Ztrains: Z Scale Basics

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Hello... And Welcome All New Z Scalers

We'd like to welcome you to the newest regular feature here at Ztrains.com, Z Scale Basics. We'll be focusing on you, the Z scale beginner, showing you just how easy it is to get your first layout up and running in Z scale. More than that however, we want you to be comfortable with some of the common Z scale practices so designing and working on your own layout will be a fun and rewarding experience. We'll be working primarily with trains and track from Micro-Trains® Line (MTL), our Z Scale Basics sponsor.

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Through-Girder Bridge: Part IV
September, 2010
Let's get to the soil... today we'll begin creating a small diorama for our bridge.

Through-Girder Bridge: Part III
August, 2010
Today we'll add a bit of weathering to our bridge sides and shoot our deck with a base coat of Kilz spray paint.

Through-Girder Bridge: Part II
August, 2010
We're going to use a conventional spray paint for our bridge sides. Though not as fine as an airbrush, this will make our bridge project easy for beginners.

Through-Girder Bridge: Part I
July, 2010
With the release of the new through-bridge track section by Micro-Train, we thought we'd take a look at this bridge prototype to get a little bridge background.

Simple Shelf Layout
June, 2010
Shelf layouts are a great way to fire up the imagination in a very small space. You can hone your kit building skills and scenery chops in a very compact and functioning space. Throw out the rules and have some fun!

DIY Feeder Track
May, 2010
In this article we show you how to quickly and easily turn any section of MTL's Micro-Track into a feeder track. Very useful for when you want to hide your layout feeder wires.

The Co-op Build: Completed
April, 2010
We're very excited to have completed this very cool little laser building scene and we hope you've enjoyed the process of the build as well. It's always fun to look at the first pictures taken and compare these to the completion pictures. I like how a project changes over the course of a build and turns into something entirely new!

The Co-op Build: Part V
April, 2010
Today we paint and rust up our rails... a lot! Going for an old local looking rail line that has seen better days.

The Co-op Build: Part IV
April, 2010
We've shifted slightly on our Co-op shed build... it's now a fishing shack! After we began assembling the Co-op, it just sort of screamed "fishing shack" and who are we to argue with an inspired moment?

The Co-op Build: Part III
March, 2010
Talus, scree, debris... who knew rock bits could sound so exotic! This time out on the Co-op build we're going to make our own talus and begin giving our larger rock work a bit of supporting character.

The Co-op Build: Part II
February, 2010
In this installment of the Co-op build we'll add some rock work as well as a simple soil base to our scene. Yes, we're using real dirt so get ready to get a little dirty!

The Co-op Build: Part I
January, 2010
We're building a small scene from scratch using the MTL Co-op shed as the centerpiece. We'll be posting lots of updates as we go along so bookmark this one!

Mixing Track
November, 2009
Need to match up a section of Marklin track to your MTL Micro-Track®... then this article is for you. With just a little modification you can make this a smooth transition.

Rock Molds 101
September, 2009
Looking to get more realistic rocks on your layout? Why not make your own molds... it's economical, fun and you'll end up with rock work that is unique to your layout.

Levels
August, 2009
Raising your track up off your layout base, even by as little as an inch or so, can make all the difference in the world for creating land contours, rivers, gullies, etc. Even if your layout is set in the desert... there's lots of reasons not to go flat.

Work Your Micro-Track®
July, 2009
If you've been looking to change the look of your MTL Micro-Track® just a bit to better fit your track plan... this article will help. By using Woodland Scenics ballast along with a bit of weathering powder... you can tailor your track to your layout.

The Three Notch Railroad Layout
May, 2009
This really is a fun article this month as we get you custom cutting Micro-Track® 110mm track sections to build this new industrial park track plan. Don't know how to modify Micro-Track®? Not to worry as we lay it all out for you in photos.

The Harbor Valley Shunting Layout
April, 2009
Here's a new track plan that makes use of the MTL uncoupling track section to help you move some heavy freight around the harbor... or valley.

The MTL Expansion Set... A Standalone Layout
March, 2009
This month we'll show you how the MTL Expansion Set is actually a compact layout all by itself.

What's Available In Z Scale Sectional Track
February, 2009
Micro-Trains® is developing new track sections for release later this year... let's see what track pieces are available as of February 2009.

A Look At Track Geometry
January 2009
Here we touch on how the current sectional track geometry for Z scale was developed.