Hello Board Do you have the same experience that the new MTL Track seems to be noisy? I've used AZL, MTL and Marklin Locos but allways the same noise. How can I reduced that? with best Regards Juerg
Glue it down to some kind of substrate or your train board. Just about anything that isn't glued down will make noise. Randy
Thank you for the fast answers. It's not a big problem because I use the new MTL Track just on a Test-Layout. I only notice that the Marklin Track is less noisy (but also uglier).
The new MTL Z scale track is very similar to N scale Unitrack. I lute the Unitrack to a foam base using a hot glue gun. Four corners of the roadbed are glued to the foam. I'm running 28 car trains plus 3-4 loco's per train and it's very quiet. There is no amplification of any noise. I'm also using metal wheelsets on the rolling stock. Stay cool and run steam....
I'll second the glue method. I tacked the track I have with a hot glue gun and the noise was dropped quite a bit.
It's the hollow area under the plastic ballast sections! It acts as an amplifier. Gluing the track down will greatly eliminate the noise. But! Glueing the track directly to foam board can further amplify the noise. The foam thickness and foam supports are the key issues here. How do I eliminate the noise all together? Fill in the hollow sections under the ballasted track sections. How? The only thing I can think of right now is the use of a good modeling clay pressed up under each ballasted section. The weight and thickness of the clay should eliminate the noise completely! It's worth a try if the noise is really that annoying. Tim
http://www.quietcoat.com/html/products.html http://www.dynamat.com/products_architectural_dynil.html http://www.polytechinc.com/new.html http://www.soundprooffoam.com/ There's a lot of soundproofing solutions around, but I kind of like the sound of a locomotive rolling across a layout. I bought one of those MRC sound boxes. Diesel Steam I programmed it to the same number as a DCC GP35 and played with it at the GATS. It was kind of fun because I could operate sounds with my wireless procab. When I approached a crossing, I pressed F1 to turn on the crossing bell, and F2 to blast the horn. At the same time as the MRC sound box horn sounds, my ditch lights start flashing on the GP. What a fun toy. The diesel rumble was also syncronized to the loco speed. -Robert
Thank you Guys for the solutions. I've ordered last week a MRC Sound Station from Anthony. Can't wait to test it out!
Tim: I never had any sound amplication by not filling in the area under the roadbed of the Unitrack I'm using on the JJJ&E which is basically the same as the new MTL track in Z scale. I've been using sound as well on the JJJ&E for over six years now. Stay cool and run steam.......
Now I noticed another problem with the new MTL Track. My AZL C44-9W locomotives are having trouble with the Railjoiners at slow speed. They stumble on every Railjoiner even on the straight track.
That is really interesting. I have marklin steam, and Micro-trains GP35 and f-7's, and all of it runs just fine on it. I don't own any AZL Yet anyway! (GP7/9 are on the way this year ) But I am perplexed as to why that would happen?
I dont think its the MTL railjoiner, I used it almost exclusively because they are so much more stronger then Markin. If its happening on a curve. The current radius might be too tight for AZL. I run my SD40 and my C44 without problems,
Robert, Would you mind opening a topic in the inspection pit on the new MRC sound sytem and possibly give a review as I'm seriously thinking of buying one for my dc layout.
I've tested this morning the following Locos without problems: MTL Mogul Zthek SW-1 AZL SD-40 , SD-45 MTL GP 35 Maerklin F7, Mikado, Casey Jones, Pacific the only problem occurs with my 2 C44-9W (BNSF, and UP) and it's not only happend in the curves.
I wonder if the wheels are spread apart slightly to wide of gauge? That's the only thing I can think of that would cause the on loco to ride up on the joiners? -Robert
