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Post by dave on Jul 7, 2015 21:55:54 GMT -5
Good evening,
Does anyone have any links to some Z-scale track plans? I would like to start with a 2' x 4' layout, but I could go up to 2.5' x 5', and use all Rokuhan track. I would like an outside loop with the widest curves possible (I did a little math and the 270mm curves will fit but not allow much room on the edges, so I may have to use the 245mm curves) and then something else interesting for the layout. Any ideas? Thanks for your help.
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Post by markm on Jul 8, 2015 0:17:51 GMT -5
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Post by smr on Jul 8, 2015 2:27:47 GMT -5
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Post by ztrack on Jul 8, 2015 7:03:51 GMT -5
Dave you may want to check out the new issue of Ztrack. We have two 2' x 6' track plans in this issue. They are designed with Rokuhan track. The concept is modeling Union Stations, but it may give you some ideas. The single copy issues of this issue will be available this week. Here is a link to our site: www.ztrack.comRob |
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Post by dazed on Jul 9, 2015 14:53:59 GMT -5
Dave, what type of layout are you interested in....locale/era/etc.? Coal mine, industrial area, grain, passenger, yard switching? Bridges and scenery or urban decay and heavy industry? Modern or steam or somewhere in between?
I could help you design something if you are interested.
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Post by dave on Jul 9, 2015 21:02:46 GMT -5
Good evening,
I will eventually have everything from the transition era (GP7) to modern (F59PHi). I think I would like a double mainline for when I just want to watch a couple of trains run. I would like to have a couple of industries and a passing siding long enough to house a loco and 8 cars. I would like to keep the track without elevation if possible. I think I will use 2.5' x 5' so I can use the 270mm and 245mm curves and still have room for the passing siding. Thanks for your help.
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Post by dazed on Jul 10, 2015 11:41:41 GMT -5
OK, good...some of the criteria is shaping up.
Questions
1. Sounds like you want at least somewhat of a city scene with some industry. Any particular part of the country or scenic features you want to have? (i.e... seaport? midwest? Rocky Mountains? California desert? heavily forested hills? Chicago/NY urban decay? Smaller generic city scene? Florida industrial/palm trees?)
2. If you had to pick one railroad to model predominately, which would it be?
3. Any of the plans you have seen from the links above (or elsewhere) that you like?
4. What are some of your favorite model railroads you've seen, either in magazines, in person, online, etc.?
5. Any thoughts about a viewblock to separate the layout into two scenes? Or do you prefer it all open? (for example, if the layout is to be up against a wall, this may not be desirable)
6. Outside of keeping the track level, any problem with vertical changes in the surrounding scenery? So, in a city setting you might have underpasses or areas significantly above or below track grade level. Or especially with heavily scenic areas like water features or mountains where the surrounding landscape undulates above and below the track in a sometimes drastic manner. In most cases there are grades involved too but that's one of the tricks of model railroading is keep the track flat and raise/lower the rest. Alternatively you may just want a simple, flat board and that's fine too.
7. Any opposition to some of the unconventional track pieces? For example: curved turnouts, or the ultra sharp turnouts for use in industrial areas. What about superelevated track, is that acceptable?
I'm gonna start a list of "Givens and Druthers" to help with the design process. "Givens" means...has to be there if at all possible. "Druthers" is a contraction/distortion of "I'd Rather" so those are things that you would like to have but aren't absolutely mandatory if it impedes some of the other design elements, particularly Givens.
Givens
-At least 2' x 4' layout size
-Minimum Radius 245mm
-Rokuhan track
-outside loop with the widest curves possible
-transition era (GP7) to modern (F59PHi), so no concrete ties
Druthers
-At least 2.5' x 5'
-Minimum Radius 270mm (maybe close to being a given?)
-Double Mainline
-keep the track without elevation
-couple of industries
-passing siding long enough to house a loco and 8 cars
-"something else interesting"
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Post by dave on Jul 10, 2015 13:12:54 GMT -5
Dazed,
1. I live in Nebraska, so a midwest type of scene is good with a few trees.
2. CB&Q and Burlington Northern and maybe BNSF. Yes, I know the Dallas TRE set I ordered will look silly, but I couldn't pass it up for $99.
3. I did a little looking at the Rokuhan plans and none of them appealed to to me too much. There were only a couple with a double track mainline and not much else.
4. I don't really have any favorites that I have seen. On Trainboard in the Z section, there is a thread towards the top that has a Z scale layout that doesn't look too bad, but maybe a tad busy with track.
5. A scenic divider would be OK if necessary; I could be swayed eithr way on that.
6. No issues with vertical changes in scenery (other than I have never done it).
7. No opposition to unconventional track pieces unless they are problematic to reliable running. Superelevated track is OK with me.
Lastly, you are correct with the Givens and Druthers, but nothing is set in stone. I just want trains to run reliably and have enough room to run trains up to 12 cars but not so big that I can't finish building it. Also, I probably won't weather or ballast the track as I have no clue how to do it.
Thanks again for your help.
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Post by dave on Jul 16, 2015 22:51:18 GMT -5
Good evening Dazed...have you been able to come up with a track plan? I am ready to order some track. Thanks for your help.
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Post by dazed on Jul 17, 2015 9:02:54 GMT -5
Hi Dave, Sorry been busy with work and prepping for vacation. I haven't come up with a plan yet per se. I love midwestern railroading and I keep coming back to a few themes...one would be the "Red Wing Division" layout that was in Model Railroader in the early 90's...see www.gatewaynmra.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/gateway-central-2.jpg . It would have to be modified slightly to allow for the double-track but that shouldn't be a problem. The other would be a backdrop divided layout inspired by western Nebraska and BN's operations around Crawford Hill. I would say "inspired" versus depicting, but one side would be a mildly winding curve and hilly scenery, the other would be a mid-size midwestern town with grain industry and maybe cold storage or something like that. (think along the lines of MR's Red Oak n-scale layout they recently did... mrr.trains.com/series/mr-insider/2014/11/mr-insider-weekly-november-17-2014 ) And with the station you could at least have a station stop for your commuter set. |
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Post by zdave on Jul 17, 2015 16:24:17 GMT -5
I've collected a number of model railroad layout books over the years but by far my favorite is "Realistic Revenue Operations for Model Railroads" by Eugene Villaret. I knew I wanted to have the usual loop so I could just let my trains run at times but I also knew I wanted to be able to run some realistic railroad operations to keep things interesting over the years. The great thing with Z scale is it small enough that even for a something such as a 2' by 4' layout, you can do some neat operational modeling. Mr. Villaret breaks things down to an easy-to-understand level so you can do more than just run trains around in circles and come-up with layouts which support some actual realistic rail operations.
If you have any interest in actual ops, I highly recommend taking a look at it for some ideas. It shows up with a Google search. I didn't completely "weed" through the Google search, but it looks like it's still available although it may not be cheap.
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Post by christoff on Jul 17, 2015 20:49:46 GMT -5
I'm really struggling with the concept of a layout also. Not only will I have a hard time with the scenery but what to model after. I collect trains that are eye catching with colours I like I mean don't get me wrong I'm Canadian so I own mostly trains in Canada but still if it looks good I can't help myself sometimes (UP yellow catches my eye all the time) non the less this whole track plan is a pain in the rear end I even purchased anyrail5 in hopes it would help but still can't decide on a track plan I really enjoy the concept of a rail yard/industrial zone but can't figure out how to tie it all together or where to even begin do I do the first thing every new guy does and build a 4x8 with a scenery devider in it one side beautiful Alberta prairies an the other side the iner city waste land or go for a modular layout and build the modules as I feel they should be at the time of building remember this would be my first proper layout with no exprience under my belt what so ever I believe track planning is the first and most crucial step but like the originator of this thread there are little to no ideas to go off of for a first timer
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Post by markm on Jul 17, 2015 22:50:26 GMT -5
Guys, For a first layout, I'd suggest a couple of ovals with a siding. Keep it simple, build it quickly and start operating and get a feel for how you want to run.. Once you're running you can print out some backdrops to run your trains past to think about scenery. No layout has to be permanent: use double-sided foam tape to hold the track down and its easy to change your mind. Here's my test bench, but it still makes a 2 1/2 train layout. One could easily add sidings to the inner oval and complete the 245mm oval to give you three tracks.  |
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Post by dave on Jul 18, 2015 21:30:24 GMT -5
Markm, I like your idea. I am going to make an oval using 270mm curved track, get one switch and make a siding and finally, a Rokuhan RC-03 controller. I got my AZL GP7 today so I have two complete trains now. If all goes well, I will get another oval with 245mm curved track and a handful of switches to make some sidings and possibly a passing track.
One question I have is about the Rokuhan track; will I need to have a power feeder on each siding?
Thanks for the help.
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Post by markm on Jul 19, 2015 0:35:29 GMT -5
One question I have is about the Rokuhan track; will I need to have a power feeder on each siding? Thanks for the help. With the Rokuhan turnouts, you can have it either way: power-routing, power goes down only the selected leg, and non-routing, power goes down both legs all the time. If you want to park a loco on a siding while running another, you want power-routing, if you plan on running DCC you don't. Also get the 110mm 13 degree turnout, the 23 degree turnouts are a bit too tight for most rolling stock. Hope this helps, Mark |
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