Hi - I'm new here on the Trainboard around 1974 my father made me this 8910 Marklin Toporama train set for my birthday. In the 90's it was submerged in floodwaters when I lived in Milford CT. Anyway, it's been languishing in my attic for 30 years and it's time to clean & restore it. Fortunately, I have a few locomotives, some track and rolling stock that weren't affected. I'm going to take my time and hopefully have this done by end of winter! I'm not sure if I am going to go accurate or change all the buildings to some other styles. I am going to keep a German theme to go with the Trains. As found: Stripped of Rail: The Trains:
Welcome . This looks like quite an undertaking. Let us know about your progress. I am especially interested in the locos and how they will operate. I have some Marklin locos , some from the mid-90's that have not been run for any substantial lengths of time other than a less than yearly spin around a test track. It looks like all your track and switches will be replaced. Rokuhan may be a good replacement for the board if you are going with the same track plan. Best of luck. I'll be watching. Merry Christmas. Jim
Welcome to the forum. It sounds like you're setting out on quite a project. May I suggest a couple of references to help you get started. "Greenberg's Guide to Z": The book has been put on line as: http://www.guidetozscale.com/index.html This information covers mostly Märklin and all aspects of modeling with Märklin, most from your era. It sounds like reviving you're locomotives may be challenging. You might want to check out: http://www.zscale.org/articles/revival.html Good luck and feel free to ask questions. Mark
Welcome home! Glad to have you back into trains. My advice is to keep everything as original as you can. If you wish to go modern, do it on another layout board. This was one your dad built for you. Treat it like a museum restoration. You'll be glad you took the time. Glad you're here!
I was also wondering about using Rokuhan track as, in my experience, it is easier to work with than Marklin track. For my own interest I drew up a track plan in AnyRail using Rokuhan track. However, Commodore has a good point about sticking with the original Marklin track and treating it as a restoration project. An internet search on "8910 Marklin Toporama" came up with https://www.sammeln.z-insider.de/1972/02/05/maerklin-8910-toporama/ This shows a slight difference in track plan than in the pictures, in that the short siding at the top in the pictures is the lead in to two sidings on the box top. Either way, I wish you all the best with your project, you have piqued some interest on the forum. It is the second example of an old pre-formed layout to come up recently. See http://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/can-anybody-identify-this-layout.121907/ Robert Pearce (aka ViperBugloss)
OK - Here is where I am today. I've taken it down as far as I can and have started the woodwork. I decided to replace the control board as it has an embedded moldy smell and holes drilled in it I will not need. I also trimmed the new one out and dowelled it. I had to drill blind screws into the back without going through the layout and managed to not damage it any more. I also brushed the flocking to bring it back up. I have to finish the outside wood trim and paint it all before I start to work on the actual layout. One thing I noticed is that the layout appears to me to be backwards, all the buildings and the yard face away from the operator. Maybe this is by design. I'm going to eventually cork the rail-bed and try to effectively cover up the stains. I'm going to the Springfield MA train show in late Jan to get some ideas.
Like what you're doing. Save what you can. ...Also, save a hidden area where you can show visitors how badly it was damaged. I'd probably put it back the way Dad built it. Not a major issue, though. Good Job!
Here is where I am. I finished the woodwork and matched it the same green. I spent a lot of time getting the frame right and I used construction glue rather than nails. I added some trim to the inside. The control board is painted with a black stain with polyurethane. It looks very nice. I'm bouncing some ideas around regarding modifying it. Commodore, I appreciate the advice to keep it stock, (nothing is locked down in stone, yet!) I would like to create continuity of a two-way passenger line by being able to operate two locomotives east and westbound at the same time. The station really flows way better if I extend the station siding around so it's a pass-through platform and relocate some of the turnouts; Then I can control both trains in each direction with two transformers and switch the shared green line between the two with some isolation blocks. Also - all trains with consist would enter the line from the left 4-track siding from the inside loop and optionally proceed through the station or bypass it. The odd right siding would be for locomotive maintenance and I would add a shed. Who knows what will happen. Stock: Alternate: I'm going to Springfield MA next week to look at different track options. Like to stay with Marklin systems, but I'm up to 13 remote switches and a 8560 double slip switch. I may need to a second mortgage for track!
Your dad would be proud. Sure, I'm not your dad ...but I am a dad and I'm proud of you. Good job!!! Rory BTW, I love the alternate!
Looking at your two plans, really you're limited to Märklin and Rokuhan. The stock plan will work well with either. For the alternate plan the Marklin double slip and curved turnout can be temperamental, and I'd encourage the Rokuhan track for that.
My Father is still alive and doesn't care at all what I do with it! Also - he decided about half way through pounding those tiny brads into the plywood to use staples which is why there are rusty holes all over the layout. I'm going to have to individually grind them down with a dremel and then cover with cork. I am a perfectionist so expect this to take me a couple of years!
I've heard it said that perfection is impossible to achieve, but striving for excellence is very possible.......and I'm sure we are going to see a great example of excellence in your refurbishing this layout.....we're counting on you Do keep us updated.
This week, I scored a built-up Marklin 8960 station from Eastside Trains in Seattle even though they don't sell z-scale. It was sitting with a bunch of N-Scale buildings which is the centerpiece of this layout. Between this one and the one I have I should have enough bits to make one decent station. Score!
Ok - I've been quiet for a while, but I finally found a replacement original MIB Toporama for my layout. Here it is: Check out the color difference! Off to the races!
Hi, I finally have all of the NOS buildings and new track thanks to Alan at The Red Caboose in NYC, Frank at Z Scale hobo and EBay. I've decided to start with new track and transformers. If anyone has a instruction manual for an 8910 toprama, I would like to see a scan of it just to see how Marklin instructed people how to put it together. I am using MDF wood and will be sealing it this weekend. My idea is to ultimately build a coffee table layout.
Fluegelmeister, I am curious and following this toporama 2.0 project. Btw, that basket in the picture at the left hand top corner... cut it up, seems it could make a great railroadbridge! Matt
