Author Topic: MT's Micro Track  (Read 1685 times)

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tom mann

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MT's Micro Track
« on: January 19, 2010, 08:49:38 PM »
I picked up an oval of Micro Track to test it out.  It works very well and is similar in quality to Kato's N scale Unitrack.  The multiple holes in each piece (for nailing it down) and the code 55 size issue detract from the appearance.

front: Micro Trains' Z scale Micro Track; back: Kato's N scale Unitrack.



John has a great write up here:

http://www.ztrains.com/basics/track/track.html

and info on how to weather and ballast it here:

http://www.ztrains.com/basics/track/ballast/ballast.html


Sokramiketes

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Re: MT's Micro Track
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2010, 11:38:14 PM »
Haha, the MTL "Z" scale ballast lumps are larger than the Kato "N" scale lumps. 
Mike Skibbe
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ednadolski

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Re: MT's Micro Track
« Reply #2 on: January 20, 2010, 01:32:30 AM »
Wow, Code 55 rail in Z scales out to just about 12" high.   Don't they at least have Code 40 in the prefab?  Or does that have flange issues?

Ed

David K. Smith

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Re: MT's Micro Track
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2010, 06:36:42 AM »
Wow, Code 55 rail in Z scales out to just about 12" high. Don't they at least have Code 40 in the prefab? Or does that have flange issues?

It's worse than that. It actually measures .058 in. high, or nearly 13 Z scale inches. No flange issues--they average .020 in. I suspect Code 40 is just too difficult to work with from a mass-production standpoint.
« Last Edit: January 20, 2010, 06:42:10 AM by David K. Smith »

Philip H

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Re: MT's Micro Track
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2010, 07:41:10 AM »
Hey Tom, I notice the piece you photographed doesn't have paint on the ends or sides of the ties . . .
Philip H.
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Baton Rouge Southern RR - Mount Rainier Division.
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wazzou

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Re: MT's Micro Track
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2010, 12:51:21 AM »
That's cause the pad won't print over the sides due to the obstruction by boulders.
Bryan

Mark5

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Re: MT's Micro Track
« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2010, 12:22:09 PM »
Thanks for the pic! 8)

Boulders. Yeah, that sounds about right. C58? Works out to be almost exactly what C80 is to N (12.8").

I like the tie spacing. 8)

Catt

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Re: MT's Micro Track
« Reply #7 on: January 21, 2010, 04:16:55 PM »
Like any other code in any other scale once it is painted and weathered it looks a lot smaller.By the way if you got that close to my track you would be getting smacked on the back of your head with the heavyest object I could lay my hands on.
Johnathan (Catt) Edwards
CEO,COO,&CBP of the
Grande Valley railway

Mark5

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Re: MT's Micro Track
« Reply #8 on: January 21, 2010, 04:36:49 PM »
Doesn't MT also make Z flex track? Did they ever make turnouts before the "Micro Track" came out?

Sokramiketes

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Re: MT's Micro Track
« Reply #9 on: January 21, 2010, 04:50:26 PM »
Doesn't MT also make Z flex track? Did they ever make turnouts before the "Micro Track" came out?

Yes on the flex track, in short lengths and with the molded in nail holes every few ties unfortunantly.  No on the turnouts.
Mike Skibbe
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Mark5

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Re: MT's Micro Track
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2010, 04:56:15 PM »
Doesn't MT also make Z flex track? Did they ever make turnouts before the "Micro Track" came out?

Yes on the flex track, in short lengths and with the molded in nail holes every few ties unfortunantly.  No on the turnouts.

Was it code 40?

David K. Smith

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Re: MT's Micro Track
« Reply #11 on: January 21, 2010, 05:04:55 PM »
Doesn't MT also make Z flex track? Did they ever make turnouts before the "Micro Track" came out?

Yes on the flex track, in short lengths and with the molded in nail holes every few ties unfortunantly.  No on the turnouts.

Was it code 40?

No. Code 60.

wm3798

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Re: MT's Micro Track
« Reply #12 on: January 25, 2010, 10:29:08 AM »
The spikes look like someone carefully placed a wing-tip shoe on each tie...

Lee
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bambuko

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Re: MT's Micro Track
« Reply #13 on: January 27, 2010, 08:12:11 AM »
...front: Micro Trains' Z scale Micro Track; back: Kato's N scale Unitrack...



That looks very much like comparison of Z Marklin track next to MTL track:

from left:
Marklin Z, MTL Micro Track, flat wire code30 Z:



OK, my pic is not as good as Tom's  :) but hopefully good enough to make a point.

Chris

David K. Smith

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Re: MT's Micro Track
« Reply #14 on: January 27, 2010, 08:27:24 AM »
OK, my pic is not as good as Tom's  :) but hopefully good enough to make a point.

Nothing that a little color correction can't fix...