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-----Original Message-----
From: Z-Bend_Track@... [mailto:Z-Bend_Track@...]On
Behalf Of Bill Hoshiko
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 11:31 AM
To: Z-Bend_Track@...
Subject: [Z-Bend_Track] Z scale standards and such


--- In Z-Bend_Track@..., "cgwcnw" <ksonta@...> wrote:
>
> Ok folks, I bit the bullet and I am building four z tack modules,
not sure if they will be z-> bend or t-trak style. The current plan
is to hand lay he track and coming from N-scale I need some pointers
on several dimensions.
>

Hi cgwcnw or is it Ksonta or K. Sonta

I don't mean to be poking fun but it is easier if we have a name or
title that can be used when replying to your messages.

I hope that I don't repeat any previous answers that you may have
already received.

You only need to conform to Zbend or Ttrack if you plan to connect
your modules to any of them. And then, you only need conforming
track at those points were you will be making connections.
------------------

1. Is there a commercially available track gauge one can obtain?

Micro Trains has a combination coupler height gauge and a track
gauge. It is a track gauge for tangent track only. See a picture at
Z Scale Monster.com



Republic Locomotive Works RLW has a NMRA type gauge and a three point
gauge. I don't know what size rail the three point gauge applies
to. It is probably for code 40 rail. Three point track gauges are
rail head size specific. RLW caters to the N scale n3 narrow gauge
crowd. Nn3 uses Marklin Z scale mechanisms and track. Visit the
following site and scroll half way down for the track gauges.


I don't know how applicable the Nn3 clearance gauge is to Z scale but
the track gauge is accurate. 6.5mm In my opinion, it is a little
wide for Z scale tangent track.

A British Z scale club also has a three point Z scale track gauge.
Their three point gauge fits Marklin rail. They also have a gauge
for the back to back dimension of Z scale wheels.


Personally I use a 1/4 inch square aluminum tube for tangent track
and a short piece of 1/4 inch aluminum rod stood on end for curved
track. 1/4 inch stock is equal to 6.35mm. Since I am not very
accurate with my work I rely on my sloppiness to achieve a proper
track gauge. Commercial Z gauge track is gauged to 6.5mm. Even the
sharpest Marklin curved sections are gauged to 6.5mm. So much for
having wider gauge in sharply curved track. (Does that mean that a Z
scale 3 point gauge causes sharply curved track to have a gauge that
is over wide?) (Sometime ago, someone posted the different track
gauges encountered in a Marklin turnout. Does anyone remember where
that was posted? I want a reference to the narrowest portion of that
track.)
----------------------

2. What rail sizes are typically used Code 40 /50/ other?

There is no rail size that is typical for handlaid Z scale track. At
least, not yet. I have seen Nn3 handlaid track using code 40 rail
and I have seen pictures of Mark Fielder,s Pizza layout with handlaid
track and Brian Harrap's Z scale layout which uses track and wheels
to exact scale standards. I may be wrong but I thought that I read
somewhere that Brian heated Z scale rail and stretched it untill he
got it drawn to an acceptable size. Perhaps I just got that confused
with Hiromi Masaki's work.



For a look at Hiromi Masaki's work see:


For flex track or sectional track there are three manufacturers.
They all use different size rail.

For a comparison of these three different tracks go to Sven-Martin
Holt's website and scroll down to "Z-scale track dimensions". Click
on this and you will be taken to a site that lists the different rail
sizes and their dimensions. Sven-Martin has helpfully also posted a
photo of the three different makes of track. You can see that,
besides using different size rail, each manufacturer has a different
spacing for their ties. The Peco and Marklin follow UK and European
standards. MicroTrains follow North American standards. The Peco
track is used by our North American Nn3 railroaders. The wider tie
spacing is closer to their N scale narrow gauge track standards.



Code 40 rail is commonly available at your LHS or at any internet
train store. There is also a code 30 rail and a code 25 rail if you
want even smaller rail. These two rails do not have a rail profile
They are ribbon rails but they present a very narrow rail head and
give your Z trains a very convincing look.

For the code 30 rail you will have to join the 2mm Scale Association.
It is a British club and the membership is
required for any purchases because of the UK tax laws.

The code 25 rail is being sold by "David K. Smith"
<david@...>. You would have to email him to see if it is
still available.

For PC ties the 2mm Scale Association ties are the most convenient.
They are cut to Z scale 8.5ft lengths and come with an insulating gap
already cut in them. I have some Fast Track Z scale ties but they
came in 18ft scale lengths. You will have to cut them in half to get
9 ft ties and you will have to cut your own insulating gaps into the
copper.

Small rail has expansion problems when exposed to extreme heat
variances. Such as: sitting for a time in direct sunlight. Some of
this problem can be overcome by using all PC ties. The Nn3 folks
have handlaid code 40 rail and they don't seem to be having any
problems. I think that they used all PC ties. A Z scaler tried
using every 6th tie as a PC tie but the rail expansion between the
soldered ties made the track unusable. Some people suggest that any
rail be heated in an oven at 250 deg for a half hour. This is
supposed to relieve any stress that is in the rail. The stress is
derived from it being drawn through a die to achieve the rail
profile. Others think that this is all hogwash. Do as you wish.
-----------------------

3. Turnouts frogs will be 5 for the yards and 7's or 9's on the
mainline. What are the typical ones used in Z-scale?

So far, we had only Marklin turnouts. Now there are turnouts from
Aspan and there is The JHM company. I
could find no URL for them but you can find them through here:


Marklin turnout has no frog # designation. some say 4.5?
The Aspan turnouts have no remarks about turnout angles.
JHM has #6 and #8s.

The Aspan and the JHM turnouts use wider tie spacing than the Micro
Trains track.

For most in this group, it seems that current Z scale modelers favor
a turnout that can be substituted for a Marklin turnout. That may be
because most Z scale layouts 'till now, use Marklin sectional track
and any turnout must be a drop in for the Marklin turnout.

There have been reports of Z scale turnouts that have been handlaid
at various frog angles but, to my knowledge, only Lajos Thek of Zthek
has posted any photos to the net. I have seen many photos of
handlaid Nn3 turnouts but do not remember any for Z scale turnouts.
-----------------------

3. Coming from N-scale I have several track gauges that indicate
clearances for the tunnel portals and bridges etc. what are the
equivalent clearances for Z gauge?

There has been no published clearance standards for Z. Many Z scale
modelers use Marklin's minimum radius curves with Marklin's passenger
cars and they require a lot of side clearance. Until a few years ago
there were no Z scale cars that required a lot of overhead
clearance. Overhead height was determined by Marklin's cantenary
system. Now that we have the Gunderson cars and soon, perhaps, the
auto racks, many existing layouts will have clearance problems. Just
as the prototype RRs had problems with the new Post WWII equipment
where they had to lower the tracks in their tunnels and under their
bridges in order for these tall cars to clear. Some of them removed
double track mainlines and single tracked them in the center of the
tunnel where there was more overhead height.

You will have to determine your own overhead and side clearances
depending on the type of equipment that you will use and the minimum
radius that you will use.
------------------------

I can't help you with the next two questions. I still use an
Electrapack Senior from Scintilla Rail and Power Works, Inc. (circa
1951) You crack that throttle just a little bit and my MTL F7 scoots
down the track as if someone lit a firecracker to its' tail.

4. My locomotives consists of One MTL F7's A-B-A set, three MTL
gp 35's and z-theks SW1. I plan on converting these over to DCC
with Lenz Gold decoders, any hints and tips?

5. What DCC track voltages should one use, I will have a Digitrax
zephyr unit as my command station, Left over from N-scale.
---------------------

6. Where can one find decals for prr. I plan on painting the sw-1 to
pensy.

My understanding from the posts on this group, you will have to use
existing N scale decals. A couple of members in
do make decals on special
order. I hope that you do not need decals for UP. There is a legal
staff at UP who are trying to justify their salaries by looking for
the unlawful use of the UP logo. (and they earn a LOT of money) Who
is Pennsy's successor? the U.S. Government? Conrail was U.S. Gvmt
right? They need money also. That means the FBI and who is the head
of all that? The old boss of Brownie from FEMA and he is a lawyer
too. WOW! If you hand lay track, I suggest that you hand letter
your trains also. There really is a conspiracy going on. <;o((
---------------------------

As I get into this deeper I know I will have more questions.

Thanks
------------------------------------

Bill K. I am sorry for the length of this post but K. asked a lot of
questions.

Hope that this helps some. I have to quit here. My aluminum hat is
beginning to get uncomfortable. <:o))

Bill H.
El Toro, CA





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