Hello everyone. I have been searching around this site for some answers to basic questions and all I can say is wow! You guys know your stuff. The problem is a lot of this terminology is flying right over my head. Background: I am 32 years old and was introduced to z gauge trains back in the eighties by my dad. We never made an ornate layout or anything of that nature, just made ovals and things of that nature (never fixed in one place). I went to my parent's house and my dad gave me the old box of trains. Have some cool marklin engines, an mtl caboose, a zeppelin train with a propeller on the back and some other interesting pieces. I tried setting the track up tonight but all the connectoins are broke the trains fall off the track. Some questions I have? Which new track should I buy marklin or MTL? What is flextrack? I do not understand what code 40 and 55 and all that means. Is this a good deal? http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Z-Scale-Mic...5|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50 Thank you everyone.
Hi Dave, welcome to Trainboard. I try to answer some of your questions. 1.Which new track should I buy marklin or MTL? Its a matter of taste. I use Marklin because MTL sectional track didnt exist when I started on my layout. The new MTL ballast track is more newbie friendly. 2.What is flextrack? Flextrack I a straight track that you can bend into curves. Both MTL and Marklin makes flextrack, but MTLs sectional track looks more like the American prototype. 3.I do not understand what code 40 and 55 and all that means Coder 40 and code 55 has to do with the height of the rail. I think code means 40mm and code 55 means 55mm, so the higher the number, the rail will be taller. 4.Is this a good deal? I dont think so. You can get it from Zscale Monster for less then half of that. Even when you add shipping, its still significantly cheaper. http://www.zscalemonster.com/mt/track/track.htm If you have any other questions, we will try to answer it for you.
Hi Dave welcome to trainboard. John answered your questions the way i was going to. Just remember have fun and post pictures.
If you are modeling North American railroads, then MTL is for you. Flex track allows you to curve it to your desired radius before securing to a road bed. It does not come with roadbed, you have to lay it down separately. The track in the auction had roadbed attached, but is fixed radius thus limiting you to some extent where you run your track if you have a mind to be creative more than most. The auction you mention is not a good deal. I sell the same for $21.71, S&H included. If you want, we can talk..... ljsnyder@charter.net I'll let the more experienced with rail code explain the difference between 40 and 55 code rail. Loren
Welcome at TrainBoard, Dave. Code means rail height. Code 55 means the rail is 55 / 1000 inch tall. Code 40 means the rail is 40 / 1000 inch tall. Wolfgang
Please have a look here and scroll down until you can see the different Z Scale Tracks: http://www.zettzeit.ch/pdf/WS0107.pdf
Hi David, All the cool guys are named Dave. MTL and AZL - can't go wrong. Look into joining a Z bend group. ZoCal in SoCal and BAZ Boyz in the San Francisco area. Modular is the way to go. Join one of the above Yahoo groups and look at the pictures. 9 scale miles of mainline track at the Del Mar Great Train Expo last weekend. DC and DCC. Up to 7 trains running at a time. 4 DCC amd 3 DC trains. Former n scaler David L.
MTL's (Micro-Trains Line) Micro-Track will get you most of the trackwork you need. Märklin's track has a lot of different lengths in the straights, some specialty turnouts (curved and double slips, but try and avoid these for reliable running - like hour after hour) and a cross (13 degree, the same angle as the turnouts). They also make a smaller radius curve in addition to the same radius curves as MTL. So 220mm and 195mm as does MTL + 145mm. You can't interchange the two easily. Märklin track has only the ties, MTL has 'simulated' roadbed, about 1/8 higher. From a protypical standpoint, if you plan on running European trains, the Märklin tie spacing may be the answer. If you plan on running American, you may want to consider the MTL. Even if you run European, you may want a more prototypical rail like the MTL over the just the ties. While both rail are basically Code 55, Märklin has a much wider rail head (the top surface of the rail) while MTL got it right an it is much more to scale, about 30% less and quite more obvious than the ties, especially if you ballast the Märklin ties. Both tracks will run both manufacturers. Both have flex track. Märklin's is longer and easier to bend, in case you want a more "flexible" track plan in which case you might as well use the Märklin components. But their flex can be worked into the MTL turnouts and track system if you lay a road bed under it to get the level up to the preformed MTL stuff. Easy to do and lots of folks to help. Where are you located ? .
Thanks for the fast replies gentleman. The information you provided is much appreciated. A few more newbie questions: "From a protypical standpoint, if you plan on running European trains, the Märklin tie spacing may be the answer. If you plan on running American, you may want to consider the MTL. Even if you run European, you may want a more prototypical rail like the MTL over the just the ties." Can u please clarify this for me. Marklin trains are European made, does that mean they won't work on the mtl track, or are you referring to keeping the model realistic? What does modular mean? Building layouts on interconnecting tables? Thanks again.
Track & modules Rail choice: It's not the trains, it's the track. The track widths are the same (you can, with care, run MTL trains on Marklin track, and vice-versa). It's the ties (or "sleepers") - that run perpindicular to the rails. The Marklin ones are spaced farther apart, following the European standard. The MTL ties are spaced closer together, the way they are in North America. As for "modular", I barely know enough to embarass myself, but "layouts on interconnecting tables" is a way to think of it. The Z Bend standards for such modules are the rules for how each module can be set up, and how it all fits together. See: http://www.zbendtrack.com/.
woo woo woo - Model Trains and Model Railroad Accessories $15 for the MTL Starter Set: A simple circle with 1 straight & "power connector" woo woo woo - Micro-trains Z 99040102 Micro-Track Expansion Set $55 for the MTL Expansion Set: You get the same track as the Starter Set + 2 manual turnouts (one LH & one RH) and some curved track to make a 2nd oval. woo woo woo - MRC 1300 Railpower 1300 $24 for a DC MRC power pack. Marklin locos run on 0-8volts DC 9 vols may be about the top for MTL or AZL locos. Other etailers (like Discount Rails) sell a converted MRC unit so you don't fry your motors. Check the etailers that support TB! Add a train set and you're in business.
Thanks Mike, that's what I thought I said Z-Bend Track forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Z-Bend_Track/ .
I don't totally agree: Marklin's tie spacing mostly matches remote unused sidings, but not mainline tie spacing even here in Europe.... It's interresting to notice that the awesome John Allbritton's Gotthard Pass is made of Micro-Trains flextrack (and handlaid turnouts) in order to have closer ties.... Even the underground in Paris has closer ties than Marklin's track. The problem beeing in my opinion that there hasn't been any change with Marklin's track and turnouts since 1972 when Marklin launched Z scale.... What was then acceptable as a lack of prototypical appearance should not be anymore nowadays. That's why if myself I was also modelling european, I would go to Micro-Trains track as well. Dom
Track prototypes I defer to you on European prototype(s) in particular, Dom. My only direct experience with European trackage was on the Irish passenger railway in spring of 1990 (Sligo to Dublin) - and that was long before I would have known or thought to pay attention to tie-spacing. Come to think of it, I haven't paid a great deal of attention to North American spacing, either. ;-) The larger point is that the spacing of the two (Marklin and MTL) is visibly different. If accuracy is a goal in your modeling, the differences between the two may dictate which style you use.
Wow, there is a wealth of railroad knowledge on this board. I have ridden trains in a couple different countries but never thought to look at the tie spacing. Good stuff.
Probably due to different axle loading. Remember, American trains are roughly 50% heavier than European.
it also has to do with the rail-to-tie securing. Concrete is the more prefered method now and rail is spring loaded rather than bolted. But weight certainly makes a difference. .
