I think I might be using the wrong search terms, but I've been trying to find downloadable templates or buildings for British look Z scale. Or any scale that has proper info so it can be scaled down to the right size. When I designed the trackplan for my N gauge layout, I based it on Metcalfe models, and bought some of them and built them as well. They are of no use for my Z layout, but if the trackplan is to be accurate, I need the footprint of the buildings, and even if I make them from scratch, I need measurements. I want to find appropriate buildings for Yorkshire 1942 (LMS I think when it comes to train specifics). If anyone can help me, I'd be ever so grateful!
I really can't think of any U.S. manufacturers who have appropriate structures available. Probably your best bet are the German makers: Marklin, Kibri, etc. Actual dimensions are hard to come by beyond a rectangular foodprint. If you run across a structure you like, post the make and model number as one of us probably has one to measure. My other suggestion is to check the makers: Shapways and Z and US models. The later has produced US prototypes that I think would fit well in England, he's also open to customizing and I've found him good to work with. Mark Thinking about it a bit more Archistories makes some good looking paper kits that could pass as British.
I think it is a good idea to consult @kevsmith . Some interesting models - maybe some fit British layout as well: https://www.mbz-modellbahnzubehoer.de/
Yes, Archistories MBZ would have been my recommendation, too. Also talk to the owners, would't be the first time they support new ideas. Best, Sven
Thank you for the info. Neither MBZ or Archistories have downloadable files, just kits to buy. They look nice though, and I'm sure I could find a few items that might work, but it's not exactly what I'm looking for at this time. Archistories was fun though. They had a few houses that were distinctly Swedish, with Swedish surnames. I will continue my searches and also contact kevsmith who seem to be the house guru for British Z.
Or use these as templates: https://littlehousecards.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/for-free-kelloggs-british-village-1948/ Matt
Hmmm, British Z structures eh? I have a lot of drawings of British station buildings, signalboxes, goods sheds, track plans etc tell me what you fancy and I'll see what I've got scanned in as an example, here is one of the standard buidlings on the famous Settle and Carlisle railway This is the 'medium' size and a real one at Lazonby let us know Kev
My last proper British Z layout was called 'Midsomer Mardy' and the buildings were a mix of scratchbuilt and resin cast cottages picked up from flea markets. The railway buildings were done by taking 00 scale drawings and scaling them down in Photoshop to Z. I used N scale embossed polystyrene sheet for the brick and stonework (Slaters) The stock running on it when this pic was taken(2007) was from Graham Jone's collection. This layout did a lot of shows and is now owned by Max in South Wales and is still exhibited Kev
Thanks Matt for the Kellogg sheets. It even said on the page how to scale it. Very nice! Kev - thank you so much for the offer! That station is beautiful. It was your posts about Midsomer Mardy and the Flying Scotsman that led me to this board, hoping to find some help. If I'm not mistaken, the railway buildings should be LMS if set in Yorkshire 1942, but I might remember it wrong, so please correct me if that's the case. I think I back when I planned the N scale layout, I found a website dedicated to signal boxes. There were quite a few. I know I need at least one that is properly sized for the job of a medium station with train shed and so on. The Rocuhan tracks seem to be available in Sweden and look better than Märklin. There is a turn table I'd like to use, and it looks to be pretty big, so I might as well take advantage of that and add one of those loco semi-circular stables to it. I need something for the coal, something for the water, and a goods shed, but I'll have a look at some period pictures so I get it proper. BTW, I'm used to working with blueprints from my last job. I scanned the originals or microfilm and made sure that they were in the right scale. Sometimes I had to re-scale based on some measurement and the scale used, so it would be correct in the resulting file or on paper. That's why I know that if I have the correct scale or a ruler on the page, then I can get it scaled to Z without any problem. It's when That's lacking that I'm at a loss since I have nothing to compare with at the moment.
The LMS and LNER pretty much divided the county up between them. The LMS routes were inherited from the Midland and Lancashire & Yorkshire and the LNER ones were the former Great Northern railway with some North Eastern railway as well. You'd be best going for the Midland as the Midland main line came all the way up from London to Leeds via Sheffield before becoming the Settle and Carlisle on the way to Scotland. Notable preserved branch lines are the famous Keighley and Worth Valley railway and the Embsay to Bolton Abbey line I've been tempted to do a layout based on something like this 'Haworth yard' as you can justify just about any loco going! I'm going up into the loft later and I'll get the HDD drive down that has the goods shed and signalbox drawings on it cheers Kev
Thanks Kev! That picture of Haworth yard is amazing! I am so grateful for your help. Midland it is. I'll be googling some pictures to get a feel for it. I figured out where in the house I can fit a small layout. The walk-in closet will be turned into a railway-and-hobby-storage closet Now I know the size of the baseboard and can start drafting the layout properly. I'm a bit rusty, so I'll dig out my old Railway Modeller magazines for a brush up on techniques.
I'm beginning to understand why I have this need to build a model railway. Those steam engines! They are so impressive! I rarely see anything even close to that here in Sweden.
Ugh ... "paper" .......... There are kits on eBay selling like pancakes that are paper. Sankei makes paper kits. These are all extremely flimsy. The Archistories kit material is "architectural grade cardboard" which is much more sturdy than "paper." Holding it in your hands certainly dispels many preconceived notions you may have about "paper" or even "cardboard" or "cardstock" kits. These kits' details are truly amazing and the construction fit is worlds better than the sloppy tolerances found in molded plastic kits. You'll also find that Archistories uses an additional interior framing that makes the kits even sturdier. The cardboard kits from Marklin and other makers do not employ this added level of rigidity.
Hobo, I stand corrected. Since none of these kits fits my modeling needs so far, I don't have any experience with them. Mark