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Setting up my Trans Alpine Bahn this weekend first time since 2018 I’ve had it out. A Zed club sprung up in the last year or two in my absence I’m looking forward to seeing them again. I saw them last year while I was at the show with my sons n scale layout. Hope you all are well keep the topics following and long live the Zed!

Hello all, I have a Marklin curved turnout and it looks like the solenoid has gone bad. Is there any possibility to replace the solenoid or do I need to replace the whole turnout? As a side issue, is there any source for the small Z (or N) twin-coil solenoids used in turnouts as a spare part for use in animations? Thanks, Marty

I'm build/run a website comparing model train prices from hundreds of shops ? To help people in searching for Z scale 2nd hand/vintage models, I would like to add some more model train shops to my site. Can you recommend some shops I should add? Especially shops selling 2nd hand/vintage models. (I'm in Denmark myself, so a bit lost concerning foreign shops selling 2nd hand/vintage models). Thanks a lot for your help ?

Technical Question for the group: I'd like to add lighting to my passenger cars (I have already come up with a decent way to do this using LEDs and a capacitor for dirty track). The dilemma for me is the one grade on my layout (I'm not sure the %). I'm running Marklin equipment and steam locos are notoriously bad pullers and any grade can seriously hinder their pulling power. The problem with lights I find are the wheel wipers required for pickup. Even when you can get them to touch the wheels or axels just enough to provide power this increases drag on the cars and that means you need more pulling power. I realize folks may use double headed options like in the prototype but I have an idea which I'd like some feedback on before I experiment with rolling stock. It goes like this: Let's say I want to pull four to five cars with lighting. Depending on the style of passenger car that is at least two axels/wheels needed/car to provide power. In a five car train that's at least 10 wheels/axels with wipers and that's a lot of drag. Now if I can reduce the number of wipers while still getting sufficient power my idea is this: with my five car scenario I would only tax two cars with wipers and connect each car together in line with two wires. Each set would run from one car to the next and be soldered onto the next car's LED board and each car would have a capacitor on it's board for dirty track. Obviously this would mean the cars would be permanently attached to each other but I am fine with that as most passenger sets come together as a set and I can still detach them from the locos. I am running my locos in DCC so there is no shortage of track power. My real question is am I missing an obvious (or not so obvious) hiccup with this possible solution? Thank you all in advance for your input. Anthony

Happy 4th of July, As far as I remember, there has never been a Z scale month in the NMRA calendar. Not because there are not great modelers in our scale, but because I don't think anyone has ever bothered to submit photos! For example, I begged David George to submit photos of his award-winning layout but never received a reply, so I infer that he did not. The blurb in the attached NMRA request for submissions says that they're looking "for a few good layouts", but that's untrue. What they are looking for is excellent photos of small, richly detailed scenes. So pictures of an excellent diorama would qualify. Something like the Z diorama featured on the cover of the Feb 2011 NMRA Magazine by MMR Gerry Leone. Why do I think this is important? I think our scale is losing traction. Many would-be modelers think HO when they consider taking up the hobby. If knowledgeable, they may consider N scale, but they are rarely exposed to Z scale, hence rarely consider it. This is not helped by the lack of highly visible retail access to Z. Walthers does not carry it and M.B. Klein (Modeltrainstuff online) is phasing it out. These are huge losses. I think getting some photos in the NMRA calendar would boost much needed awareness of our scale. Malcolm Cleaveland MCZ Models

I am trying to find tried-and-true wiring diagrams for adding automatic stop/start blocks on my Marklin Z layout.

Has anyone had success wiring decoders in the newer style of Marklin Diesel engines with the split boards on either side of the motor? The older boards are a tile more straight forward as to what to cut out and where to wire. Steam engines are easy to see where the decoder wires go. But the split boards are having me scratch my head a bit following the electric paths. There are also screws in the chassis that I believe are part of the pick up system from the wheels.

New to z-scale. I'm building a suitcase layout for my son (I was able to procure a Noch aluminum case), and am planning on using Rokuhan track. Two questions: 1) What's the best way to attach the track to the layout (keeping in mind it's a suitcase/portable layout). In n-scale I've used latex caulk. 2) What do folks use for track power feeders? 3) Do people solder z-scale track with roadbeds (the idea scares me) I see that Rokuhan has a feeder cable that fits into their 55mm straight track. Are these any good? Better options? For a suitcase layout with Rokuhan track, how often would you place a feeder? thanks in advance

I am building my first z-scale layout for my son (in a Noch suitcase). I am going to use Rokuhan track, and the rokuhan switch/controllers (C002). If I am NOT using the Rokuhan train controller (going to use the Noch 88166 controller for 2 railway circuits), what's the best way to power the Rokuhan turnouts? I see they make a cable (A010) to connect the C002 switches to an "AC power supply"). Does this really need to be AC? Can I power it off if a wall-wart? TIA

New here. I want to build-up a z-scale portable layout similar to the ones Noch offers, but without spending their crazy price for my son as he moves on to his next life chapter. Where can one get cases like the ones Noch uses? I can still find the Rokuhan versions, but their are smaller, and I’d like to both maximize the layout size and curve radius. Appreciate any pointers to appropriate cases. Thanks

After this thread first appeared, I queried the Nn3 Group during one of our semi-monthly Zoom conferences. One of the UK members of that Group encountered issues with some of this Marklin steamers. He did some checking and found the back-to-back wheel dimension on these was "tight". He widened this out to 5.2+mm and had no further problems with them running through Rokuhan turnouts. The NMRA Standard S4.2 lists 5.28mm as back-to-back for Nn3 and 5.44 for Z. Not sure why the difference. I was part of the NMRA Technical Committee that came up with the Nn3 standards in the 1970's, realistically recognizing that for most modelers "Nn3" was only practical utilizing Marklin Z components. I did not participate in the development of the Z standards. -- Tom K. NMRA MMR#101

I'm looking for a document of sorts that lists all Marklin products since 1973-ish when they started. Not the glossy catalog that we get each. On that topic that's a lot of paper. They should go digital. So does anyone know how to get this? Stacy at Marklin is coming up empty. You'd think Marklin has something like this. Cars, sets, loco's, etc. Appreciate the help.

Has anyone else run into and issue with Marklin steam engines hanging up on Rokuan turnouts? I am talking specifically about some with the smaller drive wheels like the 88830 which is a 2-10-0 and even the 88275 which is a 2-8-2. The best I can tell, it looks like the red "belly" gets hung up either on the frogs or just before that point. The rail over the frogs seems to be shallower than the rest and sometimes the larger wheels appear to ride over the frogs on their flanges rather than on their treads but wit these smaller wheels I notice there is very little clearance from the bottom of the loco (red belly) and the treads. Anthony

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AMERICAN Z LINE December 2021 New Releases Part 2 EMD E8s – Southern Pacific ‘Bloody Nose’ Well the Daylights weren’t the only locos to pull the Cascade and Lark passenger trains! The ‘Bloody Nose’ E8s are here! Two road numbers are available. 62616-1 SP EMD E8A 9047 62616-2 SP EMD E8A 9051 The EMD E8s feature AZL’s 7mm motor, dual flywheels, metal steps, directional controlled LED lighting, optional front truck with mounted coupler, blackened metal wheels, AutoLatch? couplers and they come DCC ready. EMD F7 A & B sets and single A – Northern Pacific ‘Loewy’ The Northern Pacific’s ‘Loewy’ paint scheme was iconic. It appeared on locomotives and passenger cars. In August of 2019, AZL released NP lightweight cars in the ‘Loewy’ scheme. The matching locomotives were missing. Well now they are here! 63004-3 NP EMD F7A & F7B 6509A, 6512B A - B Set 63004-4 NP EMD F7A 6512A The EMD F7s feature AZL’s 7mm motor, dual flywheels, prototype specific details, directional controlled LED lighting, optional front truck with mounted coupler, blackened metal wheels, AutoLatch? couplers and they come DCC ready. 1917 8,000 Gallon Tank Cars – PSPX – Phillips 66 915005-1 Phillips 66 8000 Gallon Tank Car PSPX 2376 Single 915035-1 Phillips 66 8000 Gallon Tank Car PSPX 2377, PSPX 2378 Two-pack 905005-1 Phillips 66 8000 Gallon Tank Car PSPX 2379, PSPX 2380, PSPX 2381, PSPX 2382 Set See the American Z Line site for more information on these and other AZL products. http://www.americanzline.com Rob Kluz Ztrack Distribution Follow us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/ztrackmagazine Ztrack Magazine Ltd. Distributor for American Z Line Full Throttle & Rokuhan Authorized MTL, InterMountain and Tenshodo dealer. www.ztrack.com www.ztrackcenter.com www.ztrackresale.com www.zscaletrack.com www.azldirect.com 6142 Northcliff Blvd Dublin OH 43016 (614) 764-1703

Doing up a 2x4 layout, I decided to hand lay my own turnouts. After making the six turnouts that I needed, I put it together with the MTL flex track that I had and was planning on using for the rest of the straight and curved track... well the turnouts looked clunky next to the MTL. Though they both were close to code 55, the hand laid rails were wider and just didn't look right. So off I went and made up 6 code 40 turnouts... they look much better together... ahhhh but wait, the turnouts are now code 40 and the flex track is code 55 (sort of)... and they don't level out. Their tops don't line up. And of course I didn't notice until AFTER I had soldered a few of the joints. So here is the dilemma. Do I just grind down the higher rail on the MTL code 55 as a transition and move on or do I cut out the solder joints, remake new flex track and make modified joiners that will line up the tops of the rails where the two different codes meet? So after all this, I think I've answered my own question. I'm going to go the route of cutting out the bad solder joints. Being a past Project manager I know the fallout from this poor planning effort, there is going to be a lot of explaining to do at the head office, not to mention the delay to the wife's Christmas display.

A funny think happened on my way to create an Z Scale Layout. I just happened to take a Twice Look at my N Scale Baden Baden Train Station with the concept of my circa 1931, propeller driven Z Scale locomotive in front of it. (I had rejected it previously as being far too small, so opted for the HO Scale Version which measures out to a scale of 1:130 but on the short side as to foot print.) Then I began to consider Shrubbery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZvsGdJP3ng but there is one small problem.... Slightly higher than the previously purchased shrubbery....or to another scale. I am now a Née Scaler, or former Scaler who is first considering the Code of the Rail, the locomotive sits upon. As well as the Shrubbery which surrounds the rail. Oops~! I had thought to seek a respite from Code 40 for my N Gauge Layout; I am now considering it for my not so simple Z Scale Wannabe Layout in my Coffee Table. Code 30? Please tell me know. :<)) Mark

I bought a Z Scale Locomotive with the Propeller on one end, a couple of years ago. Soon after I purchased these Twin Train Rooms. Not sure my motivation. Well, I understand the Twin Train Rooms, I wanted such a space from 1959, when I had a HO Layout up the street and around the corner in a nearby basement at 6 years old. I had some issues in must learning to place a Model Railroad on a 5x9 Table. But I also own a Coffee Table with a Glass top which has three drawers in it. The top drawer could be a used for a simple circle and perhaps one turnout. It pulls out and would be simply to model in. == Honestly, I hope my modeling of Z Scale becomes limited to just the coffee table... for that is how I began N Scale in 1969, Even at those days while in College; I still had the intention of a larger layout. Viewing such spectacular Z Scale Layouts has shook up my Reality a Bit. It's difficult to find such layouts in N Scale. I am in a effort now to hand lay Code 40 in N Gauge, ...but I also need a break from such tedious work. Hence, as soon as I measure the inside perimeter of the Coffee Table I am purchasing Z Scale Micro Train MTL Track for my new foray into model railroading. I hope I don't enjoy Z Scale too much. :)) Mark

Looking through basically, everything I could....I found a Z Scale Layout near 16 x 10 in size. I am very impressed with it. Are there others ? === The reasons I am asking are many. There is a pre-disposition in N Scale to think in terms of minimal radius but hence also a maximal radius of 19 inches. There are some N Scale Locomotives which will not run on a 19 inch radius, even without a train behind it. They need a minimal of 22 inches to operate at all, and with a train behind them; begin to show some promise at 24 inch radius. The longer the train, the longer the cars; the more need for wider radius and longer switches. === Another reason, I want to see what other Modelers are doing with larger areas for their layout; beyond the proverbial 4x8 in any scale. > Basically anything larger than 8x16. Here is an HO Layout I purchased in that size... and I found it wanting (as did the previous owner) for Cabforwards Operations. I was to cut it down the middle and hoist it up to my attic above. Then add at least two feet to the middle, widening the radius all around. Didn't happen. Shortly after all this, the house was robbed and I was attacked. Prompting me to buy yet another house in a different neighborhood with Twin Train Rooms. (One was to be HO the other N Scale.) > The HO Layout above didn't survive the move and began to break into pieces. Now both rooms are being fitted out to N Scale. == Further, I now model in modular, despite the large spaces, for easy movement and changes to life. Most of my modules are 16x24 inches but I am beginning work on one which is based on 48x48 inches. :)) Mark