Atlas Z Scale Flex Track?

[learmoia]

24" * 220 = 4800"

30" * 160 = 5280"

5280 / 4800 = 1.1 or 110%


Jason

Umm (you shouldn't have shown your work.)...

24" * 220 = 5280"

30" * 160 = 4800"

[wcfn100]

 

Posting while eating breakfast.


Jason

[nkalanaga]

"trying to figure out a way to get it in their Mini."  I once had a Geo Metro hatchback.  8 ft lumber was no problem as long as I didn't have a passenger, and the back closed fine.  More than one lumber yard worker told me I couldn't do it.

As for the "new" method of multiplying, I've been doing it that way for at least 40 years.  It's the easiest way to do it in my head, and if I can't do it in my head, it can probably wait until I get to a calculator.

[BAZ-man]

Any length (and flexible) is better than Micro-Trains 12" (which is more like 10.5 when trimming the fake/non-spike ties or curves). But Peco and Märklin's 660mm (26" flex) I so much more practical to work with (length-wise) in curves.  But the wider Euro tie spacing doesn't look right, same with the Rokuhan roadbed-track, where as Micro-Trains is typical of what we see everywhere. Micro-Trains rail head is more prototypical than the fat head of the Peco and Märklin so expect the Atlas to be the same, if using the same N rail. It just looks wrong but there is so much of wrong out there in most any scale, it will just be accepted. I buy stuff in 10 pkgs (like 100') as I build modules. Others buy similarly, large quantities.

Turnouts (drop-in foot print for the Märklin/Rokuhan would be great. We lost a great modeler with Peter Wright stopped making them (health and family reasons). We've been waiting years for an alternative. It was rumored that Peco would make some as they were talking flex at the 2015 NTS but have bailed out with Atlas stepping in.

Someone *please* make turnouts (subsidies can be had - just ask ! ).

[nkalanaga]

As Peco has made flextrak for decades, and makes turnouts in many other scales and gauges, I'm surprised they haven't made Z yet.  It would seem to be a natural product for them

[peteski]

As Peco has made flextrak for decades, and makes turnouts in many other scales and gauges, I'm surprised they haven't made Z yet.  It would seem to be a natural product for them

Maybe based on their Z track sales they don't think they would sell enough turnouts to make it profitable?

[Catt]

PECO would probably sell more Z scale track if they made a point of promoting it.There are four LHS's in my town who sell PECO and until I mentioned it to them they never knew that the track was even made.

[nkalanaga]

Peteski:  Always a possibility.  No point making something if there's no market.

On the other hand, maybe the track doesn't sell because there's no turnouts, and most people decide that, if they have to use Marklin turnouts, they might as well use Marklin track.  The Peco and Marklin mix just fine, but the main reason I used Peco in my narrow gauge staging yard was the the local shop had it.  Marklin track would have worked just as well if that was what was available.

[strummer]

Just as a follow-up to to this discussion:

Anyone have any thoughts about this product so far? I'm assuming it's made it into the hands of someone here...

Mark in Oregon

[narrowminded]

I have some and it looks quite nice.  Brown ties, code 55.  Very similar to MT flex as far as tie spacing.  The problem still exists that there's very little in the peripheral track accessories and so far, none from Atlas.  If they will come out with several turnouts in the popular sizes and a decent assortment of crossing pieces it would go a long way to making Z a viable modelling scale.

One thing I hadn't mentioned but would REALLY like to see in turnouts of all sizes is an under track switch machine option that only requires a 1/4" or so pocket directly beneath the rails, in line with the turnout.  There is always the space as that's the route of the track, it doesn't take any depth or dimension beyond the tie width, and for those of us who might want to place a layout flat on a table as we might want to do with a small module, we could do it.  And it could be built by Atlas with very little to invent as I've made just such a conversion to N scale turnouts utilizing their standard turnout and utilizing their standard switch machine.  Removed from the top and mounted inverted under the ties, straight up the run.  If thought through, even if offered just as an option, I'm sure that it could be accomplished with little effort on their part as the basic components exist, tested and true.  I can see no reason not to do it that way and every reason TO do it that way.  And in N scale, too.  Maybe a nice new option for their code 55  Z and N products.  And wouldn't this be the time, with a new product and a clean slate?

[strummer]

I have some and it looks quite nice.  Brown ties, code 55.  Very similar to MT flex as far as tie spacing. 

It functions ok, and is easy to work with?

If I remember correctly, you are using yours for some Nn3, right?

Mark in Oregon

[narrowminded]

It functions ok, and is easy to work with?

If I remember correctly, you are using yours for some Nn3, right?

Mark in Oregon

I have it, have looked at it, compared it to Micro-trains flex and Rokuhan and MT road bed track.  It appears to be what I'll use although MT flex is very close.  I really don't like roadbed track.  I have also snipped alternating ties on a piece to see how I liked that for some narrow gauge mine or logging track and it appears that it will work fine with that removed and I will probably do that on a demo module.  I haven't actually installed it in anything yet.  I expect no problems and expect it to be very easy to work with.  One thing it doesn't have is the occasional tie bulge and spike hole that MT track has.  Being brown ties might be considered more prototypical but many paint it anyway so...    If the pictures, dimensions, and code 55 look good to you I don't think the reality of that in your hands will disappoint.  Hope that helps.

My only use for Z scale track this far is to test Z scale and Nn3 power trucks and will use it for both as I'll be making trucks used both ways.  The mine loco was the instigator but the others are logical.  Small Z switcher and the like, N scale as well as Nn3 power trucks for a variety of applications.

[Denver Road Doug]

One thing I hadn't mentioned but would REALLY like to see in turnouts of all sizes is an under track switch machine option that only requires a 1/4" or so pocket directly beneath the rails, in line with the turnout.  There is always the space as that's the route of the track, it doesn't take any depth or dimension beyond the tie width, and for those of us who might want to place a layout flat on a table as we might want to do with a small module, we could do it.  And it could be built by Atlas with very little to invent as I've made just such a conversion to N scale turnouts utilizing their standard turnout and utilizing their standard switch machine.  Removed from the top and mounted inverted under the ties, straight up the run.  If thought through, even if offered just as an option, I'm sure that it could be accomplished with little effort on their part as the basic components exist, tested and true.  I can see no reason not to do it that way and every reason TO do it that way.  And in N scale, too.  Maybe a nice new option for their code 55  Z and N products.  And wouldn't this be the time, with a new product and a clean slate?

I had this idea too.   It was about....oh not quite 20 years ago and I had just gotten back into N-scale at the time.  I kept hearing about Unitrack but initially the pricing (MSRP) scared me away.   Eventually, the "Great Train Store" chain went out of business near my home and I picked up a couple of Unitrack turnouts for something like 70% off.   I hadn't realized the turnouts were powered until then but the possibilities seemed great for table top layouts built on the fly.   I clearly understood Kato's plan there.   But, I was more of a "form over function" guy at that time so the Unitrack turnouts eventually went on eBay....but I had that same notion of....it would be cool if other manufacturers followed suit with a roadbed profile under-track motor. (this we before Atlas C55 I think or maybe right as it was coming out.)   Anyway, not trying to one-up you here just a long way of saying I agree with you and maybe you'll spark someone to develop such a product.   Had I known we still wouldn't have something like that 20 years later I would definitely have tried it.  I do know I doodled out a few designs at the time.

Oh, and to the question above about the C55 Z track, I think it looks nice...I have a box of it but haven't done anything with it yet.   I am in the process of building a test board for both N and Z and I'm finishing painting it at the moment and need to stop in for some cork roadbed sometime this week so I should have some down in the next week or so.

[strummer]

Oh, and to the question above about the C55 Z track, I think it looks nice...I have a box of it but haven't done anything with it yet.   I am in the process of building a test board for both N and Z and I'm finishing painting it at the moment and need to stop in for some cork roadbed sometime this week so I should have some down in the next week or so.

I hope you can show us some pictures, and please let us know what your thoughts are as far as its "workability".

Mark in Oregon

[narrowminded]

I had this idea too.

Here's a short video of what I made on a code 80 piece.  It would be the same principle for any of them.  It has the switch machine mounted directly under the through run of the track with a plate that transfers the motion to the side of the rails where it drives the switch stand which also serves as the manual operating button.  The throw at the manual knob on the solenoid assembly is  1/4" which is sufficient action to make a crank arm for the stand that turns an honest 90 degrees with each throw.  Trying to do that at the tie bar causes difficulty because of the very short throw.  There is a 1/4" deep pocket under the switch that was cut out with a Dremel router attachment chased around in a fabricated guide.  That guide was positioned with a couple of pins through holes drilled on track C/L for easy and accurate placement for pocketing.  Position over the track C/L, insert the pins on that line, and then chase the fixture perimeter with the router, ready to go.  Here's a video showing one set in a piece of foam.