Hi, my name is Steffen from Germany. I am familiar with large scale – until now. I felt, that it would be nice to have a small compact portable layout for exhibitions and for operating sessions in our living room. So I decided to go to the other extreme –Z scale. So I would like to introduce my experimental layout. As a newcomer I hope to get some feedback as well as further information Z scale related. Begin was with a MT-starter pack and an additional MT-switch for testing, but I was not satisfied with track performance. I changed to Rokuhan, which works much better for me. Layout planning was done by SCARM. The idea is to model a junction point of two branch lines with interchange tracks and some local industry like grain elevator, freight shed, team track, stock yard, fuel dealer and so on in rural landscape. The hidden track allows change of rolling stock behind the scene. Two locomotives can be easily employed. My favorite is a version with a road engine on a mixed and a switcher that serves the industrial and interchange tracks. Of course this calls for DCC – later. Construction is done by use of 12mm plywood of 2 Meter length, 0,5 Meter wide. After finishing track laying now test operations started with AZL-Mikado and MT-F7. I have to adjust a little here and there, but it works rather fine. Next steps are preparing switches for ballasting, track ballasting and painting. Steffen
Nice design ! Hopefully see you either at Altenbeken 16-17 April or at the OWL Lines in Löne over that weekend.
Hi guys, thank you all very much for this gently welcome. It is not always easy to build something, what I havn't still seen in reality, so please feel free to correct me if there is something going wrong. Pawel, your nice Zellin-layout was one important part for decision to try Z scale, greetings to my neighbour. Yes, these curved lines I like very much too, inspired by my wife... While playing with trains I was thinking about realistic train operations (waybills, timetable), but do not know if it makes sense on such a small layout. Learned something about operation by book of "model railroader" and it sounded very interesting. Does someone have experiences? Currently I make protections for all Rokuhan switch-drives before working with glue in this areas, thanks to Matt / Curn for his step-by-step instructions. Pictures follow... Best regards, Steffen
Steffen, It is really nice to hear that my job inspired you somehow. I live in Poznan - 1,5 hour driving time to Frankfurt Oder. I try to visit Liepzig Hobby Messe and considering to go to Altenbaken this year.
Steffen, for easy operations, I like to use the "Simple Switchlist System" (.pdf). It's a nice way to get up and operating and can be a starting point for more realistic (and complicated) operations on your layout.
Hi Steffen, wilkommen. Your layout looks very fine. Definitly looking forward to its future proceeding. Will the track that comes accross after the main track's diamonds go to a hidden location? Hidden storage area for example? Dom from neighbouring France
Bonjour Dom, it seems to be a very international thing here, nice No, behind the diamonds comes a wall....crash...there has to be an unvisible buffer for these wild engineers... I have planned a hidden section on the stub track nearest to switch control panel, starting at water tower to make changes of cars and locomotives by hand. Currently I think, this layout will stand for its own without extensions. Purpose of the diamond crossing track is to store my coach at depot and to allow meetings of short trains in front of my eyes. Additionally it gives an american touch with this diamonds. Steffen
Hi, I made the switch-protection today from strip wood, just a little progress. While testing the track and switch functions I was wondering about this: With special stop function on Rokuhan switches I expected, that trains would stop on red marked track section if switches are in green marked position. Power comes from near the diamonds, these little screws to cancel stop function are not mounted. I have disconnected the two rails of main line, now it's ok. But where is my failure? Steffen
Hi Rocket Jones, last evening I worked trough your file, this is a highly interesting approach for operating. Thank you very much! While this methods are not so common here, I am looking forward to test it. Have to make some lists now. Steffen
Steffen I have just had a very similar problem with power in an unexpected place. I have illustrated it with a simplified example. The power comes in on the opposite side of the layout to the turnouts. A Rokuhan turnout with power routing only cuts of power to one side of the track. There is a continuous rail on the other side so this side is always powered (whether the turnout is closed or thrown). It just needs something to complete the circuit. In this example, even with both turnouts thrown (on the green tracks), the red section receives power as there is continuous rail albeit from different sides. So a locomotive in this section will still receive power. You have a similar situation. If the turnout to the double diamond section is closed then the red section is always live. There is not a failure in your circuitry rather a feature of the way in which the two right hand turnouts are positioned. I hope that this makes sense. Rob Pearce (aka ViperBugloss)
Hi Rob, of course, this makes sense. In this switch arrangement one powered rail comes from left, the other powered rail from right, so you have a powered track. Did not know, that only one rail is cut by the switch. Thanks for that. Steffen
Steffen I'm very impressed by your bench work particularly the lighting holes. They not only reduce the weight they also provide access for wiring. You are not likely to run out of room for wiring. Joe
Nice. Good benchwork. You are a far better carpenter than me......... I like those gentle curves. I could not realize them on my layout, unfortunately...... My layout is just 60x120cm large (or small....) so not to many possibilities. Years ago, I built a larger layout with gentler curves, but I had no room to keep that layout. Even with Z scale, it can sometimes be difficult to store a layout. Greetings from your western neighbour