Hello, My name is Pawel and I am a Polish guy who started his first Z-gauge layout in January 2015. I hope to get some feedback as well as some information concerning Z modelling. Polish Z gauge community is very small one (we have 70 members registered on our forum and most of them are still in the "planning the layout stage"). Z scale stock is not very popular but we do have an Internet and Germany - the birthplace of Z scale is our neigbouring country. I also hope to improve my English as a side effect of forum activity. My story with Z scale started 10 years ago with some purchase of Marklin starting kit and some buildings by Kibri and Faller. Some buildings had been assambled and ... nothing happened until last Christmans... Thinking about my first ever layout I decided to have something portable, preferably based on modules, not extremally realistic in terms of operation which is a current trend in Poland's greater scales (mainly HO) with long lines of modules operated on principle of point to point train movement. Some Internet search, some considerations and I decided to plan something based on Z Bend concept. The first "end" module is representing a small branch line with train stop with lumber loading facility connecting two main double lines (in fact this is the same line of course - but I will try to make some ilusionary differences between them). There will be a village and the loop will go in the excavation (?)/cutting (?). The general planning of the module have been done using SCARM. The module will be done using standard Marklin tracks. You can find the plan below: And some 3D image: The second "end" module is intended to be "mountain area" with some tunnels.
The construction of the first module started in January 2015 with the construction of wooden "box" 60cmx90cm made out of the 9mm playwood. The 1:1 plan of the layout was also printed to help the job. 3mm insulation foam panels were used as a trackbed and standard Marklin tracks were laid using double sided foam tape (I must say that I do not recommend that technique because you practically do not have possibility to adjust your tracks). I must admitt that balalsting the track is fast but I was not satisfied with it's quality so I addet some ballast using white glue: Sides of the rails have been painted using Humbrol pains 9mixture of two colors): I tried to produce some trees - but I was definitely not satisfied with the results: they finally ended in waste bin: I also started some work with buildings: Old Artitect reisin kit (still not fully finished and tuned) MBZ carton model: That was January job.
Nice work... I don't know which prototype you're working on. If it's Polish, Marklin released a while ago a locomotive whose brand is from former eastern Europe, the "Ludmilla". I guess it was east german, or tschek, and I think a bunch of these still operate in Poland. Dom, from nearly neighbour France
Well, I forget to place an information that Zellin is an imaginary place in West Germany. This was determined by the rolling stock I had. Polish rolling stock is practically anawailable in Z. There are just a few waggons produced by small series producers. "Ludmilla" was not used by PKP (Polish State Railways). In last 15 year we do have some "Ludmillas" used by private cargo companies. Some additional information: the layout is intended to represent III Era - end of 50ties - beginnig of 60ties. As far as period of the year is concerned - it is late spring: end of May or beginnig of June.
Second month of construction (February): All the tracks were laid down and ballasted. I used three colors of ballast to show that there are 3 different lines : two main double track lines and the branch line. First work on the road crossing: Preparation of the terrain (several shaped layers of insulation foam with toilet paper glued by mixture of white glue and green acrylic paint. Preparation of the timber loading area (2 mm carton painted and coloured with Artitect pouders) Checking movement of the waggons: End of the track is not used so there is a small grass attack and the rails are rusted:
Pawel, I like the look of the modules you are making, especially what you are doing with the seldom used rails being overtaken with grass. Keep posting progress!
Construction month No 3 (March) Part I Roads are placed on their places (roads are ready to use NOCH products). There are also first shapes of terrain made out of special foam we called "styrodur". There is some more low green vegetation - both on the hill as well as next to tracks I also did some tests withe the clearence of long Marklin carriages on the curves next to the hill. Due to the fact that the hill is very steep in some places I put a small wall (scrap box's elements left from assambly of Kibri house kit). It is also time to check for the first time how the flat car with timber load looks like in the loading area.
Good job. Especially removing the ugly side mechanisms from Marklin turnouts. How do you power these now? Tortoises? Dom
Well, It is my first layout and probably one of the mistakes. I was not able to find sufficient way to power turnouts so they are still not powered . I planned to use Conrad mechanisms but had some problemswith too big "jump" of the mechanism against small Z tournouts. I gather information and at the moment next try will be with servomechanism (actuator ?) for plane and car models with some electronics. As the result there should be good control of "jump" as well as speed (this should be nice looking).
Construction month No 3 (March) Part II The first building have been installed. This is ZELLIN small railway station: In front of the station there is a road: I did not liked the look of the road next to the station so I decided to do some "construction work" and make a parking place The remaining part of the terrain was created using styrodur: Timber loading place got eventually some timber, crane and small building for people working there: The ground road was created: but it looked very narrow and not safe for drivers using it, so I decided to work a bit on a perspective and optical illusion techniques. Finally I decided to add some bushes next to the road:
Construction month No 3 (March) Part III I have visited old unused railway line 2 hours driving time from my place. I havemade some interesting photos of old raod bridge: That inspired me to start my first schratchbuilding project. It is not an exact model but something based on this actual bridge. It had to fit into a place on layout which was limited and not permitted to make an exact model: Installation of the bridge permitted to arrange some photos: Installation: Weight tests:
Construction month No 3 (March) Part IV (the last one) Small plot of land ready for planting patatoes: The platform was extended - this is a small station so there is only sand on it: There are first small trees next to the rails - this part has not been cleaned by forresters, so there are still some trunks of dead trees: It is also a time to have some trains on the rails. As one can notice I weathered the ballast next to the track.
This really is some good work! Really enjoy seeing you use prototype references and trying to get track looking right. I really like seeing that the most.
Construction month No 4 (April) Part I The genaral shape of the terrain, tracks and roads are in their places. It is time to follow up with landscaping and buildings: For sure this is an construction project - so let's start with construction of the building. The first step is to get down into the ground: Ledder is a must ! Unfortunately there there some ecological problems: it was necessary to cut a tree. There should be more construction material for further development of the project:
Construction month No 4 (April) Part II The railway station get it's name Zellin. This is an imaginary village in Germany. The name's origin is connected with my family. Celina (Zellin) is may oldest daughter. There is work on the plot of land. I planted young patatoes (or maybe corn ?) There are also fountations of paths leading to the houses (still not in the place at the moment):
