Before I spend a great big chunk of money, I need to know what track is better Marklin or Micro-Trains? for Z Scale. Is one more reliable than the other? Is there any info on any reviews or comparisons for Z scale track? Have you had good luck with one or the other?
Any feedback would be great,
Z scale mystifies me and I would love to add a Z scale loop to the under the table top Xmas treee layout along with the N scale and Ho scale loops.
{The thing is is that Zscale does things by degrees and not inches or even cm's so I could figure out how big an oval I could get from which type of track and radius. Just call me confused on that part}.
I know of no known comparison of the two, nor of any magazine articles on them.
What I can tell you is that here on this page link, at the top it says "select a category" and you have the option of selecting "Marklin track and accessories" or selecting "Microtrains track and accesories" and you can compare the two by toggeling back and forth:
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Z-Scale-Track-Accessories-s/2228.htm
There was a great company that specialized in Nscale and Z scale trains at the Syracuse NY train show but the don"t have a website durn it! They do have a shop in NY though. They even had foam risers and such for Z scale! and tracks and locos and cars galore , Oh My! Maybe they will be at the Amherst Rail Society show in Springfield Mass Jan 28&29
I think If I were to pick, I would go Microtrains track, I just think it seems to look better to me than Marklin track does.
I did find this online e-zine that might help"
http://www.ztrains.com/
this may also help:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Unique-Z-Scale-Model-Trains&id=1135531
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
galaxy ... {The thing is is that Zscale does things by degrees and not inches or even cm's so I could figure out how big an oval I could get from which type of track and radius. Just call me confused on that part}. ...
...
Both Marklin and Micro Trains gives the radius, in mm, and the degrees of a curved piece of track. The degrees is not the curvature of the track, but how much of a circle the piece of track is, 360 degrees being a complete circle. For example, an R195, 30 degree piece of track has a radius of 195 mm, and it would take 12 of them(12 x 30 = 360) to form a complete circle.
CSX Robert galaxy: ... {The thing is is that Zscale does things by degrees and not inches or even cm's so I could figure out how big an oval I could get from which type of track and radius. Just call me confused on that part}. ... Both Marklin and Micro Trains gives the radius, in mm, and the degrees of a curved piece of track. The degrees is not the curvature of the track, but how much of a circle the piece of track is, 360 degrees being a complete circle. For example, an R195, 30 degree piece of track has a radius of 195 mm, and it would take 12 of them(12 x 30 = 360) to form a complete circle.
galaxy: ... {The thing is is that Zscale does things by degrees and not inches or even cm's so I could figure out how big an oval I could get from which type of track and radius. Just call me confused on that part}. ...
Ok I think I got that part now. Maybe.
What I want to know is how wide a space do I need for a given degree circle? For example, I know that HO R18". I need a 36" space to make a complete circle, on center, and will need to add a few inches to that to avoid falling off the edge.
How big a circle {in inches preferably or even CM I can convert to inches} does a R195mm 30degree sectional track make with the proper number of pieces?
How big a circle in inches or convertable cms does a R195 45 degree secitonal tack with teh proper pieces make?
I assume R220 45 degree circle to be bigger circle than the R195 45 degree?
If I have a 15 wide Inch table by 30 inches, which circular track would I buy to make an oval that would fit on the table?
That is where you can color me confused. because for some reason no is going off.
galaxy rably or even CM I can convert to inches} does a R195mm 30degree sectional track make with the proper number of pieces? How big a circle in inches or convertable cms does a R195 45 degree secitonal tack with teh proper pieces make? I assume R220 45 degree circle to be bigger circle than the R195 45 degree? If I have a 15 wide Inch table by 30 inches, which circular track would I buy to make an oval that would fit on the table?
rably or even CM I can convert to inches} does a R195mm 30degree sectional track make with the proper number of pieces?
195mm x 2 = 390mm = 39cm = approximately 15.35 inches. It would take 8 pieces of 45 degree track to make a complete circle.
Oh and the R220 would make a 17.32" diameter circle.
The radius of the R195 would be about 7.67, and the radius of the R220 would be 8.66"
ltdan84 galaxy: rably or even CM I can convert to inches} does a R195mm 30degree sectional track make with the proper number of pieces? How big a circle in inches or convertable cms does a R195 45 degree secitonal tack with teh proper pieces make? I assume R220 45 degree circle to be bigger circle than the R195 45 degree? If I have a 15 wide Inch table by 30 inches, which circular track would I buy to make an oval that would fit on the table? 195mm x 2 = 390mm = 39cm = approximately 15.35 inches. It would take 8 pieces of 45 degree track to make a complete circle.
galaxy: rably or even CM I can convert to inches} does a R195mm 30degree sectional track make with the proper number of pieces? How big a circle in inches or convertable cms does a R195 45 degree secitonal tack with teh proper pieces make? I assume R220 45 degree circle to be bigger circle than the R195 45 degree? If I have a 15 wide Inch table by 30 inches, which circular track would I buy to make an oval that would fit on the table?
Hmm thank you. SO I would need a table about 17 incheswide by 30 inches to make my oval, as a 15 inch wide table wouldn't do it. Darn. But I could go the bigger radius and do a 2 foot by four foot layout and even have the two ovals one inside the other and have a spactacular little layout!. Boy what an empire, bigger than N scale 2x4!.
What about power packs? Z scale train sets don;t come with any power apcks. Any HO/N power pcak good for Z as well? SInce they make Z sized Decoders do they make DCC ready to run Z scale locos and it will run on say, my Digitrax system? who carries the DCC equipped Z locos IN STOCK? I only know of modeltrainstuff.com {M.B.Klein} carrying Z stuff IN STOCK. Know of Any other online e-tailers who carry it IN STOCK?
Sorry if it seems I have hijacked a thread. I still like Micro Trains track better adn will go with MT when I get my Z scale trains which may be sooner than I think!
Both tracks seem good MTL comes with road bed where Marklin don't. Marklin has a verity of Various types of track. MTL doesn't have as many different types. MTL has snap together track. So it really comes down to what do you want? If you need short pieces of track and like to make them then MTL. It's hard to fine road bed for "Z" you can use "N" scale road bed. I use MTL. Now they have Rokuhan "Z" scale track It has a verity of different types of track go to zscale Monster Trains web site they have MTL, Marklin and Rokuhan track to look at.
PS I have both, I have Marklin on my old layout and MTL on my New But I need Short Pieces of track ot make things fit for the size of my layout it 32"w X 73" L.
Walt
galaxy What about power packs? Z scale train sets don;t come with any power apcks. Any HO/N power pcak good for Z as well?
What about power packs? Z scale train sets don;t come with any power apcks. Any HO/N power pcak good for Z as well?
Best to use a power pack designed for Z scale at least in DC operation. While an N/HO power pack will run z scale trains, one must be carefull not to turn it up too high. There is the risk of burning out the motor. Most motors used in Z are rated for lower voltage than N/HO motors.
I don't know about DCC, but from what I have read, it appears that DCC controllers are not scale specific..
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
galaxy ltdan84 galaxy: Hmm thank you. SO I would need a table about 17 incheswide by 30 inches to make my oval, as a 15 inch wide table wouldn't do it. Darn. But I could go the bigger radius and do a 2 foot by four foot layout and even have the two ovals one inside the other and have a spactacular little layout!. Boy what an empire, bigger than N scale 2x4!.
ltdan84 galaxy:
galaxy:
Hi galaxy
I look at HO 4x8 track plans and imagine them as Z 2x4. Seems they would fit, but the off the shelf track components might not have the same geometry. One of these days I want to try it out, even if it means learning to handlay z track.
Hmmm. Am I missing something here? You only mention Micro Trains and Marklin, but what about Rokuhan (which also comes with roadbed)?
gck49erAm I missing something here?
Yeah, this thread started 9 nine years ago. Many changes since then, including Atlas now offering Z scale track.
Paul