Hex-Trak

[Cat]

Over the past year, Hex-Trak, a new modular N-gauge system has been developing — GeoHex for trains!
 
Some preliminary vids:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGSYlAQ2Am6xx-wOWUdz2NBJEOekZ9eWX
 
US module supplier:
https://klawndyke.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=20

UK module supplier:
https://traintrax.co.uk/hex-trak-module-kits
 
Both are developing and adding new products.  The NMRA is starting to hash out some basic standards.

[Freddy]

Nice, but I really do not get the concept
-are these only the hex grids designed to fit the N gauge curvatures (guess only one of the several standards)? In that case the added value is not much, the standardization maybe, if it sticks
-or they also come with standardized electrical connectors so that the working model train track is easily modifyable? Now that would be something. Model railroad is plagued with electrical connection issues, having an easy system to overcome that would be nice.

[Cat]

N gauge is most common; I've seen HO sized modules too.
 
No problem with connectivity.  Kato Unitrack is the standard which has very solid rail connections and dis/assemble easily.  This has long been used in he somewhat larger rectangular T-Trak modules.
 
T-Trak modules technically only require Kato end track pieces for compatibility, and can transition to other track internally.
 
Hex-Trak modules are sized to fit single pieces of track, so transititioning is not particularly practical.
 
Both Kato and Tomix track are pretty bulletproof for connections.  They have slightly different height roadbed built in, and so need a transition segment if used together.

[eilif]

Hmm, looks like there is a standard center-of-side alignment.  Could be fun, and the possibilities for interestingly shaped layouts are there.

However, my suspicion is that most model railroaders will be skeptical of the "hex-look" and will want the space for more extended terrain and consistent look of more traditional T-Trak modules which are larger and offer the chance to disguise table transitions around perpendicular features such as roads, fences, edges of parking lots, etc.

[fred]

I watched a few of the videos about this - mainly as I couldn’t understand what it was trying to achieve!

I finally understood the use case - which feels quite narrow - is to be able to have a non-permanent railway setup, that has a high degree of flexibility in the layout, and which allows small modelling projects to build each component (the hex).

But I agree you will end up with a lot of hex joins, and also a lot of pointy edges. It seems when you use hexes for wargames, the hexes themselves often have a point in control movement etc. But for trains they have no intrinsic benefit.

I do wonder if a more wargames table scatter terrain approach might work better. Where you have a cloth, the track is on this, then the buildings and scenery are items that are placed on the cloth.

I’ve not owned a model railway, but the ones I have known it seems the track setup is the longest bit - but on the hex modules you seem to only get 1 piece of track anyway.

[Cat]

There are half-hexes and such to blunt the pointy edges.
 
Small modular builds are quite popular for convention use where lots of folks bring modules to play trains together.  Also good for home use where there isn't space for a permanent layout and smaller modules are good storage solutions.
 
Since the start of the Ukrainian war, supplies of Baltic birch have been limited and/or at premium prices.  Consequently, a number of established suppliers of T-Trak modules closed shop.  Some others have stepped in, but prices are still high. 

Smaller cheaper modules are a much better gateway for luring new modellers in.  For folks already in the module aspect of the hobby, these have a good appeal  for providing much more interesting track layouts than the very blocky T-Trak.

[eilif]

I watched a few of the videos about this - mainly as I couldn’t understand what it was trying to achieve!

I finally understood the use case - which feels quite narrow - is to be able to have a non-permanent railway setup, that has a high degree of flexibility in the layout, and which allows small modelling projects to build each component (the hex).

But I agree you will end up with a lot of hex joins, and also a lot of pointy edges. It seems when you use hexes for wargames, the hexes themselves often have a point in control movement etc. But for trains they have no intrinsic benefit.

I do wonder if a more wargames table scatter terrain approach might work better. Where you have a cloth, the track is on this, then the buildings and scenery are items that are placed on the cloth.

I’ve not owned a model railway, but the ones I have known it seems the track setup is the longest bit - but on the hex modules you seem to only get 1 piece of track anyway.

I've not met many scale model railroaders who would like a wargames-table like approach.  They tend to be much more interested in realistic and detailed layouts.  Many though-not-all fans of toy trains (Lionel 0-27, and LGB for example) do have a wargame-table like approach with tracks, buildings and interactive features sitting on top of a less detailed under layer.  I certainly use this method for my yearly Lionel Christmas display at my home.

The idea behind all these portable systems is that a club can get together and put up a display for a weekend in a relatively short amount of time and -if everyone has adhere'd to standards- relatively easily.  Some clubs even have semi-permanent displays of portable modules.  I visit this club once a year for their sale and open-house and their HO layout is entirely modules ahat I think are member-owned. https://wcmrra.clubexpress.com/

My club has a permanent club-owned layout in a library basement, but also enough members with their own modules that they can do a few public displays in the community each year.   

[eilif]

There are half-hexes and such to blunt the pointy edges.
 
Small modular builds are quite popular for convention use where lots of folks bring modules to play trains together.  Also good for home use where there isn't space for a permanent layout and smaller modules are good storage solutions.
 
Since the start of the Ukrainian war, supplies of Baltic birch have been limited and/or at premium prices.  Consequently, a number of established suppliers of T-Trak modules closed shop.  Some others have stepped in, but prices are still high. 

Smaller cheaper modules are a much better gateway for luring new modellers in.  For folks already in the module aspect of the hobby, these have a good appeal  for providing much more interesting track layouts than the very blocky T-Trak.

That all makes some sense, but at least here in the US, I don't see it taking off.  We've not got the space constraints that some other places have, so smaller modules aren't as likely to be as attractive.  Additionally, if a standard 310mm T track module is too expensive for a prospective participant, Model Railroading is probably not going to be a feasible hobby for them. 

On top of that, I think it's likely that the overall cost for modules covering the same space is likely to be higher and there's still the matter of the visual distractions of hex-shaped breakups of terrain.

That said, it's a very interesting idea and it's good to see folks trying new things.