Kato Unitrack Cutting Jig

thingiverse

This jig enables you to cut Kato N Scale Unitrack to custom lengths when an odd length is required. Sometimes, the adjustable track made by Kato may not be feasible due to its high cost relative to standard sections and less reliable sliding rails. I discovered a relatively simple technique for trimming Unitrack in the Yahoo groups Unitrack forum where I first shared this method: Examine a piece carefully. You will notice that one end has a couple of stake marks on the rail to secure it to the base. Designate this as the fixed end. Using a razor saw, cut the base approximately 1/2 the length of the desired length from the fixed end. It's beneficial for aesthetics to do this in the ballast rather than the tie area. Remove the free end of the base. Cut the removed section of base to the remaining desired length. If necessary, file the ends of the base for an exact fit. Reattach the free base and secure it with liquid styrene cement. Reinforce with lengths of styrene strip if needed. Allow the glue to dry for at least two hours before cutting off excess rail flush to the end of the base using rail nippers. After I created this jig, I found a similar design by Atomsk on Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2273078. While I haven't tested it, one advantage of my jig is that its slots are relatively shallow, allowing for use with a 1/2" razor saw. Deeper slots requiring a deep saw were a drawback I encountered when using a standard miter box.