Whose Z gauge track do you use/prefer ?

Currently using Rokuhan (or will be as soon as the new layout is started after home renovation). Have used Marklin for many years in the past, dating back to when Z was first introduced in the U.S.

My Marklin starter set included turnouts and a double slip switch.  All of them caused problems with locomotives and some freight wagons.  Steam locomotives would catch the turnout on the bottom, stopping them dead in their tracks.  Four axle freight cars would derail, especially on the double slip. 

There is some online advice on how to use a Dremel to fix the turnouts, but I couldn't achieve good results.  I now use Rokuhan turnouts and combine them with Marklin track (with cork roadbed) for the remainder of the layout.  I painted the cork to match the color of the Rokuhan ballast and it looks fine.

I also switched to a Rokuhan controller; more realistic control at slower speeds.

Rokuhan all the way. I bought that sa,e starter set ;ast year and went bat-poop crazy. Have a wonderful Christmas layout for work that I will update a bit with buildings and expand the inner loop. Ran 'em all day 5 days a week for 3 weeks with no problems at all. The track and switches are fantastic as are their controllers. Be aware though that the Rokuhan controllers will NOT drive older driver older Marklin engines, they draw to much. Found that out the hard way but since I have 2 Marklin controllers from the sets I bought I'll just add one of them and some clever wiring to alternate.

ftauss posted:

Rokuhan all the way. I bought that sa,e starter set ;ast year and went bat-poop crazy. Have a wonderful Christmas layout for work that I will update a bit with buildings and expand the inner loop. Ran 'em all day 5 days a week for 3 weeks with no problems at all. The track and switches are fantastic as are their controllers. Be aware though that the Rokuhan controllers will NOT drive older driver older Marklin engines, they draw to much. Found that out the hard way but since I have 2 Marklin controllers from the sets I bought I'll just add one of them and some clever wiring to alternate.

Hi ftauss, I'm fairly certain I saw a video of your Christmas layout either here at OGR or on the MTF. I just searched YouTube for it but couldn't locate the video. Would appreciate you posting a link to it.

I have a few questions about that Christmas office layout:

• What size track loop is it ?
• Were the Rokuhan track pieces for the loop purchased individually or did you buy a full package like the one below marketed by Rokuhan?

          Rokuhan Z Scale Layout H With RC03 Controller & Wall Adapter

• Which Rokuhan controller did you use? Did Marklin 81846's engine work well with it? Did you get better more proto-realistic starts, stops, slow running and momentum speeds from that controller than with the Marklin transformer that came with that rtr Christmas set?
• Since you ran it for so many hours, what lubricant did you use on the engine after its first 20 hours of run time?

That Marklin 81846 set is my first experience with Z gauge and I have many questions and since we have the same Christmas set I'd like to piggyback on your experiences and what you've learned does or doesn't work with that great little steam engine.

Thanks,

Kenn

Btw, don't forget about that Marklin 2 car add-on set with a caboose (#82302 - below) coming in December for your 81846 which I mentioned to you in another post. Anyone who's interested in getting one should probably pre-order it as I'm guessing it very likely won't be as widely available as the set is.

ogaugeguy posted:

ftauss posted:

Rokuhan all the way. I bought that sa,e starter set ;ast year and went bat-poop crazy. Have a wonderful Christmas layout for work that I will update a bit with buildings and expand the inner loop. Ran 'em all day 5 days a week for 3 weeks with no problems at all. The track and switches are fantastic as are their controllers. Be aware though that the Rokuhan controllers will NOT drive older driver older Marklin engines, they draw to much. Found that out the hard way but since I have 2 Marklin controllers from the sets I bought I'll just add one of them and some clever wiring to alternate.

Hi ftauss, I'm fairly certain I saw a video of your Christmas layout either here at OGR or on the MTF. I just searched YouTube for it but couldn't locate the video. Would appreciate you posting a link to it.

I have a few questions about that Christmas office layout:

• What size track loop is it ?
• Were the Rokuhan track pieces for the loop purchased individually or did you buy a full package like the one below marketed by Rokuhan?

          Rokuhan Z Scale Layout H With RC03 Controller & Wall Adapter

• Which Rokuhan controller did you use? Did Marklin 81846's engine work well with it? Did you get better more proto-realistic starts, stops, slow running and momentum speeds from that controller than with the Marklin transformer that came with that rtr Christmas set?
• Since you ran it for so many hours, what lubricant did you use on the engine after its first 20 hours of run time?

That Marklin 81846 set is my first experience with Z gauge and I have many questions and since we have the same Christmas set I'd like to piggyback on your experiences and what you've learned does or doesn't work with that great little steam engine.

Thanks,

Kenn

Btw, don't forget about that Marklin 2 car add-on set with a caboose (#82302 - below) coming in December for your 81846 which I mentioned to you in another post. Anyone who's interested in getting one should probably pre-order it as I'm guessing it very likely won't be as widely available as the set is.

 

The 2 inside loops were 195, the middle loop had a short straight to open it a bit. The outer loop was next size up, can't remember exactly, 215 maybe.

The entire table was just under 2' x 4'. I was astonished to get so much action in the small space. It uses the large controller with switches built in and one without plus 2 more switch controllers for a total of 4, but I wired some of the turnouts together for more seamless operations.

The track was all bought piecemeal, sorta based on some of their proposed plans but mainly freelanced.

I didn't use the Marklin at all, I thought the Rokuhan controllers gave excellent control. Fairly slow running, seemed to entertain one and all.

Lube was just standard labelle, forget which one.

Sorry for the delay, I just bought a short sale and between moving and doing all the repairs the bank wants, I don't have a lot of free time just now.

I did buy a passenger station and "town square" kits with a church, store and residences which I am hoping to start on in October. If time permits I will light them. I will probably lengthen the inner loop and put the "town" inside it.

 If I can find it I will repost the video. It may take a week or so. Repairs need to be done by Tuesday, closing on the 28th. Me tired. And yes, lots of places for trains. The crawlspace has 4 foot ceiling and a concrete floor. It would be possible to finish it and scoot around on desk chairs, there is one already down there and it is quite convenient.

ftauss posted:

ogaugeguy posted:

ftauss posted:

Rokuhan all the way. I bought that sa,e starter set ;ast year and went bat-poop crazy. Have a wonderful Christmas layout for work that I will update a bit with buildings and expand the inner loop. Ran 'em all day 5 days a week for 3 weeks with no problems at all. The track and switches are fantastic as are their controllers. Be aware though that the Rokuhan controllers will NOT drive older driver older Marklin engines, they draw to much. Found that out the hard way but since I have 2 Marklin controllers from the sets I bought I'll just add one of them and some clever wiring to alternate.

Hi ftauss, I'm fairly certain I saw a video of your Christmas layout either here at OGR or on the MTF. I just searched YouTube for it but couldn't locate the video. Would appreciate you posting a link to it.

I have a few questions about that Christmas office layout:

• What size track loop is it ?
• Were the Rokuhan track pieces for the loop purchased individually or did you buy a full package like the one below marketed by Rokuhan?

          Rokuhan Z Scale Layout H With RC03 Controller & Wall Adapter

• Which Rokuhan controller did you use? Did Marklin 81846's engine work well with it? Did you get better more proto-realistic starts, stops, slow running and momentum speeds from that controller than with the Marklin transformer that came with that rtr Christmas set?
• Since you ran it for so many hours, what lubricant did you use on the engine after its first 20 hours of run time?

That Marklin 81846 set is my first experience with Z gauge and I have many questions and since we have the same Christmas set I'd like to piggyback on your experiences and what you've learned does or doesn't work with that great little steam engine.

Thanks,

Kenn

Btw, don't forget about that Marklin 2 car add-on set with a caboose (#82302 - below) coming in December for your 81846 which I mentioned to you in another post. Anyone who's interested in getting one should probably pre-order it as I'm guessing it very likely won't be as widely available as the set is.

 

The 2 inside loops were 195, the middle loop had a short straight to open it a bit. The outer loop was next size up, can't remember exactly, 215 maybe.

The entire table was just under 2' x 4'. I was astonished to get so much action in the small space. It uses the large controller with switches built in and one without plus 2 more switch controllers for a total of 4, but I wired some of the turnouts together for more seamless operations.

The track was all bought piecemeal, sorta based on some of their proposed plans but mainly freelanced.

I didn't use the Marklin at all, I thought the Rokuhan controllers gave excellent control. Fairly slow running, seemed to entertain one and all.

Lube was just standard labelle, forget which one.

 

Sorry for the delay, I just bought a short sale and between moving and doing all the repairs the bank wants, I don't have a lot of free time just now.

I did buy a passenger station and "town square" kits with a church, store and residences which I am hoping to start on in October. If time permits I will light them. I will probably lengthen the inner loop and put the "town" inside it.

 If I can find it I will repost the video. It may take a week or so. Repairs need to be done by Tuesday, closing on the 28th. Me tired. And yes, lots of places for trains. The crawlspace has 4 foot ceiling and a concrete floor. It would be possible to finish it and scoot around on desk chairs, there is one already down there and it is quite convenient.

Thanks for the reply. Looking forward to the reposting of last Christmas's layout video and hopefully you'll post a video of your 2017 layout with those added buildings you'll be assembling. Good luck too with your new house.

Kenn