Sectional and roadbed track
Kato HV4: Full Specifications
Quick answer
The Kato HO HV4 Unitrack Interchange Track Set with Number 6 Electric Turnouts lists at $101.90. Published figures: scale HO, integrated roadbed Yes, turnout number 6. It suits adding a proper passing siding in HO Unitrack.
Adds a pair of number 6 electric turnouts, which is the geometry you want for a passing siding rather than the sharper turnouts usually bundled in set track.
Every figure below is the manufacturer's own published specification, taken from the product listing and the data sheet. Where a figure is not published it is left out rather than estimated. Price is the listed price when this page was last compiled and it changes often.
On this page
Kato HV4 specifications
The Kato HV4 publishes scale HO, integrated roadbed Yes, turnout number 6, at a listed price of $101.90.
| Specification | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Scale | HO |
| Integrated roadbed | Yes |
| Turnout number | 6 |
| Rail material | Nickel silver |
Specifications above are the manufacturer published figures, taken from the product listing.
What the manufacturer says about it
The manufacturer own listing bullets, quoted rather than paraphrased so you can judge the claims yourself. These are marketing copy, not independent measurement.
Kato lists 5 headline points for the HV4, quoted here verbatim.
| Manufacturer listing point |
|---|
| Provides a crossover space for transitioning between two parallel tracks using #6 electric turnouts |
| Perfect to expand from the HM1 Set and HV1 Set |
| Easy to use assorted track set in a box |
| Includes track as well as a #24-827 3-way extension cord and a turnout control switch |
| Reliable and easy-to-use UNITRACK snap track system makes setting up both temporary and permanent layouts a snap |
What this model suits on a layout
Best for: adding a proper passing siding in HO Unitrack.
Category: sectional and roadbed track. The honest test for any purchase in this hobby is whether its numbers match your layout rather than whether it is a good product in the abstract. Work out what your own space, scale and curves actually need first, using the calculators on this site, then check this model against that answer.
The closest alternatives at a similar price
Same category, nearest price. An alternative with no stated reason is filler, so each of these is here because it trades something specific against the model above.
Kato HO Unitrack HV1 R730 Endless Double Track Set
$91.90 Specs and fitmentA complete double track oval in HO Unitrack at a 730 mm radius, which is about 28.7 inches and broad enough for most equipment. Unitrack joints are positively locking and electrically reliable.
Best for: an HO layout that must be assembled and taken down repeatedly
Check price on Amazon
Bachmann E-Z Track Layout Expander Set Nickel Silver HO Scale
$127.59 Specs and fitmentA large pack of track that turns the oval from a starter set into something with a siding and a passing loop. Much cheaper than buying the same pieces singly.
Best for: the first expansion after a train set
Check price on Amazon
Kato N Scale V6 Outside Loop Track Set
$47.90A second, larger concentric loop for an N scale Unitrack layout, which is how a Kato layout is designed to grow.
Best for: adding a second main line to an N scale Unitrack oval
Check price on Amazon
Atlas Code 100 Nickel Silver 22 inch Radius Snap-Track 6 Pack HO Scale
$16.98A 22 inch radius instead of 18, which is the single cheapest improvement to how an HO layout looks and what will run on it. Four extra inches of width buys a lot.
Best for: an HO layout with room for a broader curve
Check price on AmazonSide by side
| Model | Price | Scale | Integrated roadbed | Rail material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kato HO HV4 Unitrack Interchange Track Set with Number 6 Electric Turnouts | $101.90 | HO | Yes | Nickel silver |
| Kato HO Unitrack HV1 R730 Endless Double Track Set | $91.90 | HO | Yes | Nickel silver |
| Bachmann E-Z Track Layout Expander Set Nickel Silver HO Scale | $127.59 | HO | Yes | Nickel silver |
| Kato N Scale V6 Outside Loop Track Set | $47.90 | N | Yes | Nickel silver |
How we chose
We did not test these products in person and we never claim to. Picks are researched from manufacturer specification sheets and instruction manuals, published NMRA standards and recommended practices, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. Every pick is matched to a real scale, a real minimum radius or a real current draw rather than to a price bracket, and it is placed in the tier where its capability actually belongs. Where a product is wrong for most layouts we say so on the page, and where a figure is a hobby rule of thumb rather than a published standard we say that too.
Sources
- Kato published specifications for the HV4
- Amazon product listing features and current pricing
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Kato HV4 cost?
It was listed at $101.90 when this page was last compiled. Model railroad pricing moves frequently and promotional pricing is common, so treat that as a planning figure and confirm the current price before committing to a purchase or budgeting a whole layout around it.
Is the Kato HV4 right for my layout?
Adding a proper passing siding in HO Unitrack. Beyond that, the honest test is whether its numbers match your space, your scale and your curves rather than whether it is a good product in the abstract. Work out what your layout needs first, then check this model against that answer.
Where do these specifications come from?
The manufacturer published figures, taken from the product listing and data sheet. We do not test products in person and we never claim to, so nothing here is a measured result. Where a specification is not published by the manufacturer it is omitted rather than estimated, which is why some sheets are shorter than others.
Will this work with my existing equipment?
Check scale and, for anything electrical, check the control system. A DCC decoder has to match the socket in the locomotive, a turnout has to match the rail code of the track it joins, and track has to match the gauge of everything else. Those three compatibility questions account for most returns in this hobby.
Is it worth buying this rather than the cheaper alternative?
Only if the thing it does better is something your layout actually needs. The alternatives listed above each trade something specific, and on a first layout the money almost always does more good spent on track and roadbed than on upgrading a single item of motive power beyond what the curves will show off.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published manufacturer specifications, instruction manuals, published NMRA standards and recommended practices, and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Figures described as a rule of thumb are hobby convention rather than a standard, and they are labelled that way wherever they appear. Always check a radius, a clearance or a grade against your own equipment before you cut wood or lay rail, because manufacturers vary and so does what your specific models will tolerate. Any permanent mains wiring in a layout room is work for a licensed electrician to your local code.