I hadn't touched my new modules since Thanksgiving and the 'bug' just hit me last week. I've all but completed the track work save for two more turnouts and spurs as indicated in the picture showing red lines at the top of the picture. The three lines at the bottom will be for passenger lines with the station and supporting structures between the two main line and three outer lines. I've got track work down for two engine shops and other structures. Towards the top will be a bulk propane storage facility and other as of yet unknown structures. I'll likely have assorted warehouses and such on the other side of the red tracks. I'm going to extend the scenery down into the new module just a bit. Near the engine sheds there will be other structures and servicing facilities. I'm trying to model the businesses and structures I see in real life here in Medford. Any suggestions for the engine servicing structures? I can think of many new structures that Z scale could certainly use.
I use Blue Point switch machines, they are a manual push/pull button type. I won't be doing much switching during operations............a lot of it will be just for show..............boy, just for show can be costly! I use MTL flex track for everything I do. I like to take my curves in any direction without the constraints of fixed radius. It is a lot more work to hand ballast the track after all the custom cutting and soldering, but I do enjoy the track work. And for my track planning, I just use a lead pencil and start drawing.........kind of abstract! )
Yes Dom. I would prefer Peter Wright's turnouts as they were really excellent, and I'm not saying Fast Tracks are not good quality, it all depends upon the builder. I did not make these though a friend of mine made these for me. I am not sure if he wants to make them as a business or not but if he reads this he can respond if that is his intent. I needed mine in a hurry and I pushed the poor guy until I think he wanted to come over and tear up all my track work ) I have sometimes toyed with the idea of making them to sell, but I have enough to do already. It was a shame Peter Wright was not able to continue making his turnouts.
No doubt the man or company that makes a nice turnout without a roadbed or switch machine attached is going to have some business for sure. I think that the roadbed track really helped Z, but man if MT made flex track 2 1/2 time as long and turnouts were available without a machine on the side or roadbed, we'd take Z to the next level.
John, I still have the cordial invitation mat out for you to come and help me wire everything up so that it doesn't all light up when I turn it on.
Loren, your pencil-CAD did quite well ! That could be made into a 2-piece module (vertical split in your picture) for shows. For your home layout, this is going to look awesome !
Thanks Jeff......I always use high tech cad drawings ) I have too much infrastructure planned for the entire module to be able to split it in any direction. This module would fit into my trailer, but as you know I retired from the show circuit. It's strictly home show for interested individuals and drop in guests.
I've entertained the idea of just coming down by myself and hanging with you guys. I've never attended a train show without a lot of responsibility. Would be fun just to observe, take notes, and relax for a change. Maybe someday.
Well, it can't be this time out, but maybe some day in the future. Hoping to receive my last two switches today from John and then I can finish my track laying instead of dreaming about the good old days at the Cow P ie Palace where the floor was uneven, the smell heavenly, and the kids hands were always busy making us all nervous.
Finally! This afternoon I laid the last two switches shown at the top of the module and painted the ties. I'm now ready to install the switch machines, wire all this up and get on with scenery and structures. This is going to be one busy module after all the structures and roadwork, etc. are installed.
That's what I've been crying for, for many years, since Peter Wright fold up indeed (Indeed he has had severe health issues, and I don't know his current status). But rather than waiting for such an occurence, I'm building my own FT turnouts, and although I've not already put them on a layout and run tested them, I appreciate the process. However, if one of these days a Z scale manufacturer could release such a turnout again, that would be wonderful... Dom
Dom, I agree, if a manufacturer would come out with 2' long flex track in North American style and switches to match I think it would greatly help the hobby. Along with that, if someone would begin doing injection molded items for the market besides what Japan does, I believe it would be a shot in the arm for the scale AZL is kicking hind end with locos and rolling stock and there are others I'm sure that would like to contribute if they had the means and money to do so. Z is just a very small portion of model railroading.
could be a year but Peco *will* be making us LONG flex track, reportedly 1m (meter) long, along with roadbed-less turnouts (e.g. just the ties and rails). But this is not official-official and like anything in Z, only time will tell. Peco is notoriously slow.
