Building my own but i do have a couple questions do you all use magnets between modules? and what size holes do you have for the anderson inserts. Seer
So far, I'm the only one using magnets. They work ok without them, but I wanted to join modules without using rail joiners.
I will have both my T-rail-Z modules and my T-Trak-Z modules at the NMRA National Train Show in Grapevine, Texas in August, 2023. I invite anyone with a T-Trak-Z module to bring it to add to the small layout I will have there. T-Trak-Z and my T-rail-Z modules are held together by the track roadbed and rail joiners only.
"Still fighting the cold from hell but have a show in Des Monies this weekend so load up tomorrow. Leave Friday as 5 hour drive up there. But did get some done, have the T-trak-Z modules done. A single straight, a double and all three sizes of outside corners. Will have on display at the show and hope on web site end of next week, as have to do them dang direction and order boxes. I did make the backboard on the single and double bolt on and will be included in the kits. I did split the tops on the corners so can only stock two sizes of boxes, no way around not having a special box for the double. A special box for the corner would add like 6 bucks or more to the price as need two box one for the kit and one to ship. The box price not that bad it's the shipping that kills it. Last box order shipping was over 50% of the price of the boxes. rich Any progress on these modules?" Just a fast update, I will be starting to cut the modules by the end of the week, as the last of the orders are going out this week. Got hit with 6 months of orders in like 2 weeks so have been busy cutting. Plus, week took our first real vacation, took 4 days cruising with one of our car groups, 1000 miles in 4 days all with-in 60 miles of the host hotel in Eureka Springs AR. Have the modules priced and just need to cut some stock and take photos for the web site. thanks rich
Hi, very well designed modules! Can you post the cutting plans for the staging modules and the other corner module? Much appreciated!
I don't know if you will be able to use the plans I drew up, but here they are for the Staging Yard modules. with this just being a .jpg image of the drawings: As you can see they are drawn up in inches real size in Corel Draw. These drawings were for laser cutting the plywood, where the red lines cut all the way through the wood, and the black lines engrave about 1mm deep. Attached here is a .pdf file that you can import into any vector drawing program like Corel Draw, Adobe Illustrator, Lightburn, etc, for actual size laser cutting: TTZ staging yard modules.pdf
Here is the outside corner module with Hillside Contour sides picture: And the drawing pdf: TTZ Hillside Contour Corner Module.pdf
Here is the Riverside Contoured Corner Module picture: And it's PDF file: TTZ Riverside Contour Corner Module.pdf
Wow, thanks for sharing this!! Do you have the plans for the double module also? By the way, my HO train club buddies think that 6mm plywood is too thin for building such modules. Do you think these T-TRAK-Z modules can warp in time?
So double modules are 440mm, singles are 220mm. The yard modules are doubles. As far as warpage, mine were constructed from Baltic Birch plywood in 2019, and they have stayed in the garage where temperatures swing from 110 degrees (43C°) at this time of year down to 20 degrees (-6C°) in the winter. I think it's the small square leveling feet layer in each corner, that really stiffens the whole box structure. As far as being too thin, 6mm is just fine for such small modules, and is what everyone building T Trak modules are using. But you can build them using 1/8" plywood tops and 1" pine sides if you like. I used 6mm plywood, because that's the thickest I can cut with my 30W laser. The 440mm modules are the largest I can cut with my laser unless I splice modules, in which case I would just glue 2 of them together at assembly, so I did not draw up anything larger.
Could this be a 200mm depth module instead of 100mm? I understand that you switched from 175mm to 200mm depth for staging module.
Oh yes, you could make 200mm deep modules instead of 100mm. The reason my staging modules are only 100mm deep is because the Lester Turntable module on the other side is 480mm deep, so I needed to make the modules on the staging module side less deep. Here you can see a plan of the set I built to fit on a 30" x 96" banquet table:
Would not MDF "swell" if it get in contact with water? Is not the plywood more stabile regarding to moisture?
MDF is reported to loose shape over time, by several modellers. It will definitely swell some when subjected to moist. Then again, there a those that work with it without any problem. Personally, I prefer plywood; eventhough it is sometimes not 100% straight (needs bracing). Matt
Well that was quick.... I finished the Z scale T-Trak-Z barn module today. It was a true weekend build! I started it yesterday. The module is a single T-Trak-Z module from Stuart Denniston. The barn is a Ztrack Exclusive barn kit from Archistories. Track from Rokuhan. JTT trees were used. I wanted to create a little of a shrub line by the track. This helped frame the scene. The fence is an Archistories split rail fence. It looks amazing next to the barn. The tractor is from Z-Doktor. The rusting car is one we use to offer many years ago. The horses are from my parts bin. The soil is right from the garden. Sifted heavily. The backdrop is a photo of a farm scene from here in Ohio. It was worked in PhotoShop to help blend it into the scene. I really thought this one would take me longer. I have another farm scene I am contemplating since there is still plenty of time remaining in model train season!
That's a very convincing farm scene! The module looks top notch! I am very impressed with your TTZ Modules Rob!
