Well, I'm thinking of taking the plunge. I'm well versed in N scale, but even a place for a N scale layout doesn't exist. So I'm thinking a portable Z scale in a gun case (48"x12" switching layout). Is this foolish? I've done 12"x72" in N scale and I liked the result so I'm thinking its possible. couple early questions: 1: curve radius - I see its all measured in Millimeters, how do those equate to inches? 2: I used to use Atlas right track software for design, but I don't think they have a Z library, correct? 3: I know about AZL and MTL, any other manufacturers of american prototype I should look at? I'm thinking DC power... one engine maybe two (GP 35 I expect). 15-20 cars. switching layout that is pretty much linear. Am I way off base?
Curves: 195mm = 7.683" 220mm = 8.668" 490mm = 19.306" straight track 110mm = 4.334" Can't help with the Atlas software though. You should be OK with your plans and you should get a lot into 48x12".
For a switching layout, curve radius would not be much of a factor. One inch is roughly 25mm. Microtrains is producing some nice ballasted Z scale snap track much like Kato Unitrak in N.
If you can go 16" wide, then you can have a full loop of 195mm radius track for constant running, and fit in a full switching layout inside!
Here's a trick not too many folks know about. Enter the following in Google: 195 mm = ? in Google will calculate the answer for you. Works for just about any kind of conversion--volume or linear measurement, temperature, even money. P.S. Marklin makes 145 mm (5-3/4 in) radius track if you want to fit a loop inside a foot and don't mind getting really tight.
Beaumont; Nice idea for a layout in a gun case... I had given this some thought myself, and came up with the idea of a switching pusell. Here are a couple of ideas i came up with. one; Do an engine servicing facility..... If you went DCC you could have a lot of fun moving locos through the different phases of service, which would keep you and a lot of nice locos busy for hours at a time. Transition era maybe, so you could go with both steam and diesel.....plus wire it for both DC and DCC and use a three position switch to select the type of control.... This way you can run new DCCed deisels and older DC steamers.. two; A dock/port yard...... There was an artical in one of MR's other mag's a few years ago about the dock yards of San Francisco. There is a ton of activity at ports, and the linear fashion of the tracks and dock would make a nice case size model. I thought about a fold-up low relief warehouse for the back, so you could model the docks and water, and even half a ship on the inside wall of the case. third; A "hump" yard with working hump and braking tracks. Now this was my BIG idea about a year ago. You could make a functioning hump with car braking!!! I thought about doing the brakng with electric magnets and metal on the bottom of the cars. I never took the idea past the concept phase, but i think it is do-able. A hump yard would give you hours of sorting fun.......Maybe a bit longer case would help too. I always admired the Santa Fe's Bakersfield hump yard. Tony B... Wasatch Z Club
Good ideas Tony! One is kind of what I'm plannng. I used to live in Beaumont Texas and drove by the port there every day. They had refinery activity, ware houses, wood products, wire products, and they are the biggest military port in the country. Lots to model! I love engines, but with the cost of Z engines, I'll want just a few. switches are pricey too! On with planning.
Not sure where I saw it, possibly on the Z_Scale yahoogroup, but someone did do files for Z scale track for Atlas Right Track, I think. Marklin track (MTL's new track is the same geometry, just not all the same pieces yet). I might be getting this confused with other software though. I have heard of folks using the centerline function to print out templates from Atlas Right Track though. Might try that. Not sure if the size is the factor limiting you to 48" or the case. If you didn't already know, you can get cases for muzzleloaders up to 72" long. (My other hobby is Revolutionary War re-enacting). Randy
Also meant to mention the Rolling Stock kit thread here as well. That discusses most of the other options for rolling stock besides MTL, AZL and Marklin. Randy
Welcome to Z scale, you'll enjoy it. I might suggest you get a small starter set and some track from Micro-trains just to play around a bit. with the new snap track just fitting together different peices with no design sometimes works well. You might come up with something just by randomly laying it down.
Joe S, saw a picture of your layout in another thread. I was impressed where can I go to see more? Planning on my idea continues. I'm working on the track plan now. Below are a couple possibilities. I hope to discuss it more with others in the layout design area.
I agree, Joe does great work on his layout. You can search for all the treads started by Joe. Also, Joe has a Ztrack article in Ztrack. It has some very detail shots of his layout. I like your track plans, I would to see a switching layout in Z. Switching in Z scale is just as practical as any other scale.
General Switching or Beaumont History Are you planning a general switching yard of complexity or are you making one that emulates a switching industry of Old Beaumont? I have not visited Beaumont lately but use to go there several times a year. The museum, the Strand, the waterfront. Driving around that area of Beaumont you can see many old tracks leading here and there. Would be so cool to travel back in time to old Beaumont and see it when the railroad was King of Industry Transportation. Hobo Tim
Thanks for the compliment! Right now I have a few up on railimages of the new one with the micro-track, if you go to the scale specific area under Z. My older layout was all done with marklin mainly because the new MT track was not out yet. I think you'll find that anything that can be done with the kato track in N scale to make it look better you can do with the MT track in Z. I like the clean even geometry of the track, no dips and gaps to ruin connectivity. With paint and ballast it looks pretty darn good.
I really like the second track plan alot. I wouldn't mind building this myself. But, I would add a third track to the yard on the right side, because the middle track would have to be used for run around moves. When not used as a run around, the extra track in the yard will serve as a make up track for the outbound loads. I am also useing M/T track with excellent results. You won't be sorry...
Thanks for the input guys. Tim, I no longer live in Beaumont, but you're right, a lot of train history there. KCS, UP, Econorail, and BNSF all still operate there. Lots of railroad activity. This layout won't necessarily be set in Beaumont. Its a ficticous track plan just to give me a little switching area. I've started over 10 n scale layouts in my day, but the only one I ever finished was a 1 foot by 6 foot switching layout. Joe, I'll check out your rail images. N2Z, I'll try a plan adding that 3rd track.
Myself I started a 4.5' x 1' switching layout a few years ago. I used Marklin sectional and Peco flextrack, before MTL track (including turnouts, flex or Microtrack) was available. I give up with this layout because I definitively don't like Peco nor Marklin track that are too far from north american prototype look. The other reason why I give up with it is my unproper uncoupler location: as I was then not aware of the MTL uncoupler limitations, I put some under curves, and even under R=490mm curves, the uncouplers don't work well. But it allowed me to validate my purposes: large curves (all my radii are 490mm / 20" minimum) and a lot of switching options in a small area. And in my opinion, Z scale is perfect for this. A MTL Geep, that is able to creep at a scale man's walking speed, and a dozen boxcars or two will be perfect. Just my two cents, Dom
