Marklin makes their line of snap track. It is probably the most complete and available which includes turnouts, expandable connecting track and crossovers. There are a few other companies like Wright (IIRC) who build turnouts. Peco and Microtrains both sell flex track. I use the Peco because the size and placement of the ties is closer to what I want in Nn3. I hear the MT is very stiff and hard to work with.
120 inches of the Micro-Trains track for $38. $100 would get you nearly 30 feet of it I guess. Charlie
Microtrains makes only flextrack so far. It looks good, but the only matching turnouts come from Aspenmodel for a pretty penny. Marklin and Peco both make flextrack, but only Marklin has sectional turnouts. Peter Wright makes turnouts Compatable with Marklin, but they are hard to come by. They look better because they are setup for under the table operation. For just starting, I would buy the Marklin turnouts off eBay, keeping your trackplan to a minimum until the Microtrains turnouts come out. Thay say this year, but that could really be a couple years. Nobody knows for sure. If you are hard core, you could get a Fast Tracks jig, and make your own using code 55 or code 40 rail. A hassle for sure, but you get good looking track. And finally, which may be the best option, is to get some of (mythman) Eric Menzel's hand made turnouts, and use the Microtrains flextrack. -Robert
Thanks for the plug Robert!! I need to take some more pics... But here is a #10. I will have #6 and #8 coming by the end of this month. I will also have some brass kits coming. After finding a major error in my design of the Bethgon coalporters, I have been working on a new set of drawings. I'm also working on a NS Top Gon version of coalporter as well. Pricing for these kits should be reasonable at $25.00 a piece, 5 for $100.00. I will be offering RTR models for more. I love to see all this action in the Z forum here! With Alan Curtis doing some research on Z scale intermodel, this could be a great year for Z!
By all means give it a try. I started just about a year ago, and it has been fun. Really money is what keeps me from really getting into it even more right now. But on the topic of track, I used the micro-trains flex and it is very good. However, the sections are so short, that you can not avoid having them on a curve. So I started with the flex in the straightaways, and marklin in the curves. Functionally it was fine, but the difference in tie spacing made me cringe. So I tried to do the whole thing with the flex track. Looked good, but in my turns I would get kincks. I know there are many ways to make flex work in curves and have heard many great explanations of how to do it. But it is something that takes practice, and for me, I just kept dystroying track. So I stoped wasting money, and to make a long story short, I now have a simple loop, and 2 sidings, all marklin, and I am waiting patiently to see what micro-trians releases here. Then I will most likely make the total change to Z, bite the bullet and spend some money on quality peices of there new track and have it done right. Hopefully!
You are not out much money if you make a tiny cute little layout. My good friend Bill would kill me if he heard me say that. He is always promoting Z for massive layouts and is in the process of orgainzing a huge Z-Bend layout for the NMRA National Train Show this year up in Ohio somewhere.
Yeah, I can't wait for the NTS this year. Is Bill Kronenberger the friend that you are talking about? He is supposed to have the module connectors ready any time now. The plan is to all use the same connectors just like the Z Trak guys do. I hope to meet him and a lot more Z Scalers. I voluntered to help run trains and setup the modules for the Z Bend layout. One of the members in our club is bringing his module to the show. It's the end all Z showing for the year, and promises to be a blast! -Robert
What code rail do the various makes have in Z - are they all the same? Peco would be easiest for me here in the UK.
Most all the rail is code 60 or variants. MTL is code 57 or something like that, Peco and Marklin is code 60. I am handlaying code 55 on my mainlines and code 40 for branch/yard tracks.
Just received my 81535 American starter set and 8190 extension set from ajckids.com (great prices and service). Comparing the Marklin turnouts to the picture posted by Mythman raises a question. Looking down on the Marklin turnout it appears to have two frogs. Looking at it from the side, it appears the second ? is just a lowered section of track to get the wheels through the frog area. It also appears not to have an actual frog point So how reliable are these turnouts? Seems like it would always be a problem of picking the 'frog'. Al
I don't have any Marklin turnouts myself, but several of my friends swear by them, that everything runs well through them, and because of that fact, they are allowed (even encouraged for use during shows) on the mainlines in the Z Bend Track standard. I only have 2 complaints with them, the tie spacing looks more like Nn3 than Z, and the bulky switch machine makes no allowance for under the table mounting, but hey, I'm picky with my track work. The prices at ajckids.com are the best just short of a low bid on eBay, and I have 3 or 4 of the NP steamers myself. The one that comes with the 81535 is the best running Marklin steamer I have. You can't go wrong with Northern Pacific! -Robert
I received the Micro-Trains newsletter which said this: Is Z Scale your preference? Please visit http://www.micro-trains.com/coming_soon.htm and catch a “sneak preview” of the NEW Z Scale Micro-Track® Although, a visit to that page does not show it. Charlie
I am waiting to see it myself. So far the pictures look promising that have been posted! I'd like to see if they will paint the ties or color the ballast any differently than what we have seen posted from the show.
