Ok, I model N and Z. I remember when I got just sick and tired of my loco's not running well with my atlas code 80 track in N. Now I will admit, I probably didn't lay track the best back then, but it wasn't that bad either. Now I went out and changed everything to kato unitrack. What impressed me the most was even my worse running loco's all ran much better and smoother on the unitrack. Mayber the joints were better, maybe the geometry of the track was better, but whatever, they all seemed to run really well. Sooooooooo, I am thinking perhaps the same thing will happen once I get some of the new micro-trains Z-track? Maybe it will make loco's run smoother and better? Or is it a case of wishful thinking? What do you guys think?
I think that well laid track makes your trains run well. It doesn't matter if it is Kato Unitrack of handlaid code 40. IMHO, Kato Unitrack just decreases the possible errors you can make. As I have to repair or replace track on my layout, I can definitely tell that I am doing a better jobe of laying the new track than the original track I laid 3-4 years ago. Just go slowly and do it right the first time. It will pay off in the long run. Taking my time to do things right is a lesson I learn about once a month.
When it comes to sectional track, the Unitrak seems far superior to the old standard Atlas snap track. The new MT track may turn out better than the Marklin snap track. However, track is only part of the equation. I have a good size loop of Peco Z flex track with few joints and my Marklin 2-6-0 still runs kind of jerky at slow speed.
I've used Kato Unitrack for N scale and think it's great. I had no problems at all and would definitely use it again should I ever go back to N scale. I presently have a Marklin/Noch Z layout that came with the track already installed. I bought it because I'm not good with track laying and electrical things. I may attempt to build a larger layout once the new MT track hits the market. I think it will be a huge boost for Z scale just like Unitrack has been for N scale. However, I haven't seen anything about new MT switches. Doug
I am working on free rolling electrical pickup now for the trucks on a new tender I am building. The plastic MT trucks have one metal side frame insert with cone bearing pockets and stock Marklin metal wheels. However I think it has more to do with the side rod linkage as it has a very repetitive lurch in time with the rotation of the drivers.
I have a brand new Marklin Mikado that has a hitch in it's giddyup, and after taking it apart and rebuilding it several times, I still cannot get it to run smooth. I have quartered it perfectly, gauged the wheels good, fine wire brushed all gears and carefully inspected for flash, fine dremel sanding disc'ed the sprue on the ends of all the siderods to make sure nothing can bind there, loosened and realigned the motor, and lubed it with clean oil. It still seems like something is binding somewhere, but I can't find it. The next step is mix and match parts from other known working good Mike's until I find the offending part. What a hassle. It takes me almost an hour just to get the drives back in with the correct quartering. One day I'll figure it out. -Robert
Well, I went back and took the Mogul apart and found one of the piston rods was bent causing it to drag going in and out of the cylinder. Straightened that out and the engine runs slow and smooth. Draws a lot less current too. I am about finished decaling and painting the new tender for it.
I'll 2nd that notion as well. Post picutres if you can. It really motivates me to see others work, and I am quite sure it does for the others as well!
Here is an image from plopping the locomotive down on my flatbed scanner. I think I need to go back and remount the trucks slightly off center. By adding a metal side frame insert to one side only, it shifted the wheelsets in one direction on the front truck and the other on the rear truck. The tender kind of "crab walks" noticeably. Other than that, it rolls free and picks up electricity on four of the eight wheels.
Well, it's a really nice tender, and nice Mogul too! I read your thread about adding tender pickup, and I want to give it a try for my Mogul. Would your's be considered Z on Nn3? (need to see the original tender to tell which one you have) This is a picture I took of Tom Knapp's Z Scale Mogul that he modified for use on his Nn3 One Trak layout: Here is a picture of the same Marklin Mogul I painted up for use on my ZBT modules: The marklin Mogul is a little large for Z and a little small for Nn3, probably just to try and maximize sales. I really like mine, and if they were not so darned expensive, I would buy more. -Robert
Mine was marketed as an Nn3 by Microtrains. I know the mechanism is from Marklin. The tender that came with it was very tiny so I gave it to Bill K. to hang behind a Z scale engine of his. The stock smoke stack had a tall spark arrestor that prevented it from going under bridges when I tried to run it on a Z Bend layout, so I replaced that too.
Ok, the smokestack was different. That does make it look better. Did you just soder the tender wires to the brass pickup strips on the sides of the loco?
