Kato Unitrack Truss Bridge Bash

[enwhycentral]

A long time ago (7 years or so) a member of this forum named UPGuy posted on this forum a short explanation of how he went about shortening a Kato Unitrack truss bridge. I am about to attempt the same thing with a double track version and wonder if anyone can provide me with any more details about the procedure and what pitfalls to avoid. I am particularly interested in how to deal with the end sections of the bridge where the rails pass through the section just before where the Unijoiners are attached. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Larry Weinberg
enwhycentral @optonline.net

 

[TrainGuyRom]

I do not know much about that track, but I think your best option or shortening the bridge it to cut a section out of the center of the bridge, put normal rail joiners to connect the to pieces & glue(with plastic glue) the deck & truss together.

as I said I do not know much about Kato Unitrak, so don't take what I am saying as gospel.

hope I helped
TGR

 

[upguy]

I haven't looked in on The Gauge for a long time, but today I decided to do a little more work on the scenery surrounding the modified Kato bridge that is mentioned in this thread. This is a picture of the bridge as it was when I finished today.

 

[Denyons]

Kato Unitrack Bridge

Re. shortening a Kato Unitrack truss bridge.
Larry Weinberg

Not sure about shotening the bridge but on my layout I believe that I just pulled off the Unitrack clips and installed it with the usual rail joiners.
Denyons

 

[enwhycentral]

Kato Bridge Bash Redux

I haven't looked in on The Gauge for a long time, but today I decided to do a little more work on the scenery surrounding the modified Kato bridge that is mentioned in this thread. This is a picture of the bridge as it was when I finished today.

UPGUY,
Your bridges looked great 8+ years ago and they still do! Your post brightened up my day considerably, since I thought I was the only laggard when it came to finishing projects. My own Kato bridge bash, which I started about 2 years ago hasn't been worked on for well over a year. It's still only about 75% complete and still needs cables, sheaves, walkways, a bridge tender's structure and painting and detailing. The bridge was scratch built from basswood and styrene upon 3 double track Kato truss bridge decks. I decided not to use any of the other structural components of the bridge as I custom designed the truss.
ENWHYCENTRAL

 

[upguy]

This is the look of the bridge area as it was left over the weekend. Tuesday, I expect to give it another coat of paint and maybe try to work the mountains into the layout background. I should have taken some picture of the area so I would have a "real life" look to the background. Instead, I'll just paint some hills and hope that my memory of the area is good enough...(that's a really huge expectation).

 

[Denyons]

UPGUY,
The bridge was scratch built from basswood and styrene upon 3 double track Kato truss bridge decks. I decided not to use any of the other structural components of the bridge as I custom designed the truss.
ENWHYCENTRAL

That is a beautiful job you did. I wouldn't think that the deck will be movable and operational, or I am wrong?

 

[upguy]

My project is more about the scenery around the bridge, but I'll post it anyway just in case someone is interested.

 

[Boiler-man]

Looking good!!!

 

[upguy]

Sorry the picture didn't come out as sharp as it should have, but here is another update on the bridge project....

 

[ufhc]

These are really nice bridge models.