Any thoughts on operations in Z scale? Has anyone done it before? Is it even feasible? My idea is to have semi-permanent tabletop layout that would include a small switching yard and a branchline suitable for 2-man operation. I hope for my very young son who is currently into cars (he's exceptionally focused and content when playing) take interest in trains down the road. All of my trains are Marklin and my biggest issue to has has been decoupling. Marklin's electric decoupler is successful in about 80% attempts, sometimes resulting in a very tedious switching moments! Hand-decoupling is just as bad despite of my fairly steady hands. How do you go about identifying cars in this scale? I've been considering switching to N scale if it wasn't for the fact that I already have sizable Z collection. Thanks ig
It's all in the couplers Sadly the Marklin Z coupler, like the venerable Rapido N scale coupler before it, just doesn't lend itself to switching operations. For reliable switching ops you'll need to consider a knuckle coupler with a trip pin - for Z this means Micro Trains Line couplers. They are to be used in conjunction with magnetic uncoupling tracks, or just magnets if using non-roadbed-type track. Go to the Micro Trains website to learn more. That said, from the sound of it your entire fleet is Marklin and while retrofitting is possible it will be tricky for some stock pieces and it will certainly diminish the resale value of your equipment due to the alteration from stock condition. Plus, if you're speaking of European outline equipment, well, a knuckle coupler just wouldn't look right between the buffers - but there are worse things I suppose. Beyond that, today's cohort of Z locomotives with flywheels and improved contacts combined with some seriously decent roadbed-type switches from Micro Trains and Rokuhan (Japan) go a long way to making operating layouts viable in Z like never before. Sorry, I know that's not much of an answer but there's only so much one can expect from the Marklin Z coupler performance-wise. As for switching to N for such a project, let's just say that my shelf N switching layout using DCC is so reliable it's downright boring! At least with Z there's still some tweaking to keep it interesting.
Although not ideal, most operators in almost any scale have resorted to carrying an uncoupling pick for those stubborn couplers. I built a timesaver switching puzzle module, and embedded magnets under the roadbed to make automatic uncoupling with MTL couplers work, but when actually playing with the puzzle, I ended up using a 12" bamboo skewer that I sanded a flat sided "Spade Shape" tip on to assist uncoupling. Also, I found that some cars are too light to overcome the couplers and had to use my skewer to push the cars into coupled position. In the end I feel Z Scale operators should always carry an uncoupling pick and be prepared to use 0-5-0 assistance as required. It can still be lots of fun though, so go for it!
Yeah, I used a very small flat screwdriver for that same purpose (except on Marklin couplers), but I find that even slightest hand-twitch will derail a car especially lighter ones like a 2-axle tanker. Is N scale stock any easier to decouple?
Automatic uncoupling is a art and not a science. It requires skill and technical knowledge how everything works. The trickiest part is to get the coupler to work right. Its not easy, but when they work, its magic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmoRnztlzXI Bob, the AZL coupler are useless for switching. I change them out whenever I can. I find them usefull only on well cars. I am unlike to switch those cars.
I can't answer the question about couplers but regarding how do you identify cars...well, you don't...not using numbers anyway. Even in n-scale, the car numbers are pretty hard to read. The system that is used on the N layout I operate on is basically: swap a like car for a like car. This takes a little imagination, and some ability to know what kind of car would be used for a certain industry. (although, even that is not really necessary) So, if you are picking up from a grain elevator with 3 40ft grain boxcars, you would spot 3 40ft grain boxcars from your train. In N, the trains my not be as long as in Z, but you can usually easily identify the cars from your train. We have switchlists and you COULD incorporate road numbers but I think in Z it would be painful at best. It is a very simplistic system, but it works, and it's fun. The simpler you can make your model railroad (mechanically, electrically, and operationally) the better off you will be and the more fun you will likely have. We use pics for uncoupling and hand thrown turnouts. Makes for a pretty trouble free ops session.
As I fixed my electromagnet problems on the layout I'm (slowly) workin' on, I will shortly try to do a video and to release it here. I've no experience with Marklin stuff nor their couplers, but in my opinion Micro-Trains couplers are definitly the way to go. These are only the Z scale version of the ubiquitous Kadee coupler that exist for all others scales. Zerstoererx was speaking of the weird looking of any european equipment with that coupler, one has to know that in HO and N scales more and more european prototype modellers use it - and in my opinion that doesn't look that odd. Basically one has to know that permanent magnet uncouplers are to be avoided on a main line. Use them only on sidings and spurs. For the main lines electromagnets are the best solution. Myself I'm using Kadee # 309 that are basically done for HO but that fit with Z with a little assembly change. Another option is the Jörger uncoupler that is roughly architectured like the Kadee. All this allow "hand off" uncoupling and switching operations. Furthermore, recent motive power from MTL and AZL is flywheel equipped and have superior power pick-up. Combined with a low starting voltage power pack (Zthek's, Passmann, etc) Z scale is definitly showing the same switching operation qualities than any other scale. Just my two cents, Dom
A Micro-Trains GP35 working as a switcher spots a gondola (carrying a R6 battery for scale identification) on a siding. Then the loco turns around the car and returns to its spur. Shortly afterwards a freight train with 2 AZL SD70s at the point enters the depot. The locos uncouple from their train, pick up the lone car, set it to their train and the freights resumes its way... (Unfortunately I didn't find yet a way to prevent the jerky motion of the cars behind the locomotives, due to the 3% downhill slope right of the camera out of sight). My uncoupling system is a pair of Kadee #309 HO electromagnetic uncouplers I slightly modified in order to fit with my Z scale trains that are equipped with Micro-Trains Magnematic couplers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY5fXW9LcuM Just to confirm that Z scale definitly allows switching operations. But sorry, that's still Plywood Pacific.. Dom
