Japanese Z scale for beginners - Brands, turning radius, gotchas from N scale

[David]

So this is probably a bad idea looking into Z scale, but here goes anyway...

If I tried getting back into trains I would need to be a lot more space conscious and have a plan for a real layout I can run, not just pile up trains. Freight and loco pulled passenger cars seems like a good direction, I can add cars to an existing consist instead of constantly buying 'sets'. To be realistic about a layout it would need to fit on a shelf with continous running. That shelf would be about 8" deep.

What are the locomotive brands like in Z scale? Tenshodo sounds like it is a good brand, at least the steam locomotives, and there is a lot of loco pulled rolling stock from them. ProZ has limited freight available (looks like just a container train) and I don't know if the lighting is compatible with the Rokuhan controller or just their own. Speaking of Rokuhan they have some trains of their own (odd that the starter sets have Rokuhan track but Tenshodo trains) but I don't know the quality - I assume they have lights that work with their controller. Finally there is Prmloco (Crown Model) but what I've heard off hand was the loco quality was not very good - is that right, are the freight cars still ok.

For track the choice seems to be Rokuhan (any reason to go with someone elses?). Rokuhan's curve radius goes down to 70mm and then proceeds up in 25mm increments (making the track spacing about the same as Kato). But what is the minimum radius like on various Z scale locomotives? The Tenshodo C62 and D51 look nice and have a lot of variations, but I have a hard time believing it would go around curves that tight. The starter sets I see come with 195mm curves (Rokuhan track and controller bundled with Tenshodo locomotive plus passenger or freight cars). Would the upcoming Rokuhan DD51 maybe do small curves, or one of the existing EF locos or EMUs from the various brands?

[jappomania]

Hi David,
I don't know to much about japanese Z scale, if you think this can help you
http://www.nn3.ca/main/main-japanese-zj-gauge-p1.htm
I only bought a couple of EF81 Real ZJ and a lot of Akia 485, but this one only for transplanting motor and axle to Nn3 models and Monorail.
Akia engine run very well and for 1000-1500JPY (15€ now, a lot ceaper when I bought) it's impossible to find another good Z scale mechanics
I'm tempted from Platz Shinkansen, but only the static model is cheap, not the lower chassis set sold separately

ciao
Massimo

[bill937ca]

You could also try the Yahoo Japanese Z scale group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Japanese-Z-Scale/

I believe you will find that Z scale train motors cannot take the voltage from a typical N scale power pack and you will need a new power pack.

[David]

According to the Rokuhan official site (or at least the English version) the Rokuhan trains can all run on R95. Interior lights are also not standard but an add on part. Some quotes from before production started also suggest the Tenshodo steam requires R195.