about to start my first z scale

well hello , i have been quiet and non existant here but that because i have been building up my supplies on my first layout. i have been gathering some locos gp9s, some rolling stock 40 foot box cars for now and i am starting on buying some flex track. i have been reading up a little bit its been some 20 years since i did a small nscale when i was a kid so please correct me with my noob behavior. i have amassed some 20 box cars which i think is enough, i plan to expand this once i can get back into a home again so some of these locos and companies might not be ideaa on a small layout but i planned on mixing them in on a larger scale.

i love lots of track and trains im not the type that likes alot of sceanery, i like switching and congestion. i have apx 77inches by 44 inches to start with.

i have cad rail and trainz 12 to start tinkering with some layout ideas.i know cad is super accurate but i just use trainz 12 for quick look

hear are some questions to start .

since i will be using flex track what the min radius for my gp9, 40 cars .
how about larger 50ft? 60? i have my eye on a set of sd40s but i know they cant turn as sharp?

i had thoughts making it a upper and hidden lower? how much % incline is trouble too much for 1 or 2 locos?

how many people use fast track swithces? do they connect with mtl flex ok?

im almost done with my house work over the summer and cant wait to start my bench work in december! please any sugestions are welcome, its been a long time and i guess u can say im like a newcomer again

thanks for the help and i will prob be asking a TON of questions soon.

Steve,
Let's see if I can answer some of your questions...
Minimum radius: 145mm is safe. Everything is designed for this (unless noted on the product). Garth has posted various reports of the small radius track from Rokuhan, but as I recall, he has good results with 120mm. To me, anything over 50ft looks a bit silly at 120mm. Since it sounds like your layout plans are toward switch you might even get by with 90mm.

Surprise: the SD40 trucks use rimless center wheels so they can navigate the smaller radius track.

Over & Under: You want at least 1 3/8" from the lower rail top. I wouldn't go much go much steeper than 2% unless you plan on running short trains, otherwise maybe 3%. I like to think of a 6ft run to crossing. This is a bit less than 2% but gives you about 10" to fiddle with curves and a level crossing and still stay under 2%.

Fast track: sorry no experience, but they look good and I haven't heard any really bad things about them. If you're doing a switchingg operation, I think you're going to want a double slip switch or two and a companion crossing. I don't recall Fast track having these for Z the last time I looked.

Hope this helps,
Mark

77x44 will make a good Z layout. But, a word of caution. If you put figure 8 on the layout you will have much of the track rising off the layout. This will make turnout opportunities more scarce than a layout without an up and over. You can still get some yards and passing tracks but maybe not enough??

I would recommend using a pencil and paper before spending initial time on CAD programs. Use the CAD to finish your pencil layout.

Fast Tracks turnouts can fit with MTL flex. Not sure about tie thickness between the two, but many make it work. Shimming probably. Good luck and have fun. Jim

great info

mark i think i know what ur are taking about but what is a double slip switch or companion crossing? im so glad the sd40s will work awsome.

i understand what your saying a figure 8 will ruin my idea which i wasent thinking of doin the 8. but with that tip i guess i will have to turn my train run it almost the entire layout up or down to another level and turn in to that area seems like it then? i was thinking of some kinda yard with some industry support and a hidden yard to go to . for me theres never enough box cars ! i will take all your tips and run some ideas now.

one last thing mark what did u mean by with 50ft with 120 mm R looks silly

Steve,
A double slip switch is a 4 ended device that can route either track on the left to either track on the right. Basically two standard switches back-to-back in half the space. Commonly used in yard and industrial operations. The companion I mention is the same footprint but without the movable switch points. I was a little vague because they would need to match the Fast Track turnouts you choose.

As a suggestion for the over and under crossing, consider using two loops of track and putting the crossing in the background. In the foreground, where the tracks can be at the same level you can use...here it comes...a double slip switch to connect the two. It would also be a good point to put your yard and be able to route trains to either line.

I find the taller, boxy cars look more out of place on the tighter corves. At 50ft the flat cars, gondolas, tanks and the like look fine, but boxcars, particularly >20ft look out of place.

Mark