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Just wanted to let everyone know there is a Train meet this weekend
9/13 and 9/14.

The Great Lehigh Valley Train Meet
Merchants Sqaure Mall
1901 S 12th st
Allentown pa 18103

Info

Hope to see you there,

Kevin

Rodneys Railroad tools

I changed the look and feel of my website and made
it easier to navigate from area to area. Opinions
are wanted and appreciated. Please respond off list
please.

Thanks,

Rodney

RODNEYS' RAILROAD TOOLS

I have made a change to the Track Power Feeder Hole Drill Jig
so it works just as well on curved/flex track as it does on
straight track!

Cost is 10.99

Thanks,

Rodney

NEW FOR AUGUST! Ztrack Center is now taking orders for four new products.
First. High Tech Modellbahnen has released a Micro-Trains F7 LED upgrade kit. The
kit includes a directional controlled LED board, special inserts designed to
fit the locomotive shell and a new screw shaft. The kit is designed for a
maximum of 10 volt analog operation.

1zu220 has released three tunnel portals! Each portal is available in your
choice of red, ocher, brown or gray base colors. The first portal is a the
single track "Germunden" three piece set. The second single track portal is the
"Weisenbrom 1905" three set. The third portal is the two track "Ippensen" three
piece set.

For more information on these products, and to your, please visit:



Rob Kluz

Ztrack Magazine Ltd.
6142 Northcliff Blvd.
Dublin, OH 43016
phone/fax: (614) 764-1703
www.ztrack.com
www.ztrackcenter.com
Distributor American Z Line



****
It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel
deal here.

()

I Have a brand new never used Melissa Cull (UK) GRASSINATOR for sale.
Connects to Standard 12volt DC

Photo's of the Grassinator UK version are uploaded to the files/folder
area under "Grassinator by Melissa Cull".

Make your scenicing grass "stand on end" for the best in realism.

$75.00 plus USPS Domestic Mailing cost. Payment via personal check,
….or verified PayPal account.
Only one unit available.

Contact me off the forum at: donfedjur@...

Don Fedjur, Carlsbad, CA

Good point there Dave. M?rklin's 1" pc is the simplest with a M?rklin or Peter Wright Euro tie turnout but can still be used on MTL's American ties and won't look to different, especially if ballasted. You can even cut a short piece of Micro Track because you'll have to in other places to get the 195 & 220mm to work out to the ZBT 9 & 10" anyway.
You can go direct to the turnout but be prepared one day to have to replace it. And hopefully not at a show !

Outer track turnouts can lead to spur modules or have a 2x2-1/2 module to get 3" on both front and back or, just 3 or 6" on the front.

Of course, if you make a "Bend" module, the Outer (and Inner) can have the need angles or space for spurs.

Balloon modules (e.g.) 3x3' can place asymmetrical crossovers (a L&R rather than a parallel tracks two L's or two R's that form that classic S). This make for smooth Inner / Outer transitions).

Jeff
SF Bay Area Z

Dear Russ:

I am assuming you want to put the switch on the inner track. As
long as the train is not going to fast, that should not be a
problem. You have to concern yourself with the stress that the
transition track puts on the switch. It could throw it out of
alignment. Marklin makes a piece of track that is only 1 inch
long. If you can solder that to the end of the switch, you only
loose an inch of space on the module, yet you gain extra track to
take the stress. That might work.
WIZKidZ has 4 end modules at this time, but we would love to have
you bring yours to a show, and we can set up two layouts. BYOZ

You probably can put a switch on the outer track, but I would
recommend that the straight section be a part of the main loop.
With a 2x2 module, that does not give you much room on the side to
add a short section of track, but it can be done.

The greatest part about Z-Bend is it's flexibility. You can do
whatever you want as long as the interface is standard. Many thanks
to Bill and friends with what they accomplished for all of us.

dave hj

Russ,

To answer your interface questions:

First, a correction: The first dimension is 2-1/8" (2.125"), not 2-7/8"
from the edge of the module. The second length of 2-7/8 is correct.

1. MTL sectional track is creates a few challenges.

The height and end length are OK, comparable to Flex or M???rklin sectional
with MidWest Products cork (just make sure what ever you use, you 1) make
the Z-Bend Track holes 3" from the TOP of the RAIL, not the module top and
2) you grind enough of the 2-1/8 cork down so that the M???rklin expansion
track has a little bit of a gap under it (manila folder thickness). This
assures that the expansion track does not get leveraged up and if it does
during installation, they can be pushed down a bit to level them.

NOTE: MTL flex is NOT the same height as M???rklin / Peco flex.
The rail height is only a few thousandth less than
M???rklin/Peco and the ties the same but MTL places their rail more
prototypically closer to the ties. The total is about 0.010" less than the
M???rklin/Peco flex so make sure that the cork is sanded down accordingly.
This assures that the higher M???rklin expansion track does not get forced up
by leverage.

The rail ends interface is a bit different. They expect the interlocking
alignment pieces. You will have to cut two of them in "1/2" to fill in the
void (spares are available from MTL or any of us). Make sure you pull the
joiner off per Z-Bend Track or, leave the same single one on if these are
your own modules (really no need to take the one off - they all have to go
on anyway).

You main challenge as you mention is geometry. Since you are limited to
straight and curve, you will have to cut pieces to make every thing fit.
Not hard to do, many have done it. Make sure that when you secure the
sectional pieces, they are FLAT. There are quite a few that have very
slight arcs or twists in them. Very, very small but you can see it when
connected in a chain.

2. You can do what you want with that next 2-7/8", even a curve. However,
it is recommended that it be straight as the expansion tracks create 1) a
bumpy surface in the middle and 2) the modules are normally never perfectly
aligned (both up/down and left/right). Placing a turnout straight counts as
straight but like the expansion tracks, an additional bumpy ride. We've all
done it so have it. The only thing we ask is that at shows, all modules
should be proven runners with variations to the standard.

Jeff
SF Bay Area Z
"The BAZ BoyZ"

Jim,

Perfect for those purposes.

For the show modules with the multi-module clusters, it looks better and we can run more variety with the larger modules and radius.

Post pix of your work !

Jeff


Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Hey John,

You obviously don't have enough to do so you have to give me a bad time huh? :o)

Hey, I'm already putting some thinking into NTS 2011. It will sneak up real fast,.....just you watch.

Hope all is well down there. Still in the mid 90s each day here in Medford. Went to my son's wedding this past weekend up in the Willamette valley near Salem and it was actually overcast and sprinkled a bit. What a nice change.

Ok, back to real life,
Loren

If you always set everything down at table top height so Munchkins ,and old folks ,and short people can see your handiwork,,,,then problem solved.
Cordially,
Mister Dave

If you always set everything down at table top height so Munchkins ,and old folks ,and short people can see your handiwork,,,,then problem solved.
Cordially,
Mister Dave

I use two 2 X 2 end modules to complement my 2 X 4 module on a banquet table as a BYOZ; no need for legs. In addition the two end modules together make a simple, small BYOZ of a nice size for portability. Also, my 2 X 4 module, when alone, also serves as a BYOZ or as an end module. I have the best of both worlds, module or BYOZ. Occasionally when I go to a show, I do not know in advance what the group setup will be; but I can go either way with no muss, no fussl if I remember to bring my legs. These pieces' track layouts were designed by me, but built by fellow Z'ers, Tom Gilchrist and Chris Germond. As always the pieces are a project in progress .

Jim Glass
Redmond, WA

P.S. No, I won't send a track plan. Our next "viewing" is Nov. 15-16 at Puyallup.

...but then again, I know better than anyone
else
about hauling large oversized modules around......I must be nuts.

Hauling or dribbling? :-D

Sorry..couldn't pass it up...oh, and yes, you are nuts, but we love you
anyway.

Jeff is right on with his suggestions for minimum radius. I think the BAZ boys are the most experienced when it comes to larger end modules. No one using the larger radius is sorry they did,...........except for when it comes to hauling them around, but then again, I know better than anyone else about hauling large oversized modules around......I must be nuts.
Loren

Yes please, LARGER end loops ! One thing we have been talking about for Z-Bend Track is some enhancements to the now 20 year old standard. One big issue is the smaller radius used, especially end modules. With the longer rolling stock (passenger cars, 60', 89', etc, and longer locos, it is really necessary to use at least 12" radius at a minimum and more ideally 15". This easily fits in a 3' wide end module. It also dramatically improves mainline looks and blends in better with the 19" radius of the M?rklin, MTL or Peter Wrights turnouts !

Jeff
SF Bay Area Z

Russ,
May I also add that 2x2 is minimum and since more locos and rolling stock look better and some require a larger radius to operate smoothly, the larger the radius the better. 2x2 is the starting point but you can go larger with no complaint from anyone using Z Bend Track standards.
Loren

--- In Z-Bend_Track@..., Jim Thomas <jim29t@...> wrote:

I found that there is no particular reason to limit end loops to 2 x 2.? I have one end loop

that is at least 3 x 2.? I had extra space to fill and needed the extra length to interface with a
yard module.? Unless you have space limitations there is nothing sacred about 2 x 2.???? Jim

Thanks for your thoughts Jim. I've already built the 2x2s so I'd like to do something with
them. I was already thinking of "up-ing" the size to 2x3 if noone on the list had a good
answer to track planning in the limited space.

Russ

I found that there is no particular reason to limit end loops to 2 x 2.? I have one end loop that is at least 3 x 2.? I had extra space to fill and needed the extra length to interface with a yard module.? Unless you have space limitations there is nothing sacred about 2 x 2.???? Jim

Hello everyone:

Well, I decided to finally start two end modules that I'll plan to interface with one of the
two Z-Bend groups in Milwaukee. I've had tremendous fun with my own layout at home,
but I'd really like to be able to join everyone at gatherings. I also plan that these two end
modules will interface as a second home layout for the fun of the new scenery and
industries!

I've been talking to Randy through email, but he recommended I just post on out to the
group. So, here are a couple of interface questions:

1. What has been the modeler's success when using MTL snap-sectional track on the
modules rather than flex or non-snap? Obviously, the geometries are still limited by
availability, but specifically, how about at the interface? If cork roadbed is added at the
interface to bring it up to height, do the Marklin interface tracks slide right in with no
problems? I haven't decided if I'll use the new MTL snap or not. It's tempting.

2. I understand that the first 2 7/8" is reserved for the interface tracks. But, the next 2
7/8" is also reserved for "straight" sections so that the trucks are rolling straight when
they enter the interface. But, can that straight section be a left or right turn-out? My bet
is no because of the hazard of derailment across the points and frogs. Suppose you built
a 2' by 2' end module. In order to have a local siding or industry spur, you almost have to
turn-out in that first 2 7/8"! If this is not allowed, then I'm thinking that 2' by 2' is really
too small for much other than simple mainline loop backs. Does anyone have any thought
on that limited space? Can you work in anything but those loops?

Thanks for your thoughts

Russ
Milwaukee, WI