1. poppy2201

    poppy2201 TrainBoard Member

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    Using my AZL ES44AC locomotive I did an initial test run of the layout.

    Using Atlas 2092 terminal joiner for track power and the DC Mini Throttle from RPC Electronics (Jason Rausch) for feeding power to the track. I only have one feeder hooked up right now for the entire layout and the loco is running solidly.

    Here is the short video:

     
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  2. GSax

    GSax TrainBoard Member

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    Amazing how well the loco ran with only one connection. There seemed to be a little sputter on the back wall but no stall. It is a fairly large layout and you mentioned multiple 55mm sections in place of missing 220mm sections which should degrade performance. Nonetheless, it works!

    I like the way you used the Atlas connections. Never though of it but kind of obvious once you see it done. Thanks for sharing.
     
  3. poppy2201

    poppy2201 TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Gary. I did notice the stutter on the back. I'm going to hook up the second line with one feeder sometime today and test run both the outside and inside line at the same time. I'm kind of waiting for the K-Line Maxi-I set to arrive tomorrow. I'll run those on the Red line and my Southern E-8 with heavyweight cars on the Yellow line and see how well everything performs. I will post a video of that when I do.

    As far as the Atlas 2092 Code 55 Terminal Joiners use, credit has to go to Frank Daniels at Z.Scale.Hobo for depicting it on his site. I had never been a huge fan of the Rokuhan feeders and with this method I can use the Atlas joiners on the curves since Rokuhan only has feeder slots on straight pieces.

    IMG_0101.JPG IMG_0102.JPG

    Progress continues and I will post updates as they occur.
     
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  4. poppy2201

    poppy2201 TrainBoard Member

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    Part 2 Video of Layout

    The outside and inside line are functioning. The ES44AC is on the outside line pulling some boxcars and the E8 is pulling the heavyweights on the inside line.

    Each line only has one feeder so far and things are running pretty well with that configuration. I'll add more feeders when the remaining order arrives.

     
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  5. gmorider

    gmorider TrainBoard Member

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    More excellent craftsmanship. Very innovative in all respects.
     
  6. poppy2201

    poppy2201 TrainBoard Member

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  7. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    Yes. We asked them to do this as many use CAD to design or the T-Trak that can come inclusive.
    I also asked SCARM to include this detail in their Rokuhan track library (SCARM is a free/paid CAD [computer aided design] for railroads). Tracks just snap together. Atlas used to include it in their free version of SCARM but dropped all the Z track except for their turnout and crossing so you could only use flex track! I notified them months ago but the track Rokuhan/märklin/MTL track did not reapear in the last update and I doubt it will as it is an Atlas version of SCARM.

    Laser-heads: maybe some connectable 'sticks' to layout common track parts to mark holes for drilling?
     
  8. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    Thanks Charles, I downloaded those pictures for reference, in case I draw up modules with Rokuhan track for someone.

    I'll make all those track pieces into sticks that can be rotated matching degrees for fit, so I can just drop each stick next to adjacent tracks the way people design their modules, with the track stick in black for engrave and the screw holes red for cut through.

    With those drawings someone can draw up a TTZ module on a napkin, and I would be able to use the sticks to make their module drawings, and even for modules longer than I can cut, they can send the drawings to guys with larger cutting tables. I can only cut up to 440mm wide (Double) modules on my laser.

    Also, the sticks can just be printed out (AKA Paper Dolls) for people who do their own module building with traditional woodworking tools.
     
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  9. GSax

    GSax TrainBoard Member

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    The .pdf files for track are on page 8 plus my offer to send anybody a .dxf version for their own CAD work still stands.

    This is an example of the weakness of this format. There are lots of gems but there is not a simple and quick way to find them even if you know they are there someplace.

    I have joined the T-Trak Wiki and Josh Murrah has done a lot of work for Z there, but again, the route to his page it not straight forward for a new researcher. I sent an e-mail to Josh Murrah offering the track drawings but he never responded.

    Lastly, Robert Ray, again on page 8, commented, "TTZ is too new to have everything all ironed out, and because of it, there are at least 6 known and different standards. The Portland guys have theirs, the Florida guys got theirs, Thom Welsch in the midwest has his standards, I have the Boise dowel pin and magnet aligned Atlas track standards with Florida guys and Portland guys transition modules, Larry Donsbach in Texas had some small modules that I think were TTZ, and then there are the Chicago Gary with 30 degree corners standards."

    We need to get to together for the following:
    1. Especially on end to end and electrical compatibility
    2. Make it easy for a newcomer to find out what to do.
    3. A organized repository for helpful ideas that are not specifications in the narrowest definition but are compatible nonetheless less.

    The T-Trak Wiki seems the obvious choice to me.

    So after all the complaining, what are you going to do Gary?

    This is an excellent place to discuss things where as the wiki is not. If there is any interest, I suggest the following:
    1. I draft some things I think should be on the T-Trak Wiki as well as some wiki organizational ideas.
    2. Please shoot at it and we will try to develop a consensus.
    3. I or, hopefully, a few of us will take it to the wiki.

    Any comments?
     
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  10. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    Question (without having to go off site right now to research):
    I same the jig that one places on top of the module end and against the side. This helps one get the track aligned (YEAH!) but.
    a) do the kits include this jig (within the module or line-item option [OK])
    b) are the track locations laser'd on the top surface (with the 'wide-est' Rokuhan 'suggested' track, along with track center and starting screw hole?

    I am planning some corner modules but do not see what we use in Z-Bend Track, designed by Lajos Thek:

    Lajos ZoCal X module.png
    Lajos ZoCal X module - 90 segment.png
     
  11. GSax

    GSax TrainBoard Member

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    This is a great concept. I remember it.

    To get a 90 deg module two 45 deg pieces plus a straight section are needed. The two largest radius come in 30 deg. Using the largest 45s available and a 220 mm straight sections, I came up with Baz Boys Hub 90 deg. It is about 35 inches wide. To fit on a 30 inch table I would need to shorten the 220 mm straight to 110 mm.

    Using the two largest radii, the module is a 60 deg curve. Again using a 220 mm straight between the curves I came up with a triangular hub. It turned out to be about 25 inches wide. Adding 110 mm straights would get close to 30 inches. See Baz Boys Hub 60 deg

    Alternatively, you can adopt Robert Ray's technique of having Rokuhan at the ends and Atlas flex in between. The possibilities really expand. I would start with the two large radii Rokuhan's at the ends and get the other 30 deg and straight sections with the flex track. This yields a 90 deg hub with large radii and meets the end requirements.

    The drawings have the drill holes located. Tracks are 76 mm from edge on both sides and thus the module can be either an inside or an outside curve.

    TrainBoard does not allow .dxf files. If you want I can send you a full size .dxf version.

    Have fun!
     

    Attached Files:

  12. poppy2201

    poppy2201 TrainBoard Member

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    After seeing how one set of feeders worked out I took the modules apart and put in 2 feeders on the front side of the layout and 2 feeders on the back side of the layout. So now I have 2 feeders for the Red Line and 2 feeders for the Yellow Line. For now this seems adequate and may just leave it at that.

    Next task is I have some areas to tack down the track and then move on to scenery. I'm really not in any big rush. Going to take a few days off and spend quality time with the great granddaughter.

     
  13. GSax

    GSax TrainBoard Member

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    Performance looks solid. Noteworthy is that the passenger train has a single locomotive which is more rigorous of a test than the two units on the freight. Good useful info. Thanks for sharing.
     
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  14. poppy2201

    poppy2201 TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Gary. I'm slowly increasing my roster for motive power. Another loco for passenger service is in the pipeline. I felt it was necessary to get another loco for my container unit train first since I'm adding the other road number to the K-Line Maxi-I. That one should arrive Monday.
     
  15. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    Gary, thanks on redrawing. I’ll work on it in SCARM. I’d like to keep broad radii (245-270), preferably continuous (except for the 1” (I think) required interface, rather than the segmented curve-straight-curve. But this a good start!
     
  16. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    Hey! Thom’s virtual NTS Layout video gave me an idea for a T-Trak yard module. I think the modules were Midwest or Milwaukee? Maybe Thom’s ;)
    On the ‘T’ off the mains runs in the a stub passenger station. Before it is a ‘Yard’ with several switched stubs. This could be made into parallel model to a T-Trak module. Could also be a Time Saver module integrated.
     
  17. HACY

    HACY New Member

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    Hi, New here.

    I've noticed some discussions of different radius corner modules incompatibility and found no one mentioning the obvious simple solution:

    You can make 90 degree double line 245 + 270 radius corner module with using:
    A) 3 * R014/245 (inner) + 3 * R015/270 (outer)
    B) R030/25mm + 3 * R033/220 + R030/25mm (inner) + R030/25mm + 3 * R014/245 + R030/25mm (outer)
    C) 2 * R030/25mm + 3 * R032/195 + 2 * R030/25mm (inner) + 2 * R030/25mm + 3 * R033/220 + 2 * R030/25mm (outer)
    D) etc. (if you want to use even smaller radius, but it is not recommended)

    The n * 25mm track needed to adjust the gap comes from the fact that radius difference between these curved tracks is 25mm. You need to put this 25mm straight track to both ends of the smaller curve.

    I wonder if one could make adjusting modules (looking like bridge etc.) with parallel tracks and the length of the module is multiple of 25mm (minus 1 mm on both ends).

    .
     
  18. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    Welcome HACY, I think the main reason some like the tighter radius turns is because they can do a 180° turn on a narrow table. Most train shows however are at venues where the standard banquet table is 30" or 760mm, which means that 245+270mm radius corner modules will fit fine.

    Having run Z Scale trains at many train shows, I found that the larger the radius, the better running reliability. That said, there is no reason you could not build small adapter modules so the tightest radius corner modules can connect with larger radius corner modules. And those modules need only be 50mm deep in 25mm width increments.

    I can see a use case where the tight radius corner modules are useful, but when you go to a really big train show with multiple T-Trak-Z clubs will connect modules together, you woulds want the largest radius corners used just for sake of maximum equipment compatibility. Modern passenger cars and autorack cars are so long that the swing over onto the adjacent track of tight radius corners could cause problems, where using Rokohan shorty cars would run fine. In that case, the guys who brought their shorties are the only ones who can run play, and everyone else just donated their modules to exclusive shorty users.

    I personally feel that corner modules any tighter than 245+270mm radius are better suited to use at small library or against the wall venues, where I envision an NTS Show using 245+270mm radius modules that fully fill the banquet tables space.
     
  19. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    I was working on some cabooses and lost interest, and decided to work on my TTZ modules. So, I finished clearing my table top, and started by laying out the modules I have built. My table was bowed very badly, so I got to test the leg levelers. I found that I really need a ball end on my T Handle Allen Driver, so ground one on, and leveled the modules. After that, I decided to shoot an update video explaining how I plan on using Atlas track without joiners, magnets, and alignment pins so I can enjoy the beauty of Atlas Flextrack, on an otherwise T-Trak-Z standard module set:

     
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  20. animek

    animek TrainBoard Member

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    Great video, thanks for all the tips!!!
     
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