I've finally ordered another mechanism for my NN3 Micro Trains 2-6-0 and I'm doing to get started on a "medium sized" NN3 layout. I built one years ago using Marklin Flextrack. (No switches, just a simple dogbone.) It looks to me that the Rokuhan and Mirco Trains trackage is the same? It appears to be a little less expensive than Marklin. Have any of you guys got experience with the Rokuhan and/or Micro Trains Track? I think DCC is kind of out of the question since I'll be running the little 2-6-0 and an 0-6-0 Tank Loco.
No experience with those brands, but I have seen the Z guys here talking about all those names. I'd think a search of the Z Forum message archives would turn up those topics.
As a Z-scaler I may give my own input here. MTL and Rokuhan track / turnout system look closely the same but it's not the same however. Tie spacing is broader on Rokuhan's than on MTL's that depicts heavy US normal gauge track. So, for narrow gauge I think Rokuhan fits better. Furthermore, I've been mostly disappointed with Micro-Trains' long waited turnouts. Every two sample in my roster is subject to stalls at low speed and I can't accept that as I am mostly turned towards low speed switching operations. On the opposite, Rokuhan turnouts are known to be flawlessly working. They don't visually fit for me as I am turned to US normal gauge operations but I think they could be OK on a narrow gauge layout. I've even learnt that Rokuhan releases roadbeded flextrack. Otherwise you may use Peco Z scale flextrack, that perfectly looks right for Nn3 in my opinion, as its ties are far too appart for heavy normal gauge track. As for the turnouts, if you don't want to use Rokuhan's, I guess Fast-Tracks releases templates for Nm/Nn3 gauge, as they do for Z. Hope this helps, Dom
Thanks for the replies. I have been scouring the net on Z scale track alternatives for a couple days and I'm starting to get a grasp on what's out there. I found a reference the other day that mentioned Noch selling Rokuhan track under a private brand, I think. They may just be marketing it in Europe but the point is, their turnouts physically looked just like Kato turnouts. There were no solenoids hanging out the side of the switches like the old Atlas Switch Motors. Frankly, a much more prototype appearance. I went to Intermountain's US web site and studied up a little on the Rokuhan track they are handling in the US. I've got to get moving on some track since I've already got 11 or 12 pieces of rolling stock and my locomotive running gear will be here in 10 days or so. Next thing is do I build a new layout of only narrow gauge or re-engineer my existing N scale layout and combine the 2.
