Waterfront Project | Build 1
It’s been a couple of months since the last Waterfront Project update so I thought it best to get a clean start as the actual layout construction begins. Since we have the buildings built, the best place to start was to get a general feel for where these kits would sit on the base. Though it may change, right now the layout is slated to be 12” x 48”. This is a bit longer that I thought it would be but I want both space and scenery to be almost as prominent as the track itself.
Since I want this piece to have a very finished look to it, I’ll have a professional woodshop create the base once the track plan is established, but as it stands now our dimensions of 12” x 48” seem about right. This is actually a good size shelf / switching layout, if we converted this to HO scale this layout would measure 2’ 6” by 10’ 1”, definitely a respectable size.
I created accurate sketches of all the kits featured in our build articles. Any track plan when viewed overhead really only tells half the story as building height, angles and how well they work together isn’t shown, but the overhead drawing will allow for accurate track planning and a good idea of relationship between the structures and the trains.
Next comes the Big Kahuna in this project, finally designing the perfect track plan. I have to admit though after looking at more track plans than I can recall, I think the idea of the perfect plan is elusive if not impossible. What may be perfect to one person will be less so the next. After giving myself a headache or two on this part of the project, I think the lack of the perfect track plan is why many people may be armchair modelers; they don’t want to make the wrong choice. This is definitely something I find myself fighting.
We’ll begin tweaking the track plan this week and we’ll show some of these ideas right here at Ztrains. Once a plan is established, we’ll then ask Lance Mindheim for his assessment of our track plan.
It’s been a long time coming but we’re definitely excited to arrive at this point, turning our individual Micro-Trains kits in to a living, functioning layout.
Category: Z Scale Basics
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Hello John,
I can’t wait for this leg of the build to begin. Your dimensions are similar to what I have in mind for my waterfront module. Will you be using flex track or sectional pieces? Maybe both? I will be having a friend photoing my waterfront pieces on Friday morning and as soon as I download them and write some descriptive material I will send them right along. I am somewhere between a technophobe and a Luddite so it’s best that I leave the more serious work to those who know more than I do. The good thing is that I haven’t rushed into things and done things that would be regrettable, i.e. laying track that was not ideal. I’ll be in touch soon.
Jim in Dorchester.
Hi Jim,
I decided on the length of 4 feet as I wanted to stretch the scenery out just a bit. As this is a humid sub-tropical area, I really want to have some fun with it.
I’ll be using Micro-Trains flex track and hand-built Fast Tracks turnouts. The two blend together really well (example: http://www.ztrains.com/editorial/black-poly-fiber/).
I look forward to seeing those photos of yours, and how you’ve built and finished your MTL models!
John
Ztrains
John,
How about no track plan! Hear me out on this one. See you can have one barely useable track winding its way through town and nothing but a bunch of abandoned sidings along the way in various forms of neglect that used to stem from it!
Maybe have one still in use but not really just for fun. I enjoy seeing the way you weather your track as much as anything and this might be a neat idea.
Joe,
Interesting idea as I do like the abandoned look. I want this piece however to be more functional by incorporating the Fast Track turnouts and the ability to do a good amount of car spotting. Still since it’s an old Florida look I’m after the track is definitely going to have some serious weathering!
I’m working on the track plan now but one thing I’ve decided to add to the mix is some point-to-point, auto-reversing action.
Since the main track section will run the length of the layout (48″), I thought it would be fun to have this scene be able to run on its own from time to time. Heathcote Electronics over in the UK makes some nice little boards and infrared sensors that would be perfect for this.
I’m thinking of a basic shuttle (back-and-forth) circuit with an intermediate stop along the way. Included at all points would be gradual braking and acceleration.
I do like the concept here of manual switching but I have to admit, I also really just like watching trains run too! I’m hoping this switching layout can give me both with an overall old, sandy feel to the piece.
John
Ztrains