What’s the pro’s & cons on using Backmann E-Z track gray roadbed or blackroadbed?
[EDIT]
Ah nuts, for some reason I thought the original question was asking to compare Easy track with Flextrack. But I am going to leave the response anyway. I guess I need more than 2 cups of coffee. [EDIT].
I think the main difference is quality of the rail materail. The gray road bed uses a true nickel silver. Stays cleaner much longer, wont rust, better power transfer to the locomotive. I think the black then is cheaper but uses more of a steel alloy. Can rust and takes a bit more work to keep it clean.
For the short term, such a seasonal layout, it may not matter. If you were planning on using it for a long term build, I would lean toward the nickel silver gray road bed. May have more trouble free operation later.
Hopefully some one with more expeirence will chime in. I’m off to get more coffee…[zzz]
I’ll jump on this before it get’s going.
Of course, the pro’s and con’s are more under the impression of the user. Depending on the person using them, what is important can be greatly different than some one else, so perspective will change, depending on who you talk to. So these are more of the “generic, average” opionins.
Pro’s.
Easy set up, easy take down. Fairly relaible operation right of the box. Can be set up anywhere, table, carpet, grass matt, wood. Great for a quick set up, short term layout… or easy set up to try your hand at modeling to expeirment with the hobby or even to play with which scale you like. Such as N scale or
My self, I would not use any track that has molded on roadbed. When I got started used the Bachmann track and I hated the racket the engines and cars made going over it. Plus it cost more than flex track.
If I where to use it I would use the gray, I like gray ballast so it would be easier to cover.
Do you have the same selection in turn radius? If not, I would go with the color that has the biggest turns.
By the way Crash, you never said what scale you are modeling?
Cuda Ken
I have to agree with Ken on this. Using prefab roadbed where the track is already embedded in it takes on the appearance of a toy train. That, and the added expense are the two biggest drawbacks in my book plus limitations on the ability to use creative layout design.
Black roadbed - steel rail with plated with zinc. Requires more maintenance than the nickel silver track. When the zinc startys to wear off it becomes a nightmare to keep clean as the exposed steel will rust.
Gray roadbed - nickel silver rail. This requires much less maintenance than the steel rail does. Nickel silver isn’t as good a conductor as steel so make sure the rail connections are tight. Running feeder wires every 6 to 10 feet is a good idea too. Overall the amount of maintenance required is much less than with the steel track. If you clean the track with the GLEAM process it will stay clean for a long time. Except for a quick wipe with a clean dry cloth I’ve only had to clean my track once since 2006.
EDIT: All the track on my layout is Bachmann nickel silver EZ-Track.
The way I read the post you would like to know the pros and cons of using the E-Z track compared to all other types of track?
Well, the road bed is attached and I have seen some very well ballasted E-Z track type track look indistinguishable from regular track.
Only two issues come to mind.
First is rigidity. Your radius will be correct and for the most part smooth and accurate. However, you are limited to whatever radius is available. Flex track or handlaid, can get you a 27 3/4 inch radius if that is what you need. Other than the flexibility issue, which you have also with snap track or segmented track, I see no other real cons. Of course baring the black and grey issue that has already been addresssed (I personally would go for the grey) it seems to be comparable to segmented track. except you dont have to install road bed.
The other is the cost issue. Personally, and in no way am I knocking E-Z track type track, I see the cost as prohibitive. I believe snap track is more economical than E-Z track. So for me, I would use snap track on road bed than buy the E-Z track.
As stated before, if you have a temporary setup, then I would say E-z track would be the answer there, and only there, IMHO.
Others opinions may vary of course based on their experience.
If it’s a choice between the 2 go with the gray. The Black with steel track Jeffrey talked about is a bad idea. The good thing with roadbed molded onto the track is that you can get up and running very quickly. It’s not a bad way to start out. Some go farther and ballast the plastic which when done looks good. Another thing you can do with the plastic roadbed is hide the bus wires under it.
Go with the gray. The gray roadbed EZ-track is available in a number of radii, everything from 18" to approximately 36". The base roadbed interlocks very well, though I would suggest running feeders every six feet or so, since the rail connectors are rather fragile. OR, you could replace the Bachmann rail connectors with Atlas, which are much sturdier.
I have a section of EZ 36" radius track on my MR laid in a relatively ‘dangerous’ spot on the layout–a sheer six-foot drop to a concrete garage floor–and I used it because I simply didn’t trust my expertise at laying flex-track for such a large reverse curve. The EZ track has been in place for about 8 years now, and has turned out to be foolproof. Ballasted and weathered, I can’t tell where the flex-track leaves off and the EZ track begins. I’ve run feeders every 4 feet or so, and have had no problems with current drop-off within the sections.
One thing–if you’re intermixing EZ and standard flex-track, the EZ track roadbed is about 1/8" higher than flex-track on either cork or foam roadbed, so you’ll have to do some adjusting.
But the gray roadbed EZ track is nickle silver, and works just as well as any other nickle-silver track as far as conductivity.
Tom [:)]