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Kato N gauge Tram system


PaulRhB
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Guest oldlugger

Hello Paul and all the others on this thread!

 

Do you know if the Arnold N gauge Düwag trams will run on the Kato tram track? These models probably have a deeper wheel flange than the Kato trams so might not sit in the flangeways of the track too well. Any info appreciated.

 

Cheers

Simon

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Do you know if the Arnold N gauge Düwag trams will run on the Kato tram track? These models probably have a deeper wheel flange than the Kato trams so might not sit in the flangeways of the track too well. Any info appreciated.

Sorry I haven't got any Arnold stock, the normal kato locos will run on it so can you compare flange depths to see how much deeper the Arnold flanges are.

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  • 6 months later...
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I've been sent some details of the new Unitram pieces and rrp prices.

K40-031 UNITRAM Street Track Straight 62mm £11.25

 

K40-101 UNITRAM Street Track Curve R180mm 45d Left £8.75

 

K40-102 UNITRAM Street Track Curve R180mm 45d Right £8.75

 

K40-210 UNITRAM Street Track Electric Turnout 180mm Left £49.50

 

K40-211 UNITRAM Street Track Electric Turnout 180mm Right £49.50

 

K40-300 UNITRAM Street Track 90 Degree Crossing £9.25

 

K41-100 UNITRAM Quarter Circle Inner Road Plate £11.25

 

Picture of the R & L turnouts and K40-300 on this link.

http://shinosaka.ldblog.jp/lite/archives/5417944.html

 

As far as I can see though you would still need to buy some of the street plate sets to get the road plates to go with these, there isn't much online showing exactly what you get, only lists on Kato USA. http://www.katousa.com/N/Unitrack/UNITRAM.html

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  • 6 months later...

Can someone please advise me what is the best way to fix the trackplates of the Kato Unitram system to a fixed baseboard?

Also are there problems or gliches with the system?

Thanks

Regards Tony

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I drilled holes in the areas covered by the buildings and used small screws so I can take it off easily to add the points when they finally arrive. Don't screw them down hard as it will deform the plates but it all holds together fine. You could use dabs of silicon too.

No glitches so far but you do need to be careful cleaning track or you will mark the road surface too.

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  • 1 year later...

Bought one of these last year . Packed away at present due to impending house move . Runs like a dream straight out the box . Also have run other Kato trams on it as well . Expensive but meets the needs of tram modellers Brian Kettle

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The start set is 682mm x 620mm according to the details. I've altered it to present the side and added the points and other bits so mine is now longer and shallower 1145 x 510mm.

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  • 1 month later...
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I went looking for some more trams to run on my Metropolis layout alongside the Kato Portrams.

I've seen the Tomix, Modemo etc before but I hadn't seen these by Bandai.

They are sold as static kits that snap together. There are separate motorising chassis for the power cars and proper metal wheeled bogies to replace the plastic ones supplied in the kit if you intend actually running them. They aren't scale models like the others but shorty versions, (they even do the Shinkansens!), which some are very cartoony while others look really good. They're what you wish the toys in kinder eggs were ;)

So I went for a twin pack with a modern 8800 and an older 7500 streetcar from GRhobby and got excellent service.

Pics from grhobby and I'll post some of mine once the chassis catches up ;) note there's have stickers on but these are a separate sheet so you don't have to go Japanese. I'm also thinking of upgrading using the Kato pantographs as the plastic ones are just a solid lump.

post-6968-0-90688900-1399437112_thumb.jpg

 

post-6968-0-04124200-1399437128_thumb.jpg

 

Lots to be found on eBay and plazajapan carries the chassis at good prices.

Note that most of the units are sold in two or more A, B, C etc packs so you need more than one pack to get two driving trailers. Study the pics carefully to see if there's a driving cab at the rear. I got half a unit which will be static on the viaduct coming out of a metro station.

Search for Bandai-B train and compare prices as they vary a lot.

 

Bandai's home page,

http://bandai-hobby.net/train/

 

An idea of what you get,

http://www.1999.co.jp/blog/img/bt_e231s_e.html

 

More specialist info on the jnsforum.

Edited by PaulRhB
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The chassis arrived at last and it's a quick job to fit.

The bits, there are small weights to suit different models.

post-6968-0-55736600-1400020850.jpg

 

I used two of the stepped weights by removing the ends of the body and slipping them inside

Remove the couplings too.

post-6968-0-72626400-1400021098.jpg

 

Add the bogie sides

post-6968-0-02972100-1400021213.jpg

 

And run ;)

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  • 10 months later...
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Just in time the two latest Tomytec trams have arrived from Modellbahn Union.

I was hopeful my pre order would be in time for the show when I saw them show as in stock at last ;)

These are the Hiroshima trams and carry little Japanese marking. They take less than a minute to clip into the motorised chassis and run very nicely too on the 03 mech.

 

post-6968-0-23234600-1428920549.jpg

Edited by PaulRhB
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  • 8 months later...
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They run well but are a bit sudden accelerating. I'll dig them out later this evening and post a video if I get chance. They really could do with a flywheel or lower gear ratio but they do look good and offer a much better range than Kato.

Edited by PaulRhB
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Hi Paul,

 

I would like to know how freely they run as supplied, without motorised chassis in them.

They don't the wheels are moulded as half circles on the bottom of the seating piece, they are purely static as supplied ;)

Not sure where I put the seat mouldings, I'll take a pic if I can find them.

Edited by PaulRhB
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How do the body section connect and how wel do the move to take curves, without being on the 03 chassis?

 

Thing is, I want to use them with interior and passengers, interior lighting, head and tail lights, destination blinds lighting, indicator lights and brake lights.

Plus lengthened to 5 and possibly even 7 segments.

 

Detail pictures of inside and outside are welcome, both of the standard model and of the 03 chassis.

 

Regards,

Michel

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