This changes everything - Rokuhan's 90 degree crossing

This changes everything! FINALLY Z scale has 90 degree crossings. Z scale has been waiting a long time for these track sections and now adding diamonds to your layout can be a reality!

Ztrack has the new 90 degree crossing in stock and ready to ship. We have added the following new products to our site this week:

R024 - 55mm straight track with feeding point
R025 - 90 degree crossing
R030 - 25mm straight track
A013 - gap joiner to isolate rails
A014 - conversion joiner

We also have in stock a limited number of the 113-2000 electric four-car passenger set.

To view the line of available Rokuhan products, or to order, please visit:

rokuhan-store.com/

Rob

Rob, This is great news for Z Scale. My question is: I see a conversion joiner listed, is this so that the crossing can mate with MTL track? Either way once again MTL has done nothing to advance the well being of Z Scale beyond introducing new paint jobs on old rolling stock. My Dad always said,"If you want to be player, then play!" Jim

Jim, your father was a very wise man.

The track conversion joiner is used to connect non-roadbed track such as Marklin, Peco and MTL flex to Rokuhan's track system. It is an interesting piece. I did a quick test and was able to connect a piece of Marklin track with Rokuhan's. You don't need to modify any of the track. You will need to remove the plastic joiner from the Rokuhan track. When connected, the rail heads matched perfectly. All and all, it is a simple, yet will engineered piece.

I know MTL has had a difficult time with their track, especially after loosing their manufacturer. This really set them back. But the two pieces that are a must are the 55mm and 25mm track sections. These two track sections really opens the door for track plans. I am happy to see Rokuhan release them and only wish MTL had released them years ago.

Rob

Rokuhan has grown fast and added a lot to the scale but I must say this is quite an ugly piece of track and would have to be well disguised to ever make it on my layout

Ahh don't go picking on this little piece of track... it just wants to be loved. A little rust on the rails, and weathering on the ballast and it will be a real beauty.



Rob

Karin... "ugly"? Considering it is the only one of it's kind in the Z world... I think it's beautiful. Heck... I like it so much, I was thinking of making it into some type of Z jewelry. Drill a hole through the center and wear it as a necklace. Maybe Stony could make something in Shapeways to attach to it for some other idea. This could end up being a new symbol for the world of Z.

For many years I have operated a squished figure 8 on my module with a Wright 90 degree crossing section. It is hidden inside a mountain and works fine. This little crossing allows all kinds of new possibilities.
This Picture shows two of the 4 portals. The actual length of track inside the tunnels is short- and if there is a derailment- etc- it's easy to push out the few cars with a long dowel covered with gauze. This crazy 8 is for my two sided train

My wife would like ballest on our Coffee Table Layout -- wish I could see a hunk of this up cloes and personal!

Hi Karen, While this particular track piece may not be a 'beauty' right off. I think the beauty of it is the renewed possibilties of Z scale's inherent best quality, small layouts. Now, gone are the days of simple ovals. While this is probably not in the mainstream thought process of more experienced modelers it does open new vistas for Z scalers. We all have to remember the reasons to be a Z scaler on not necessarily to be module makers. This track piece will possibly not appeal to the module folks, but will to many others.

Actually, if you take off the joiners I think MrJA had a great additional idea. A cool piece of jewelry. Already, this piece of track has doubled its usage! Jim

this is road bed track so it won't fit with flex without a bit of work, So I would not expect to see it on your layout(s) either, but for those using roadbed track bonus.

cheers Garth

If you are planning on using the 90 degree crossing from Rokuhan in your track plan you need to view this drawing from Rokuhan which shows you what pieces of track you need for a balanced figure 8 layout using the various curved track available from Rokuhan. the straight section marked "A" on the drawing has to have specific pieces of track for each curved size used in your figure "8" and the chart shows what is required.

cheers Garth

Stonebridge Models wrote: Rokuhan has grown fast and added a lot to the scale but I must say this is quite an ugly piece of track and would have to be well disguised to ever make it on my layout

I received a couple of crossings this week and have been playing with them. While I have to confess that I don't think its a piece of jewelry, it isn't all that bad looking. I think with a bit of paint (particularly rust for the molded guard rails) and some ballast around the edges it will be quite presentable.

Mark

I still think 4 of these connected together would rock, with the right weathering and a tower. and some kind of swinging gate signal thingy to block traffic. Or even just 2.

Here is a video of the crossing, with the smallest Rokuhan curves, R70mm 45-degree.

Crossing video

This measures 14" x 6". The curves are really too tight to run much of anything. This is the Zthek 2-axle chassis. I can pull a few of the MTL 40' gondolas, but only with truck-mounted couplers. Body-mounted couplers are a "no go". I did not try any 40' boxcars (not sure I have any that are not body-mounted). I also tried running a few of the different Z-Modellbau locos... six-axle loco did not work. Most of the two-axle locos did, but could not pull any rolling-stock.

Man I am picturing using double tracks. big clover leaf layouts. Or some kind of long double track with a dogbone thing that folds on itself. (imagine the trackplan above with a mirror image, and they are connected, train goes east, loops around crosses and goes west, just have to make loops big enough to hold train) dont know if it would take up less space than a balloon but, it is something to play with.

I am picturing a + module using 4 crossings, 2 sets of tracks horizontally and 2 sets of tracks vertically for 8 tracks in all. It could make for some interesting train running.

Yeah! I can see some fun crashes.

...only if you're not paying attention

Oh yea I drew up a plan with a cloverleaf, and figured, one could use blocks and signals and sensors, and run 2 trains in 2 different directions at the same time. Loops would have to be big enough that would be awesome.

Kelley wrote: Oh yea I drew up a plan with a cloverleaf, and figured, one could use blocks and signals and sensors, and run 2 trains in 2 different directions at the same time. Loops would have to be big enough that would be awesome.

Kelley... Can you post an image of your plan?