Z tracks

Hello everyone
I am an old n scale modler from when i was very young and i am in the planing phases of my z scale. I wanted to ask about tracks.

I have come across two , the one on micro trains and Rokuhan. Can anyone tell me there experiences pros /cons?

Marklen also makes tracks too if im not mistaken? Are any interchangeable?

Thanks you

Steve,
Welcome to the group. At this time there are 4 major producers of track: Marklin, Micro Trains, Pecos and Rokuhan. None are plug-and-play compatible with the others but all can be made to work together. A quick summary:

Marklin: (www.marklin.com)The original track. Non-roadbed sectional track with European tie pitch. Has a wide variety of section types available as well as a flex track.

Micro Trains: (www.micro-trains.com) Maker of the first roadbed sectional track and non-roadbed flex track, both with American tie pitch. Somewhat limited in section types, but announced at NZSC that would be changing.

Pecos: Maker of flex track only. American tie pitch.

Rokuhan: (www.rokuhan.com/english) Newest maker of sectional roadbed track on a European/Japanese tie pitch. They produce the only flex track with a roadbed. They have the largest selection of section types including smaller and larger radius curves than other manufacturers and an adapter to the non roadbed track.

I've used all four types (not all at the same time) and been satisfied with all. Reports are that people are having the best operational results with Rokuhan and Marklin turnouts, and some issues with MTL turnouts, but I haven't seen the differences myself.

Hope this helps,

Mark

I think rokuhan has the best variety of track options. If you don't want plastic roadbed though Marklin is the way to go.

Zac

Hello Steve! Welcome to Z Central Station. This is the best ALL Z web-site to join!

I've used Marklin, Micro-Trak, and Rokuhan. I am a big fan of Rokuhan. The system is just about donkey-proof. Plus, they have a large selection of track pieces, with many more to come.

Here is an excellent source of information about Rokuhan...

DKS' Rokuhan Track FAQ

Good luck!

Hi Steve, my choice of track is MTL flex track with fastrack switches. Its not plug and play, but it gives the best looking track in my opinion. It may not be the best option for you if you dont run dcc.

Looks:
I think the first thing one needs to ask themselves is if they want to use plastic roadbed track (MTL or Rokuhan) or the more realistic looking non-roadbed track (Marklin, Peco Flex, MTL Flex).

Functionality:
After that, they can think of ease of use. In roadbed track, Rokuhan is better. In non-roadbed track, Marklin is better.

Prototypicality:
Next I’d say realistic tie spacing (only because there are those that feel this is very important). With roadbed track? Who cares, it already looks bad simply do to its plastic toy-like looking nature. With non-roadbed track, most people say that MTL’s Flex track appears the best (along with the Fastrack switches).

But of course, these things might hold a higher importance to different people. For instance, Rokuhan has the first hidden, under/inside track turnout mechanisms and they work great (these are power routing as opposed to power everywhere). Marklin has track available everywhere and looks great. MTL’s Flex track is closest to NA tie spacing and looks great as well but the fastrack switches can be a bit of extra work.

Joe

Joe,
Well put. Just one thing: Rokuhan is now shipping turnouts with a switch for the power vs. non-power routing (I had forgotten about mentioning power routing earlier).

Mark

wow thanks for all the replies

i kind of like the rokuhan and mtl , im not sure im ready just yet to jump into making my own track or turn outs just yet but not scared to do it in the future either.

shamoo i do plan on running dcc, digitrax most likely. i would like to get some track and a dcc system to just run on the floor to get a feel for things as i start thr bench work in the next month or two slowly as time permits . looks that rokuhan site that you can join mtl with some work. but i wonder if they are noticable if you do that . ( tie spacing)

mark m what was nzsc? was that the convention that i have seen on here in denver? i assume mtl would probably be stepping up, seems that rokuhan has a upper hand on them.

i have a feeling that you guys maybe dont like mtl turnouts? or are they ok ?

thanks for your help makes the return to the hobby easy with a great support.

Steve,
In Z scale, discussing track or coupler selection is like politics: everyone has an opinion.

Yes, I'm talking about the biannual National Z Scale Convention. Manufacturers generally want to announce all their best "soon-to-be-released stuff". MTL has had to focus on production issues and has only recently resolved those issues and been able to work on new sections. The MTL turnouts do work well but I think I would describe the MTL turnouts as "they work the best with MTL wheels."

I picked-up some of the Rokuhan conversion joiners and will be playing with them when I get home (I'm still in Denver). I believe they will need some sort of spacer under the MTL track to work well. I'll let you know.

The tie spacing issue is also a hot topic. If you will be running your you layout at eye level, you don't really notice the tie spacing since they don't have any thickness. When I look at aerial images of right-of-ways, the tie spacing will vary depending on the classification and age of the line so I don't consider it much of an issue, although I'd love to see an American tie pitch from Rokuhan.

Regarding DCC which is another topic in itself which I think you'll find searching the forum history. I found that Z scalers prefer the NCE Power Cab. Most Z layouts don't need the additional power of other the units since Z locos draw very little current and on the otherhand a short with the higher power units can fry a loco quickly in Z.

Mark

Tie-spacing is really a non-issue in my book. Why? The rail used for Z track is not to scale. Seems silly to worry about tie-spacing, but not to say a thing about the rail size.

My priority in track is... easy of use, large selection of different available track pieces, a manufacture that listens to its customer base and is actively creating new track pieces, reliable turn-out operation.

While I can understand folks wanting to hand-lay their track and build different sized turn-outs for complete detail ... all that is a bit much for me... especially, the time involved. I barely have time to enjoy the trains I do have.

Here is another bit of interesting reading by Mr. Smith...

Tie-spacing

Alex,
Thanks for the link. Like everything else in model railroading, it's ultimately a matter of what the owner is happy with. However, when it comes to matching the protypes, almost anything is possible:

You know what? After watching the videos for FastTrack it doesn't look too bad. I used to be a mechanic in dealerships for ten years before I went to driving a truck. I've worked with my hands a lot before, so I should be ok. lol I might get a template for a turn out ..... #4, ? and use FlexTrack from MTL.

Is everyone using n scale corkroadbed?

So basically nobody uses Digitrax? No way to turn the voltage down?

I'll keep looking and researching, didnt see FastTrack till just now.

I dont build my switches. I have them made for me. He usually sells them in ebay, but I buy it directly from him. I know lot of z scalers make their own switches using fastrack. If you plant to use a lot of switches, that seems to be the best way to go. You may want to buy the first couple switches just to see how you like it.

Most of z scalers do use NCE. It seem easier and simpler to use. I dont worry about the voltage of the system. I just use NCE CP6 for short protection, and havent have any problems.


I havent used N scale corkbed, but I use the N scale foam roadbed. I just slice it in half.

Let me throw in my 2 cents.
I started with Marklin back in the early 90s as that was whats available at the time. I also came upon a foam roadbed that the Marklin track fits, NOCH item 99418 and it comes in 5m lengths. Within the past two weeks I have purchase about $80 worth of Rokuhan track because it's easy to assemble/disaaaemble at train shows on a table top.
I use it to demonstrate how easy it is to enter the world of Z scale.

Robert

Stiv44 wrote: So basically nobody uses Digitrax? No way to turn the voltage down?

Steve,
The issue isn't the track voltage (which is about the same with all DCC units) but the current. There are solutions for limiting the current flow: such as electronic circuit breakers or (and you'll like this) automotive brake lamps and it's probably not a bad idea to use these with the NCE as well.
I think it's just a matter of not buying more power than you need. I know there are Digitrax users in Z and if you alrady have the unit and like it, by all means use it. As a newbie to DCC my decision to use NCE was based in part on all the ready support from users on the boards.
As for the FastTrack turnouts they look more prototypical than anything else and offer layout options that are unavailable otherwise. You will incur the cost of a turnout machine (such as the Tortoise) to control. It really just comes down to the tradeoffs between realism, time and cost.

Mark