speckling, but lighter gray, and the same angle slant to the ballast. They also are slightly more textured.
 the new tracks are speckled and gray, but the ballast shoulders are rounded, not angled, and the texture is so coarse it looks like the ballast is bubbling.
However, none of the other new shorter sections nor any switches have this peculiarity. The 3 kinds of track mixed together in the yard look very odd. I wonder why Kato made this change, and to only the long straights.

[pmpexpress]

Fortuitous timing, as I've been delaying my purchases of UNITRACK products for my T-TRAK Intermodal port modules because of the limited assortment of concrete tie components that were/are presently available.

[basementcalling]

Welp, think they noticed the sudden proliferation of 3D printed NA tie beds in the last few months.
But I guess that solves my turnout issue more elegantly.

Doubtful. I am assuming their lead time to design and cut new molding for the plastic base is longer than a few months. They probably started working on this a year ago or maybe more?

[dem34]

Not keen about the "bubbling ballast" look of recent Unitrack straight sections. I had a bunch of Unitrack from over the years and decided to make a staging yard connecting to my layout. Needed turnouts and more track sections so I ordered up new ones this last spring. And right away I noticed a difference in the "ballast" cast into the track.
My oldest straight sections have speckled gray, flat-angle sided edges, with almost no texture. My next oldest ones have the speckling, but lighter gray, and the same angle slant to the ballast. They also are slightly more textured.
 the new tracks are speckled and gray, but the ballast shoulders are rounded, not angled, and the texture is so coarse it looks like the ballast is bubbling.
However, none of the other new shorter sections nor any switches have this peculiarity. The 3 kinds of track mixed together in the yard look very odd. I wonder why Kato made this change, and to only the long straights.

It is worth noting that Japanese modellers tend to prefer courser ballast. So it's probably catering to that when they did a tooling refresh.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

It is worth noting that Japanese modellers tend to prefer courser ballast. So it's probably catering to that when they did a tooling refresh.

I also like chonkier ballast on my Unitrack because it makes adhering other ballast to it easier. I think.

[greenwizard88]

Are the ties still not USA proportioned?

[Dave V]

Are the ties still not USA proportioned?

I'm betting @robert3985 has the dimensional data you're after. I've been painting concrete ties for a week and it ain't for those who have a short attention span! But they do look much closer to North American standards than the standard "wood tie" Unitrack.

[crrcoal]

What paint are you using?

I'm betting @robert3985 has the dimensional data you're after. I've been painting concrete ties for a week and it ain't for those who have a short attention span! But they do look much closer to North American standards than the standard "wood tie" Unitrack.