Earlier today a shelf in a bookcase (surprisingly) opened up to my use. It is 21" X 15". Some of you will remember a few years ago when I tried to start a Z Scale layout (let's not talk about that). At that time I bought quite a bit of Micro-Track (including turnouts), a couple of locomotives and a few boxcars. I still have all of it. So, I experimented a bit with my track on the shelf, which led me to my laptop and Anyrail, which led me here to just ask for help. I would like to do as much in this space as possible as far as having a nice oval and a couple of sidings. Does anyone have any ideas for me? I have quite a bit of track on hand. Also, what would be the best DC power source for Z Scale? Charlie
Charlie, this may be a bit challenging with roadbed Micro-Track. The minimum radius that MTL makes is 195mm, which is a bit wider than your 15 inch wide shelf. I think all of the GP locomotives and F units made by MTL and AZL will go around 145mm radius track. You can make the smaller radius curves with MTL flex track, or you can switch to Rokuhan roadbed track which has 175 and 145 mm radius track. You should be able to fit a layout in that space. Interestingly, the Noch Liebenzell and Blumenau/Tannheim layouts are almost those exact dimensions. You could just use those track plans. The Rokuhan R021 track set for their briefcase layout looks like wit will just squeeze into the 21 inches. A simple 145mm radius oval with 220mm straight sides will fit in that space at an angle. This is one of my favourite micro layouts. http://www.trainboard.com/highball/...iorama-is-in-the-making-this-christmas.32781/ As far as Z scale DC controllers go, Rokuhan RC02. The RC03 if you use two Rokuhan turnouts. Then snail speed controller.
I agree that the MTL track will be a challenge. Rokuhan offers 170mm radius track (R003). I did a quick build in my track planning software and it appears it will fit in the 15" width. I definitely would go with the 170mm versus the 145mm. Of course, you could do an inner loop with the 145mm. The length is great! I would encourage adding siding to store a train. You also have more then enough room for stub sidings for switch, and additional storage. I agree with Curn. If you are adding turnouts, then go with the Rokuhan track controller system. It is all plug n play and works great. Of course I LOVE my Ztrack Snail Speed controllers! But you would have to use Rokuhan's RC02 turnout control boxes. These can be powered off of the A028 adapter. Rob
Thanks for the help guys. I'm a little discouraged as I have a lot of Micro Track and can't really spend money to buy something different right now, nor do I have another space presently available. Maybe back to the drawing board for a bit...
Charlie, You can connect the Rokuhan track to MTL (I've posted images in another thread) so you don't need to scrap your MTL track. A couple of other thoughts would be an industrial yard or a switchback track (giving you some height). If you're looking for automatic operation you can add some sort of sensing (such as Märklin's 8589 circuit track) to reverse the train and switch the turnouts. BTW: the Rokuhan C002 will not drive the MTL turnouts directly. Mark
Thanks Mark. I am looking mostly for a loop of some sort with a couple of sidings. Just something relaxing to watch it go around. I'm disappointed that the Micro Track won't work in this small space.
Charlie, Yeah, I wish MTL had followed through with their track line. The only other thing I can think of is using MTL flex track. I don't know if you could do a 170mm radius curve (never tried) but the package instructions doesn't say you can't. Mark
Charlie, just attach a little extra to the front of the shelf, where the loops would be. About 2" (and a fence/railing). Make a 'dog bone' layout (the loop goes a bit more than 180 so points back in a bit, making the front track farther inward.
The problem is that you are also limited by the length of the shelf as well as the width. This is a an example drawn using AnyRail. The track library is Rokuhan but the curves are 195 mm. The overall size is 534 mm by 380 mm (approx. 21" by 15"). An oval could be constructed with a small extension at the front, but there would not be room for sidings. Rob Pearce (aka ViperBugloss)
Thanks for the help guys. This is a learning experience for me. I'm disappointed but who knows where it will lead. I'm not going to give up. Charlie
Does your layout have to be a permanent layout on a shelf? A Z scale layout could be on a board which can be leant upright against a wall when not in use, then brought out and placed on a table. A 4' by 2' board can accommodate a double oval layout with straights consisting of three 22o mm track sections. I have not used Micro Track but I understand that it is similar to Rokuhan track. I frequently build temporary layouts using Rokuhan track to experiment with ideas. Rob Pearce (aka ViperBugloss)
Rob, It doesn't have to be permanent. I bought a coffee table (new in the box) that I can build a Z Scale layout in someday. It's just that I don't have a place for that right now and my wife doesn't want it around because it doesn't match anything in the house. Plus, I really don't have time to work on something like that. Without a place to set it when I am not working on it, it has to stay in the box for now. We have two nice bookcases and the shelf sizes are as listed above. My wife had me move some books out of one shelf and commented that I could have that space. So, I saw an opportunity, and right now, it's the only opportunity that I would have available. For anything else, I would have to wait. I just figured that the Micro Track would do the trick but it looks like not.
Even though I don't have room on the shelf, I am still playing around with this. The square shows the area I presently have available. I am just wondering how I could make this better?
Get yourself a 21" x 18"piece of 1/4" plywood or a piece of 3/4 "Styrofoam and build your layout on that, then sit it on the shelf. The 15" resting on the shelf will support the extra 3 inches sticking out with ease.
Yes, I've considered doing something like that. There are a couple of challenges with doing that but I am trying to find a way. Now, I need some layout design help.
Styrofoam is white pearls and a messy disaster. The Pink or Blue Extruded Polystyrene (or XPS) is MUCH more friendly. You can also use 1/2" Foamboard (white paper over foam), Gatorboard (a very thin wood over foam - STRONG) or others. See:http://www.dickblick.com/categories/foamboard/ for examples.
@FriscoCharlie Can I get a clarification on the shelf length you have available? I calculate that your design would require more than 21" (something like 26"). Rob Pearce (aka ViperBugloss)
... About use of thighter radii, in my opinion one has to keep in mind that a lone locomotive and the same locomotive coupled to a train won't accept the same radii. Indeed I heard here and there people beeing able to run lone AZL Geeps on R=145 radius curves, but as far as I remembered these folks had hard time trying to run trains behind these units, especially with rolling stock equipped of chassis mounted couplers (such as some old MTL 50' boxcars). If I were to model on such a small surface as 15 x 21", I'd try to define a track plan for a small switching layout. For example an industry with a spur and 2 and 3 turnouts, allowing to switch 1 or 2 cars at a time... As for the best DC power supply, I vote for snail controllers (Passmann, Zthek, etc). Dom
