Atlas and Z-Scale

[nkalanaga]

"narrow gauge", even if limited to only US 3 foot gauge, covers such a range of axle loads and speeds that there really is no "standard".  The D&RGW from the 1920s had some of the heaviest locomotive axle loads used for narrow gauge, while some logging roads were less than half that.  Heavier trains usually meant longer ties, closer spacing, or both.

Then there was the East Broad Top, which in their later years, 1940s and 50s, used standard gauge ties.  They also handled standard gauge freight cars, by swapping the trucks. 

I'll agree with Narrowminded that the Z scale ties themselves are usable for Nn3 as is, although my road would prefer more substantial ones.  Only the spacing really should be changed. 

My standard, for a 1974 ore/coal/passenger carrier, is a 6"x8"x7.5' tie, mostly because of an accident.  I ordered some 6x8 standard gauge ties from Clover House, and they were cut too short.  There were enough to do my narrow gauge, so I used them. 

[nscaler711]

Would Rokuhan track be plausible for narrow gauge stuff? The ties are spaced to Japanese prototypes....
their track is pretty bullet proof as well...
unless you just want sectional track?

Don't get me wrong z scale needs a lot more sectional track and I would love to see more.
I would also love to see Atlas get in the Z game rolling stock wise as well and give AZL a run for their money... (or buy them out right  )

[nkalanaga]

I've never had anything to do with Rokuhan track, so couldn't answer that one.

What puzzles me is that I haven't seen any mention of a Japanese company doing true 1:160 Japanese models.  Z gauge track is almost exact for the gauge, at 41 N inches compared with Japanese 42 inch gauge, and the same mechanisms and track could be sold worldwide.

Maybe Japanese modelers are so invested in 1:150 on 9 mm track that there's no market for properly scaled and gauged models?  Sort of like the British HO/OO mass market?

[narrowminded]

Would Rokuhan track be plausible for narrow gauge stuff? The ties are spaced to Japanese prototypes....
their track is pretty bullet proof as well...
unless you just want sectional track?

Don't get me wrong z scale needs a lot more sectional track and I would love to see more.
I would also love to see Atlas get in the Z game rolling stock wise as well and give AZL a run for their money... (or buy them out right  )

For my interest in narrow gauge, track without the roadbed is preferred.  Stuff just like Atlas has started to make.  That's also why I would like to see mating track components as it's still a chore, maybe even harder, without them.  I can always add a roadbed when needed.

I have some Rokuhan track and turnouts that I'm using for testing chassis development (as may have been seen in a few other threads) and it's nicely made and decent performing stuff.  A well thought out and executed package with lots of variety especially if you're need is something to plug and play.  It could be worked with and would function fine but I think I can get closer to what I want using something like the Atlas flex and a full complement of accessories.  That's my interest in encouraging Atlas in this thread.  I also suspect I'm not the only one with this interest from this angle, Nn3, and for all of the same reasons.

[BAZ-man]

Just got a shipment notice that my crossings were shipped (12/28/2018).

Checked the AtlasRR site (January 2, 2019) and now both Z turnouts are In Stock.

shop.atlasrr.com/c-1474-z-track.aspx
(click each item and if it says 'In Stock' you can PURCHASE !!! )

Hopefully good timing to cut into the new module before our local February show.

Jeff

[Atlas Paul]

Just got a shipment notice that my crossings were shipped (12/28/2018).

Checked the AtlasRR site (January 2, 2019) and now both Z turnouts are In Stock.

shop.atlasrr.com/c-1474-z-track.aspx
(click each item and if it says 'In Stock' you can PURCHASE !!! )

Hopefully good timing to cut into the new module before our local February show.

Jeff

We shipped out all in house orders for the turnouts before we closed for the New Year holiday, so they should be showing up at your suppliers shortly.

[BAZ-man]

Need more of the small joiners, included in the turnouts whereas *none* in the flex.

The MTL joiners in the flex were close, after clipping off the tabs but are now the weird notched ones from the sectional track. Rokuhan has similar joiners to MTL. While the märklin joiners are of also small, they are narrower and much thinner (good) but get extruded out with the wider Atlas (and MTL & Rokuhan).

[nkalanaga]

Will Micro Engineering C55 joiners work?

[Chris333]

The thing with the turnout joiners is they are about half the length of regular joiners. I have been cutting joiners in half for year so these new shorter joiners would be great in a pack by themselves.

[Atlas Paul]

There is a purchase order in place with the factory already.