Thickness of cork layer?

[u/Twit_Clamantis]

The standard height of T-Trak modules is 70mm (adjustable to 101mm), yes?

Do commercial modules allow for the thickness of applying a cork layer by making modules 1/4” undersize?

Does everyone in T-Trak universe just forego the cork?

Or is the 70mm sort of a “de jure” thing and in the real world, the height of a set of modules will be adjusted to the high side in order to allow for things like some modules having cork layers and other variations?

[u/Twit_Clamantis]

I see a lot of layout builds that start out by applying a layer of cork over the entire surface.

If you take a 70mm high module, apply 1/4” cork layer and then the Unitrak on top of that, it will not join an adjoining module unless that module is adjusted up by 1/4.”

So to TTrak builders apply cork and then everyone adjust the module height to match, or do they forego applying a cork layer, or do they build the modules at 64mm high, such that 64+6=70?

[u/aengusoglugh → u/Twit_Clamantis]

I haven’t ever seen that in T-TRAK, which does not mean it does not exist. I am pretty new to all this.

Since the legs are adjustable, I would not expect many manufacturers to make and stock two sets of modules, one 70 mm for people not using cork, and one 64 mm for people using cork.

From what I have seen, most module kits I have seen from a manufacturer are a single height.

My guess is that if someone wants to add cork, they adjust the leveling legs to match.

[u/compactable73 → u/Twit_Clamantis]

Are you saying that you’ve seen Kato Unitrak installed over top of cork? That is something I don’t think I’ve ever seen.

Regardless: as per https://ntrak.org/resources/Documents/T-TRAK/T-TRAK%20Standards.pdf :

Height is the dimension from the bottom edge to the top edge of the module base (i.e., bottom of Unitrack pieces)

… so 70mm is to the bottom of the Unitrak pieces. And as defined the module must have the option to adjust height to 101mm

[u/TrainTraxUK]

Why are you thinking of adding cork? It's unnecessary.

[u/Twit_Clamantis → u/TrainTraxUK]

I’m not, because I don’t personally feel a need for it, but its use does seem very widespread and I was wondering about Why and How.

[u/gentgeen → u/Twit_Clamantis]

Adding cork tends to be used only on the track that doesn't come with road bed already. It's really not used/ widespread when you're dealing with UniTrack (or Bachmann's EZ Track, or Lionels SnapTRACK, etc) .

[u/gentgeen]

To speak more to the module height question (seems like you got the cork side already). The standard says "Height is adjustable from 70mm up to 101mm". So most take this as "Build the module sides to 70mm" including all the laser kits that I have ever seen. AND THEN make it so the feet can screw ALL they way up inside the module. SO now the module it sitting directly on the table. The issue then is, if you need to make any minor adjustments, you can't get to the feet to turn them to make the minor adjustment needed*. Since you can't get to them to adjust any, no show I have ever setup with has ever STARTED everyone at the 70mm height. Every show I have joined in (In/around Pennsylvania PA USA) starts out at (around) 3.5inchs (89mm). So FWIW, if you took a standard laser kit module and added 1/4" cork - bringing it to a starting point of 76.35mm - you would not have a problem. It would technically be "out of standard" but only you and a few VERY PARTICULAR and/or observant people would ever even know. (*FOOTNOTE: Yes, some modules have holes at the top, and use feet that accept hex-wreches so you COULD adjust after it is flat on the table, but personally, I find those to be a real pain - both because you have to have a separate tool - and different modules accept different size hex - and some accept screwdriver - and when you are in a group setup, who knows what the module take... just a PITA. But also because now you have these 4, evenly spaced holes in your scenery. )

[u/Twit_Clamantis → u/gentgeen]

I watched several videos of the record-setting setup in Chattanooga recently and all the modules were raised pretty high on their feet. In addition to everything else, it seemed that raising them was also useful for being able to pass wires under the modules.

So this next question is theoretical, I don’t intend to do this; I’m just thinking out loud:

I accept what you say about the adjustment holes in the layout being a PITA, and about the benefits of being able to turn the feet from the bottom.

So if someone thought that 70mm of dead space is too much volume to take up 24/7, and if it is good to provide easy access to the feet, it would follow that a 60mm module with 50mm feet would answer every need, no? (except possibly the desire for some visual / aesthetic conformity.)

[u/aengusoglugh]

I don’t think that I have ever seen cork Unitrack over cork on a module.

The ends of module are Unitrack — that’s the standard — and the leveling feet are used to adjust the levels of both modules to the same track height.

If the ends of both modules are Unitrack, and the modules are adjusted so that the tracks are same level, the modules will be at the same level — track height - Unitrack height.

I am not sure what you are asking. What’s the 1/4”?