Who is Rokuhan? Rokuhan is a Japanese company established April 2010 to manufacture Z Scale model railroad products, starting with track and later expanding into rolling stock, structures and other accessories. Keita ("Tony") Ichikawa is the owner of Rokuhan; here is a brief interview with him. Manufacturing is done in China.
What's so special about their track? For starters, they're offering nine curve radii—95, 120, 145, 170, 195, 220, 245, 270 and 490mm—plus three lengths of straight track, 55, 110 and 220mm. This yields a great deal of flexibility in track planning. Also, their product design and tooling is exceptional; for instance, it's virtually impossible to connect track sections such that the rails don't join properly. Scroll down for a detailed list of the complete product line.
How about their switches? Their first switch product (there will be more) has the same geometry as the Märklin and Micro-Trains switches: 110mm long, 490mm radius, 13 degree angle. However, the Rokuhan switches have built-in machines that are completely invisible.
How do I control the switches? Rokuhan switches are "plug and play" using the Rokuhan throttle, which has two built-in switch controllers, with an option to add more. However, they can be wired using a DIY circuit. Note that the wiring will be different from what's needed for Micro-Trains switches; the machines are powered with two wires instead of three.
How else are the switches different? Rokuhan switches are "power-routing": only the route to which the switch is aligned receives power; the route to which the switch is not aligned does not receive power (as compared to Micro-Trains, which are "power everywhere"). This makes layout wiring simpler in most instances, and it helps prevent trains from running against the points.
SPECIAL DETAILED CLINICS ON ROKUHAN SWITCHES
Controlling Rokuhan switches
Working with Rokuhan's power-routing switches
Notching track to fit Rokuhan switches
Making Rokuhan switches power-everywhere
Is Rokuhan track available in North America? Yes! Intermountain Railway Company is the U.S. distributor. You can order it through many domestic retail outlets, including:
Is Rokuhan track compatible with Micro-Trains? Yes and no. You cannot join the two brands of track straight out of the box. The plastic joiners are a different size and shape, as is the roadbed profile (see the photo above: Micro-Track is on the left, Rokuhan on the right).
It is possible to "force" them together by removing the plastic roadbed joiners and just relying on the metal ones, but you'll need to shim the Micro-Track higher (.030" thick sheet styrene works). The slight difference in rail height (.006") doesn't present any real problem; a larger cosmetic issue is the difference in tie spacing. You'll also have two large rectangular holes where the plastic joiners used to be.
That said, Rokuhan is now in the process of developing a "conversion joiner" that will allow you to mate Märklin track to Rokuhan track. Presumably this would also allow you to join Micro-Trains flex track to Rokuhan track. It will still require shimming the non-roadbed track to match the height.
What are the technical differences between Micro-Trains and Rokuhan track? Here's a summary of key dimensional differences. Micro-Trains is the first number, Rokuhan is the second.
- rail height: .057" vs .063"
- rail head width: .020" vs .030"
- rail base width: .050" vs .050"
- overall track height: .180" vs .210"
- roadbed width: .625" vs .630"
What about tie spacing? Rokuhan tie spacing averages 7 ties per inch, whereas Micro-Track averages 10 ties per inch. Bear in mind that Rokuhan track is based on Japanese practice, so it isn't fair to complain that it's not suitable for North American modeling.
The appearance can be improved with painting and weathering, and for many it's hardly noticeable after the track has been blended in with the surrounding scenery (above). It's all a matter of perception and personal taste.
How about uncouplers? Rokuhan will soon be releasing a 55mm magnetic uncoupler track.
What do their track power feeders look like? Rokuhan does not make a special track feeder section. Feeder plugs are built into all 110 and 220mm straight sections. To connect power to the track, simply slide out a small removable portion of the roadbed, and pop in a power connector. Just as it is with their switches, everything is literally plug-and-play.
What products are available? Here are the details on the complete Rokuhan track product line. Note that not all products are currently available from all retailers; some products will be released later this year.
- R001 110mm long straight (4/pack)
- R002 195mm radius, 45 degree curve (4/pack)
- R003 170mm radius, 45 degree curve (4/pack)
- R004 220mm radius, 45 degree curve (4/pack)
- R005 145mm radius, 45 degree curve (4/pack)
- R006 remote control left switch, 110mm long, 490mm radius, 13 degree angle
- R007 remote control right switch, 110mm long, 490mm radius, 13 degree angle
- R008 55mm long straight (2/pack)
- R009 220mm long straight (4/pack)
- R010 95mm radius, 45 degree curve (4/pack)
- R011 120mm radius, 45 degree curve (4/pack)
- R012 490mm radius, 13 degree curve (2/pack)
- R013 42mm track bumper (2/pack)
- R014 245mm radius, 30 degree curve (6/pack)
- R015 270mm radius, 30 degree curve (6/pack)
- R016 330mm roadbed flex track
- R018 70mm radius, 45 degree curves
- A001 track power feeder cable
- A002 rerailer
- A003 track power extension cable
- A004 switch control extension cable
- A005 switch control Y cable
- C001 train controller
View the entire track line in one image.
SPECIAL DETAILED CLINIC ON ROKUHAN FLEX
Working with Rokuhan Flex Track
Incidentally, their track bumpers (above) are fantastic. You can easily adapt them for use on North American layouts by removing the mast (below): simply push on the bottom of it with a pointed tool from the underside of the roadbed. Add some rust paint, and you're done!
The instructions are all in Japanese. Are there any translations available? Yes, here's the manual for the RC-01 Controller.
What's coming in the future? The following products are under development; links open YouTube videos of the products being demonstrated.
- [???] 55mm magnetic uncoupler track
- R017 135mm roadbed flex track
- R019 127mm radius, 26 degree curve, used for R022 and R023 switches
- R022 remote control left switch, 55mm long, 127mm radius, 26 degree angle
- R023 remote control right switch, 55mm long, 127mm radius, 26 degree angle
- R024 13 degree crossing, 112.8mm (will be sold with two 53.6mm straight track sections)
- R025 90 degree crossing, 25mm (will be sold with four 25mm straight track sections)
- R026 remote control curved left switch, 195 and 220mm radii
- R027 remote control curved right switch, 195 and 220mm radii
- R028 oval set of track
- R029 European style bumpers, two/pack
- R030 Adjustable straight track, 100mm to 120mm
- R031 112.8mm straight track
- R032 195mm radius 30 degree curves, six/pack
- R033 220mm radius 30 degree curves, six/pack
- R034 double-slip switch
- A006 track fixture clips, single track; 10/pack
- A007 track fixture clips, double track; 10/pack
- A009 building light
- A010 AC cable
- A011 AC adapter
- A012 track joiners, metal and plastic; 10 each per pack
- A013 insulated track joiners
- A014 track conversion joiner
- C002 stand-alone turnout controlling switch
- C002 reversing loop controller
- C004 Compact battery/AC powered controller with switch control and variable constant lighting control
What non-track products are under development? Future products include a wide range of items, from structures to train sets.
- [???] Four-wheeled power unit
- T001-1 JNR 113-2000 Shonan scheme, basic set
- T001-2 JNR 113-2000 Shonan scheme, extension set
- T002-1 DD51-1000 diesel locomotive, "cold area" type
- T003-1 JNR 113-1500 Yokosuka scheme, basic set
- T003-2 JNR 113-1500 Yokosuka scheme, extension set
- T009-1 Kiha 52-100, standard scheme
- S001 Tree set A
- S002 House A
- S003 House B
- S004 House C
- S005 House D
- S006 Barn A
- S007 Local station A
- S008 Platform set A
- S009 Platform set B
- S010 Bridge A
- S011 Pier A
For additional details on what's available and what's under development, refer to this document from Rokuhan.
What's it like working with Rokuhan track? It's similar to working with Micro-Trains roadbed track, but there are some subtle differences. For one thing, the track pieces connect flawlessly; it's virtually impossible for the rail joiners to connect improperly. It's also relatively easy to cut the track to any custom length you need, which is an incredibly potent way of expanding track planning options.
Are there any published track plans for Rokuhan track? Many of the track plans I've published for Micro-Track can also be built using unmodified Rokuhan track (and Märklin track, too). Because Rokuhan offers so many additional track options, more plans are in development. You just need to be a little patient—these track plans are a lot of work to develop.
I want to design my own track plans; what program should I use? AnyRail is not only the the most user-friendly track planning software available (I'm not alone with this opinion), but it also includes the complete Rokuhan track library—as well as Micro-Trains and Märklin libraries. I use AnyRail for all of my track planning work, and I do quite a lot of it, so I speak from experience.
Are you somehow associated with Rokuhan? No, I'm not. I simply like their products.
What makes Rokuhan so interesting? Besides my own positive experience with Rokuhan products, I've read numerous reports indicating their switches work flawlessly, which demonstrates in a practical way their outstanding design and precision manufacturing. Personally, I can overlook the tie spacing issue (even though I'm a "tie-counter") because it's compensated by the more natural-looking track plans that are possible given the broad product range. Finally, I admire their approach the market. Clearly they're actively developing their product line, and they're receptive to feedback.
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