Thats very impressive. But at the moment im not looking to do any projects. Just looking to set up some track and run a mini freight train on my desk. I dont know what it is about Z scale that intrigues me. Perhaps its the fact that something so large as a freight train is shrunk down to fit on my desk or the engineering behind it to make something so tiny run like any other eletric train. Perhaps its both. Iv been looking forward for something like this for a few years
Have you considered modeling what you're familiar with? What railroads run in your area? What kind of trains do they run? East-west transcontinental trains tend to run heavy with the well cars and recently crude oil tank cars. These are generally run as unit trains: a single car type that runs to a single destination. These would be BNSF Seattle-Chicago, UP SF/LA-Chicago and BNSF LA-Chicago. There are also mixed trains, typically all types of freight car and will add and drop cars along their route. One I particularly like is a UP that runs in California's central valley: generally pulled by the SD70s and consisting a about 40% boxcars (old and new) 20% center beam cars, and the rest a mix of tank cars, flat cars and hoppers (usually with scrap metal). I personally prefer modeling this type of train because of the visual variety. Both AZL and MTL produce the well cars. There isn't much color variation in the cars, it's the containers that make the difference. Hopes this helps, Mark
I live about 40 miles south of chicago. BNSF is the most common I see followed closely by Union pacfic. CSX is 3rd. I do like CSX look but i do not like how the roof of the cab is white. I know it seems dumb but to me it doesnt look right. If the BNSF was flared id take it in a heart beat. That flared look just adds so much of a modern look to the loco. About half the freight id say is trailer stacks.
if you are talking flared look your talking AZL SD70 series engines and R195 is the smallest they will work on nicely but they sure look way better on R220 the next size up. and even better on R245 or R270. But you proposed layout really is more slanted towards geeps a and F units than SD70/75's Power packs Ztrack store has the Medvend series of controllers and they work well just about any engine available. for your small layout if you are using ROkuhan track you might consider the Rokuhan C002 controller, it can be battery from batteries or from a wall transformer.
Man, its a tough choice. But still an awesome choice to have I cant post links yet or paste the website address yet. But if you go to AZL and look up sd70 locomotives youll find the list. What do you guys think??? Im pretty excited about this
Union Pacific, Winged, Flagged and Flared is hard to beat. And I say that as a Santa Fe fan... But honestly, I like them all.
I few members mentioned rokuhan power packs to use as well. Can you adjust the speed well and do they provide good power? I dont want to see my choo-choo stop and go every few minutes. So far it seems rokuhan power packs and rails is the way to go for good power supply to the locomotive.
The Rokuhan power packs are a very good, safe, and reliable way to power your trains. They have a large adjustable speed control knob that will allow your locomotive to creep so slow you have to stair at it for a minute to see if its actually moving, to so fast it will almost fly off the curves, an anywhere in between. You can use the AC adapter and plug it in for endless hours of smooth operation, or pop in some batteries for Hours of smooth trouble free portable operation. They also have a direction switch to change direction or simply back your locomotive up. And a built in fast acting circuit breaker to protect your train in the event of a short circuit. I agree with Garth for the track plan you are describing the Rokuhan C002 power pack with AC adapter to plug it in would be a excellent choice. If your interested in knowing just how much power it takes to run your locomotive I have a write-up on how to install a volt / amp meter into the Rokuhan RC-01 controller posted here on trainboard. http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?162132-Modified-my-Rokuhan-RC-01.
But only one locomotive? How about a GP7, F7, something smaller than the big boy. Just enough to move around 6 freight cars at a time. One of the MicroTrains table top sets could get you going. One engine, 3 freight cars, maybe a caboose. Some come with an oval of MTL track. Add a MTL DC modified RMC power pack & you are good to go. Or a battery controller unit from the Ztrack store.
Thanks for the input but I really only like the look of the sd70m. I wouldnt be doing this if I werent able to get one. Im not looking for a serious setup or anythingm just the basics to go on my desk in my office/man cave to have fun
Keep you track clean - just wipe it with a cloth - something like t-shirt material. Do NOT oil your locomotives very often. Once every 6 months is usually perfect for average use.
After cleaning your track you can keep track clean over long periods if you cover your layout when not in use and purchase an Aztec track cleaning car and change all your micro trains plastic wheels to metal wheels, on your Micro Trains cars. Almost all the other makers but Micro Trains now use metal wheels, delrin plastic is an engineered plastic to self lubricate so it has an oily surface which collects microscopic dirt from the surface or your track, and it piles up on the wheel over time, The Aztec car has a cortex wheel set slightly out of alignment with the track and as such scrubs lightly on the track and it can be cleaned when needed with soap and water and a tooth brush, just place the car immediately behind your locomotive as it is heavier than the average car. This combined with metal wheels keeps your trains running problem free longer between maintenance of the track. Metal wheels will show wear over time but do not collect dirt like the Delrin plastic ones do, if there are no plastic wheels on your layout. Most on line shops carry replacement metal wheels from Full Throttle (Uncle Will Dean) and Fox Valley as well as replacement trucks with metal wheels from AZL and full throttle. all engines have metal wheels. and as Rob A siad do not over oil your engines, when needed no more than a small drop per truck, they do not need to appear wet with oil.
Haven't talked much about rolling stock. Marklin: A few American cars, mostly European. Hook coupler not compatible with anything else unless you convert it. Product divided into eras different from US. MTL: Good mix of eras if you want to go back that far. Some cars came with Marklin couplers. AZL Nice mix of more modern cars. Couplers should mate with MTL. Full Throttle: Limited selection of nice cars. Bowser Bucklers should mate with MTL Intermountain: So far a line of cylinder hoppers. Mates with MTL In sum, you would be good to go with anything that mates with MTL. Your choice of freight/passenger. Your choice of era/paint schemes. Find it on ebay if not at a hobby shop. Don't have any cheap Bachmann, Life Like, Model Power to avoid.
