N-Trak system

[Curt84328]

Inspired by Roter Brummer, I have decided to introduce a N-Scale modular layout from America.

this design is 50 years old, and because it is modular, can be used to create layouts of nearly any size.

modules can be 610 mm, 1219 mm, 1829 mm or 2438 mm long.  

first, we'll look at an actual module piece.  This was created by a man named Jeff Wilson.

now we'll look at the specifications of a module.

Modules are designed to have a 24 inch (610 mm) depth from front to back.  Height (if you are building in real life) is 40 inches (1015 mm) from floor to top of rails.

I am omitting the wiring details as MBS does not use them.   A skyboard (Background) is attached to the back of the bench with a height of 8 inches (203 mm) minimum, 14 inches (356 mm) Nominal.

Here the background is 1220 mm x 360 mm x 8 mm.     Base Plate is 1220 mm x 610 x 20 mm.

there are three required tracks, the front main, inner main and branch line,  they are required to be color coded with the front main being red, or red edging,

the inner main yellow, and the branch line being blue.   The front main is centered on the 508 mm line (as measured from back of panel) with the inner main at 470 mm 

and the branch line at 432 mm.   the two mail lines must be flush with the base plate, having 0 grade.  The branch line may have a  1.5% grade.  Minimum spacing between tracks is 37 mm.  Additional tracks may be added in front of the front main line with room for one line, and additional lines behind the spur line.  Track Switches may be inserted into the main lines, but trains must be capable of driving the main lines from one end to the other.   There is a 101.6 mm gap at the end for connector tracks, and all three common tracks (community property) must meet the connector tracks which are placed at a Z rotation of exactly 90 degrees.  The tracks can curve, but the ends must meed the connectors exactly.

You have 432 mm of space behind the branch line for landscaping and custom features.

As with Roter Brummer's request, please post questions or comments in the forum created below.

Curtis

[Curt84328]

Here is the template pattern for straight modules (the main tracks do not curve)

Connector tracks (3) have been placed at each end. (one set would be removed when a second module is connected to the first.)

Also included are two track spacers set to the minimum spacing between tracks.  There is room for a track in front of the red track, but it must be 2 inches (50.8 mm) from the front end.  N-Trak Template.mbp  

Here is an overhead view of a completed module.  I placed 10 mm tracks to mark the colors of the tracks replacing the long colored tracks with regular texture and color coding the spur lines.  (this is really only necessary on the 3 main tracks, and is a hold over from real track and wiring)  I installed crossovers on the main lines and branch line to accomodate switching.    The base color should be grass (I used the Gras Endlos set at x 9.00) and suggest it for uniformity. 

There is a steam Locomotive in the shed, and Sand Tower, Coaling shed, and Water in the background.

The background is Broda2

coaling sand and water.mbp

Curtis

Bearbeitet 1. Februar 2020 von Curt84328

[Curt84328]

Some Critical Information now.  This is needed to make the modules line up and connect together properly.  

First, the base plate should be 610 mm wide and between 609.6 mm to 2438.4 mm long (2 to 8 feet). MBS rounds up to the nearest cm so numbers would actually be 610mm to 2440 mm.  Base Plate must be centered at 0,0 (X,Y)  (<must be exact).  

Background must be exactly as long as the base plate and either 610 mm or 210 mm wide.  rotate 90 degrees so it is upright, and place at 0,305 (x,y) so that it sits right at back end of module.

You can place an Ebebe here with same dimensions as background and place it at 0 , 304.99 (X,Y).

An Ebene works better for proper scaling of background image.

End tracks (Connecting tracks) must (I repeat MUST) be placed at the exact ends (Length) of the base board centered at widths of -203, 165. and 127 mm and centered over the very edge of the board (In example, at 610 mm (one half of the length)).  This is the most critical part.

if these tracks are not exact, the modules will not line up properly.

when you have 2 or more modules complete, you need to remove connector tracks from the right end of one module.

This is so that the other module can connect properly.

load the module you intend to dock with the other module(s) and choose select, and highlight everything.  Do NOT use Select all.  Select all misses the baseplate, and you want to select it as well.

When everything is selected, choose Edit, and Copy.   Now backup to the welcome screen, and load the other Module(s).  Choose Paste.

Make sure the Snapping feature is active, and then select the GRID view (Technical Drawing) and without deselecting, move the pasted part 

so that the connector tracks snap into place (The red lines turn green as in green for go)

If done Properly. the edges all line up, without a visible seam.

Curtis.

 

[Curt84328]

Corners

Having a straight run of modules can be great, but sometime you want to turn a corner.

Corner pieces are special and require a special shape to fit in.

A corner consists of three panels.  2 are 610 X 610 mm panels, lined up with the edges at the 0,0 line.   the third panel is 860 X 860 mm rotated 45 degrees and overlapping the other two panels.   3 tracks (connector tracks) are placed at the top and side edges of the corner with spacing as indicated above.  one addition track is connected to each track with a length of 203.2 mm (same as the connector tracks.  a set of three tracks are placed on the 45 diagonal as close to the center of the diagonal as possible with the edge spacing as close to the edge as you can make it. (this is freehand placed, not critical to be exact)

Curved sections are flex track.    There is space on the interior for a roundhouse and turntable.  Background piece would be 860 X 610, and go against the inside diagonal piece.

Curtis.

 

[Curt84328]

Instructions for building N-Trak Layouts.

Anweisungen für den Bau von N-Trak-Anlagen.

The N-Trak system is a modular system designed to be constructed by many people.  It consists of many small modules, each of which can be completed by one person, and then connected together to create a larger layout.

 Das N-Trak-System ist ein modulares System, das von vielen Menschen aufgebaut werden kann.  Es besteht aus vielen kleinen Modulen, die jeweils von einer Person vervollständigt und dann zu einer größeren Anlage zusammengefügt werden können.

Here is an example of a completed layout consisting of 4 corners, 9 straight sections, a Tee, and a Hairpin turn.

Hier ist ein Beispiel für ein fertiges Layout, das aus 4 Ecken, 9 geraden Abschnitten, einem Tee und einer Haarnadelkurve besteht.

Here you can see the individual sections.

Hier können Sie die einzelnen Abschnitte sehen.

 

Each module contains 3 main tracks, the Front Main Line, an Inner Main Line, and a Branch line.  There are also 6 connector tracks that extend out beyond the edges of the module.  These Connector tracks must remain exactly where they are during completion of a module, and the other tracks may be replaced as long as they connect to the connector tracks at each end.  the 101.6 mm at the ends of the module cannot contain any tracks except for the 3 connector tracks.  The rest of the module (Except the ends) can contain tracks in any configuration desired. Buildings, landscape, and other objects may be placed anywhere you want, as long as they do not block the three main tracks.  

Ground texture for all modules should be Gras Endlos x 9.0

Jedes Modul enthält 3 Hauptgleise, die vordere Hauptlinie, eine innere Hauptlinie und eine Zweiglinie.  Außerdem gibt es 6 Anschlussgleise, die über die Ränder des Moduls hinausragen.  Diese Verbindungsspuren müssen während der Fertigstellung eines Moduls genau dort bleiben, wo sie sind, und die anderen Spuren können ersetzt werden, solange sie an die Verbindungsspuren an jedem Ende anschließen. Die 101,6 mm an den Enden des Moduls können keine Spuren enthalten, außer den 3 Verbindungsspuren.  Der Rest des Moduls (mit Ausnahme der Enden) kann Spuren in jeder gewünschten Konfiguration enthalten. Gebäude, Landschaften und andere Objekte können an beliebiger Stelle platziert werden, solange sie die drei Hauptspuren nicht blockieren.  

Die Bodentextur für alle Module sollte Gras Endlos x 9.0 sein.

(More info to follow in another post.)

(Weitere Informationen werden in einem anderen Beitrag folgen.)

 

 

[Curt84328]

Instructions for building N-Trak Layouts.

Anweisungen für den Bau von N-Trak-Anlagen.

Below are the 4 types of modules used in the N-Trak system.

Im Folgenden sind die 4 Arten von Modulen aufgeführt, die im N-Trak-System verwendet werden.

 

Corner piece has room for build out in the corner.

 Das Eckstück hat in der Ecke Platz zum Ausbauen.

Hairpin Turn also has room for additional features.

Hairpin Turn bietet auch Platz für zusätzliche Funktionen.

These modules are online in the modules to Insert.

Diese Module sind in den einzufügenden Modulen online.

Modules should be built for either Steam Era or Diesel Era, and indicated as such when you upload your completed module.

Die Module sollten entweder für die Dampf- oder für die Diesel-Ära gebaut und als solche beim Hochladen des fertigen Moduls angegeben werden.

 

[Curt84328]

Here is a completed Module from me, Content ID: 965EF5D5-281C-4387-8645-86C284ADA2E9.

Hier ist ein abgeschlossenes Modul von mir, Content-ID: 965EF5D5-281C-4387-8645-86C284ADA2E9.

It is suggested that you not place cameras from a section in the camera view area.

A module should not contain more than about 500 objects.  Background can be changed, but should be uniform across all modules.

I would suggest that for Track SIgnals that these be used

Es wird empfohlen, keine Kameras aus einem Abschnitt im Kamerablickbereich zu platzieren.

Ein Modul sollte nicht mehr als etwa 500 Objekte enthalten.  Der Hintergrund kann geändert werden, sollte aber über alle Module hinweg einheitlich sein. 

Ich würde vorschlagen, dass für Track-SIgnals diese verwendet werden 

When you have two or modules ready to connect, remove the connector tracks from one module as shown below.

Wenn Sie zwei oder mehrere Module anschlussfertig haben, entfernen Sie die Verbindungsschienen von einem Modul wie unten gezeigt.

Load the first module, remove one set of connector tracks, Select everything, (do not use Select all) and copy.   Load the

second module, paste the first and change the view to the grid.  Move what you have pasted until the tracks line up, and the end turns green. 

the two modules are now connected.  Repeat for each module.

This thread is now complete except for comments and suggestions which may be posted to this thread.

Laden Sie das erste Modul, entfernen Sie einen Satz von Verbindungsspuren, wählen Sie alles aus (verwenden Sie nicht "Alles auswählen") und kopieren Sie.   Laden Sie die

zweiten Modul, fügen Sie das erste ein und ändern Sie die Ansicht auf das Gitter.  Verschieben Sie das Eingefügte, bis die Spuren in einer Linie liegen und das Ende grün wird. 

Die beiden Module sind nun miteinander verbunden.  Wiederholen Sie dies für jedes Modul.

Dieser Thread ist nun vollständig, mit Ausnahme der Kommentare und Vorschläge, die in diesem Thread gepostet werden können.

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