Ok, I settled on a slight modification to the White River and Northern for my first Z scale layout. I am thinking of a plywood base (3/8 - 1/2") with woodland scenics risers and grade pieces with no grade to exceed 2%. I am considering putting 1/8 plywood cookie cutter style over everything for a track base. It is all MT track and switches and I want to use servos for the switch machines. Interested in your thoughts please. I have all of the track in hand except for one 990 40 904 curve (anybody willing to sell me a couple?).
Nice. BTW, when I compare with my own plan that's not far different, even with broader curve radii and more run length, I had to set grades of 3% in order to have enough clearance between lower and upper track (true, I wanted to be able to run overgauged equipment such as double stacks or autoracks under a Micronart's girder bridge). My question today: did you make computations with your track plan's grades and did you get to the conclusion you'll have enough clearance under the overpass? Dom
I used the NMRA standard to set the height on both ends of the bridge then went down both directions from there. I selected as many tracks as needed for the grades until the software said I was at or below 2%. I think the magic number I used was 1.25". I am just going to use the MT bridges and standard height boxcars. I did add 6 inches to the original 48 inches to get to the 2% number.
Looks like a good plan. I built something similar once. The grades were around 2%. Although I remember thinking, "why didn't I just use flex track" after I put down all the sectional track. Matt
The basic benchwork is almost there now. I used 3/4 maple plywood because it has lots of plies and will hopefully be fairly stable. Everything is glued and screwed. The top has a sheet of 1/4 plywood that actually sits in a 1/4" relief on the bench work. All of this leads to a question for me. I have been looking at using the WS risers on top of the plywood but the cookie cutter style is also an option. The math involved is not really an issue as the software tells me what the height should be at every track joint and I have a digital height gauge that will handle that. The only drawback to the WS risers that I see is their width. Does anybody have any experience in narrowing them? Give me some sage advice and opinions here please.
I used them on a small layout and I narrowed mine. I had them glued to a layer of foam that was roughly a cookie cutter type piece. when it dried, I narrowed them with the hot wire cutter. Then the whole assembly was glued to the base. It worked, but not sure I would do it the same way.
Steve, I like to use insulation foam to build up elevation on my layout. To make grades you might try to put spacers under the top layer of foam. The insulation foam is really nice to work with and you can use caulking as glue to install it. After that install your roadbed and track. You can carve rivers and streams with ease in the foam. Before long you'll be able to install ground foam. Be sure to take photos as you go along, we would like to see them. Joe
