SBB1

Part 5: Storage II (October 2023)

Hello all,

So the drawer is "finished", but as it will be a highly visible part of the build, more work needs to be done in terms of aesthetics. For a start, its straight edges are at odds with the curved lines of the table; I deliberated for a while about whether or not to incorporate a curved fascia - I wasn't 100% enamored with the idea of yet more complexity and woodworking - but decided it would be worth it in the end.

To form the basic shape of the fascia, three pieces of left-over 33×27mm pine are stacked and glued together...


...and then shaped to match the curvature of the baseboard, using the usual assortment of saws, files and sanders.


Here you can see how the fascia is bolted onto the drawer via self-tapping socket nuts. The two inner holes are for the drawer handle.

Now for what will be the most visible part: the curved face. In order to achieve a neat flex in the 3mm ply without any splitting, the plan was to score the back with a sharp knife then saw about halfway through between each pair of lines. Fortunately, I checked the flex of the ply after the first step and it turned out the scoring itself was sufficient, so I didn't have to go to the trouble of sawing out the lines.


Ready for the saw, which didn't have to be utilised in the end.


Face and handle in place...


...and secured using wood glue. Another piece of 3mm ply is shaped and slotted in on top to finish.

This was probably the most challenging step of the build thus far. The result isn't perfect, but as the fascia is fully removable, I could potentially have another pass at it in the future. For now I'm happy - it's certainly an improvement on the plain square look from before.

Onto the painting. The table is also made out of plywood, with a walnut-effect veneer, so the idea is to replicate this as closely as possible on the external surfaces of the drawer. For the internal surfaces I wanted some contrast and, having read that blue-grey pairs well with walnut, I found a shade called Hartlake Blue from Thorndown Paints and applied it using the same process as the woodstain.


Ronseal 'Walnut Satin' woodstain applied in three layers with a good sand from 120 grit paper between each coat. It takes time, but the resulting satin sheen is worth it.


The blue-grey is quite matte after a couple of coats...


...but the final layer delivers the effect I'm looking for. Confession time: peeling back the masking tape revealed a bit of a mess on the top edges, where the blue-grey had spilled over in many areas - undoubtedly due to my poor attempt at masking. Another pass with the sandpaper and woodstain neatened things up.


With the fascia painted and attached, the drawer is ready to be offered up to the runners.


Attached with a trio of woodscrews on each side and ready for the control suite.


The drawer is positioned on the runners with a 3mm overhang vs. the baseboard so that, when the time comes to add a baseboard fascia, they should line up flush together.

As well as improving resilience and the operator experience, the aim with the drawer was to build something that could have conceivably been an original part of the table. I think I've managed that to an extent; the camera shows a difference in the wood effect, however in actual viewing conditions the drawer and table blend together nicely. There are defects here and there, and I still need a solution for making the removal/replacement of the perspex easier, but I think at some point you have to call it a day and move on.

I realise that the last couple of posts have been lots of pictures of plywood and not much else, but hopefully it's been somewhat informative. From here we get onto the good stuff like track-laying, electrics and scenery, so do stick around!


All the best,

Andrew

Next time: Track I

I've been trying to focus on the Z scale project and I'm determined to finish it before starting up a Swiss N caper, but that doesn't mean I can't collect for the latter! Here are some of my pick-ups from the past year or so:

I've nearly completed the 8+1 Dosto rake, just short a 1st Class, but instead of another 2020 I was thinking of picking up a couple of the new release IC2000s to mix up the formation, as per the recent prototype.

From all the videos and pictures I've seen of intermodels, nothing says 'You are in Switzerland' more than a Bertschi tanktainer, though I may have gone slightly OTT.

I'm a fan of all things p'way - it would be great to be able to build up a full engineering train eventually - but unsurprisingly there doesn't seem to be too much on the market catering towards this sector. Some bogie ballast wagons would have been ideal, although these dinky Xns are nice and I think there are still some knocking around on the network.

Finally, my one big purchase in 2024 is Fleischmann's Re 620, with a shortish train of Arnold tankers to give something to haul. This could be recency bias, but I think it's the best performing loco I've come across so far. Absolutely glides at all speeds, even on analogue. Doesn't look bad either!

Thanks for sharing everyone, looking forward to seeing more!

All the best,

Andrew

Part 4: Storage I (April - October 2023)

Hello all,

With resilience being a key requirement - along with the desire to keep the layout compact and discreet - a storage solution for controls and rolling stock has been on the agenda since the early days. Plus, I have far more time to ponder and plan than actually model, so further complexity in the build is inevitable!

There were a number of possibilities here, but I decided to go with a scratchbuilt underslung drawer constructed primarily from the same 9mm ply as the rest of the layout, with 3mm used for the base and appendages. Once the runners are taken into account, the drawer will have external dimensions of approximately 270(W)×250(L)×80(D)mm, with enough space inside to accommodate the controller, switch boxes, rolling stock storage and some electrics. A clear plastic lid will protect the aforementioned from dust and damage when not in use.


Beyond the track plan, Anyrail was useful for fleshing out a number of different ideas, including the drawer design.

In order to maintain clearance between the drawer and the metal ring upon which the baseboard sits, the runners would have to be suspended from angle brackets - at least, this was the best solution I could see. The drawer will be built seperately and attached to the runners on completion. As with everything else on the layout, this is very much a 'how-I-did-it' as opposed to a tutorial.

The first step: suspending 250mm Häfele drawer runners beneath the baseboard. The positioning of these had to be quite precise; low enough to clear the metal table ring, far enough forward to allow access to all controls, and far enough back so that the drawer could sit flush with the baseboard when closed.

Make hay while the sun shines - time to head outside and do some woodworking! Here I'm gluing 10×10mm pine sticks onto the inside of the drawer sides. These will eventually support the drawer base.


Scoring plywood with a sharp knife then sawing with a run-of-the-mill hand saw is a pretty fool-proof, low-tech method to achieving neat cuts and avoiding the frayed edges, such as in the top right of this image.


Testing the fit prior to gluing everything together.


Adding 3mm ply on the inside to support a lid.

Rolling stock storage in situ. This was made by gluing together two pieces of 15mm medium density foam, with slots for the loco and coaches cut out of the top piece by hand using a sharp knife.


BR24 and coaches in their new home. The foam is not glued in place, so is easily replaceable if it degrades over time. Ditto the piece of wood at the back covering the electrics (more on that soon!)


Cutting the perspex lid. I managed to ruin one piece by using too coarse a saw blade; in the end, a straight edge, sharp knife and plenty of elbow grease did the job. Unfortunately I didn't capture any footage of the ultra-satisfying removal of the protective film...


...but here is the lid in place.

The drawer is pretty much complete as a functional item at this point, however there is still much to do before this job can be ticked off. Stay tuned for finishing, painting and general beautification in the next part.


All the best,

Andrew

Next time: Storage II

7 hours ago, cornish trains jez said:

Morning all,

 

Received this lovely TGV Lyria set yesterday. I’ve been after one of these for a while so finally bit the bullet and bought one. Haven’t had a chance to run it yet.

 

 

 

Best regards,

 

Jeremy

 

Nice one Jeremy, and perfect for your layout! I picked up one of these about a year ago and it performs as well as it looks. Plenty of oomph in the powered unit. Looking forward to seeing it bomb around Gelternau!

Andrew

Part 3: Baseboard Construction (May - September 2022)

Hello all,

With Spring in full flow, it's as good a time as any to get to work on the layout. I'm starting completely from scratch in every sense of the word, with only a handful of very basic tools around the house and none of the materials needed to construct a model railway. It takes time to accumulate these things, especially when you don't necessarily know exactly what you need! But I'm now in a place where I can get started.

The layout will slot snuggly into the space previously occupied by the lower piece of glass on the table, so the first step is to shape a ~52cm diameter baseboard. I measured this out using the screw-and-tape-measure method, then cut and shape using mostly hand tools. This can be hard going at times when your toolbox is lacking, and I've concluded that choosing a small, circular area to work in for a first project probably isn't optimal! Still, I'm enjoying the challenge.


Making a start.

The baseboard is constructed using 9mm ply, with 33×27mm pine for support. As I understand it, 9mm is on the thin side for a main baseboard, but it should prove more than adequate for a layout of this size. I had to go as thin as possible to maximise clearance for the dual-layer design, which in turn allows for some lower relief on one side of the layout, facilitating the viaduct and adding some scenic variation.

A second layer means a second round of cutting and shaping. After some additional refining, the result is a pair of circular boards which dovetail together.


Upper (left) and lower (right) baseboards, with the first of the pine supports screwed 'n' glued in place.


More support added to the lower board. The large square cut-out allows easier access to the underside of the upper board.


Upper and lower secured together, with the pine supports cut and filed to shape.


Baseboard = complete.

I'm still a way off running trains, but it feels great to have something tangible to show for my efforts.


All the best,

Andrew

Next time: Storage

Welcome to Kleinelautwen

The following is a blog I've been noting down over the past couple of years as I've worked on this project. I'm going to post in parts and dive into each stage of the process in detail. It'll take a little time to get the posts and images together, but it shouldn't be too long before we're caught up to the present layout state. Here are parts 1 and 2 together - enjoy!

Part 1: Introduction (December 2021)

Hello all,

Welcome to Kleinelautwen! Join me as I attempt my first ever model railway project: a Z gauge table layout. Hopefully it will provide you with some inspiration, while allowing me to show off all the mistakes I make.

Kleinelautwen has its origins in 2021, although the journey starts long before. Railways have always been a big part of my life, but for the longest time I'd never really felt the appetite to build something myself. Like many things, this was changed by becoming a dad. Seeing my little one's fascination with trains (and just about anything else that moves/is loud/has bright lights) made me think that I could bring some of that into our home for everyone to enjoy.

I decided that whatever I build should be discreet. We don't have swathes of space that would facilitate a vast layout and progress would probably be slow due to work/family/other commitments, so I don't want something that will be in the way. We had this lamp table that wasn't really seeing any use and it seemed like the ideal starting point. The layout will be out of the way and the question of storage is answered from the outset.


Apologies for the rug!

The basic idea is to remove the lower glass section of the table, slot in a baseboard and add scenery and track. Simple, right? With the help of some back-of-envelope sketching (quite literally!) on a cold, dark winter evening, a very rough outline of the plan takes shape.


Crude beginnings. Note: the idea of removing the lower glass and reinstalling it as a shelf above the layout was quickly abandoned. Although convenient for storage, it would have limited the already-constrained vertical space.

Further musings have resulted in a list of four requirements that will inform the design:

• Rural alpine/forest setting

At the same time as the layout idea was formulating, I've been developing a real interest in contemporary Swiss N gauge. I've always found the railway network in Switzerland interesting and, looking into the models that are available in N, it's become an attractive setting for modelling. Rocky cliffs, tunnels, meadows and evergreen forests will feature in stereotypical Swiss style. However, N is not viable because of the second requirement...

• Some operational interest
It's not enough for the layout to simply be a display piece. I want something that has a bit of operational interest, perhaps even accomodating two trains at once. With a ~50cm diameter space to work in, this would be difficult in N, so I've gone even smaller: Z gauge.

• Minimal scratch-building
With my lack of experience and the small space I have to work in, I wanted to get as much 'off-the-shelf' as possible. Fortunately, while Z is far from the most popular scale, there is still a good range of scenic items on the market from the likes of Faller, Rokuhan, Kibri and others.

• Operable by - and resilient to - small children
Possibly the most important element of the layout: it should be operable by small hands under supervision, while not being by vunerable to damage by them. So that means simple controls and solid construction; the former will be taken care of by Märklin's intuitive Z gauge system, and the latter by my questionable DIY skills. This requirement will inform many of the design decisions.

If it wasn't already obvious, this is not a tutorial or anything like that, but hopefully it will provide some insight for novices taking on their first project, or anyone attempting something similar. Feel free to comment, critique and question as we go!


All the best,

Andrew

Part 2: Starter Set & Planning (January - April 2022)

Hello all,

Even the best laid plans can change! Having given myself a crash course in the Z gauge market, I decided to move away from the alpine part of the setting. I haven't been able find Swiss rolling stock in Z that ticks all the boxes in terms of suitability and affordability, so I've crossed the border into Germany and settled on a 1950s Black Forest theme. This will allow me to keep some scenic elements the same and potentially run Swiss stock in the future without it looking completely out of place. I'm attempting a 'serious' model, but central to the project is family enjoyment, so a rigid setting is not absolutely integral.

To kickstart proceedings and get some trains running, I've picked up Marklin's 'Museums-Personenzug' Z Gauge Starter Set (81874) from eBay. This set will be the backbone of the project, providing the initial rolling stock (BR24 2-6-0 and 2x coaches - the restaurant car will be swapped out for a regular 3.kl in the future), controller, power supply and some of the track. Getting my hands on this really helped to light a fire under the project and bring out some ideas. It helps that it's a great little set.


The first and biggest single purchase for the project arrives. No turning back now...

A classic feature of famous Swiss railways such as the Gottardbahn and Albula line - big inspirations for this project, despite its now-German setting - is the helix loop. As my first scribblings show, I was keen to build a loop into the design from the outset, and excitedly went ahead with fleshing out plans in Anyrail.


Layout design software = hours of fun

My inexperience was on show as I initially didn't consider the most fundamental of questions: could this up-and-over feature be incorporated into the small space I had to work in and still facilitate reliable running? Fortunately, the answer is: yes. Just about.

Testing shows that the BR 24 can haul its three coaches up a curved ~1-in-28 gradient. Any steeper, and the wheels begin to slip. I set about trying to work this design limitation into the final plan, and came up with a way of staggering the gradients so that the maximum ascent will be 1-in-30. The only compromise is that the inner loop effectively becomes one-way. Trains can enter via the points on the right and rejoin the outer loop on the left, but not in the opposite direction; the gradient from the points on the left to the bridge is approximately 1-in-20 and thus too steep. It felt like a big compromise, but realistically, how often will anyone want to reach in and change the direction of a train? Two-train running is still viable, so I'm content, not to mention relieved that I've caught this potential flaw before it's too late.

In terms of scenery: steep cliffs, tunnels, bridges, forests and meadows will all feature in a space a little over 2m². With the scenic area viewable from two directions, a central forested hill creates a natural divide and hopefully adds some depth. Just two buildings will occupy the layout, as I feel any more would make it too crowded and spoil the rural feel. The station building and cottage are both Faller kits.


Details will likely be added to the plan and change over time, but the basic concept will remain the same.

I'm already envisaging the viaduct sandwiched by two tunnels being a real challenge to pull off - a bridge too far, you could say - but it's proving difficult to steer away from this idea now that it's taken root. The concept was taken from a similar feature on David's Swiss Layout, a US N layout with Alpine-inspired scenery. The layouts I've been inspired by encompass just about every scale, setting and period, but perhaps the biggest overall influence has been James River Branch, a now-defunct 36"×15" US Z layout. If I could achieve anywhere near the same atmosphere and detail, I would be delighted.

Challenges have already had to be overcome without so much as a nail being hammered in anger, so I'm looking forward to seeing what awaits when the real modelling begins!


All the best,

Andrew

Next time: Baseboard Construction

2 hours ago, PaulRhB said:

You don’t want to do all liveries at once because it’s a huge investment in stock and multiple changes on the paint, print and final assembly lines which naturally split production into batches. If you release a lot at once you have to store it and wait for all to be done. So it’s a thing to produce nice but less popular liveries first because people will buy them to have one. Then you fill in the ones where the market breadth might be smaller but modellers might buy two or three and the most popular liveries later to get max longevity out of the tooling without huge amounts of stock sat on shelves. It makes a lot of sense commercially because those who are focused on batch two or three may well buy from the first too because it’s actually quite nice.
If you do it all in one go people expect something else totally new so you need to produce more models rather than rerun a different scheme and a lot of others who’d buy one of each over three years miss out because they don’t have the capital in one go. So overall dumping lots at once costs a lot up front and leaves you with a lot of money sat on shelves that then costs storage. 

Less up front investment mesns batch one pays for the next and you get our attention to pre order batch two and less risk overall. 
With the recent Bachmann 009 ‘Ladies’ they did Penrhyn first, 0-4-0 tender variants second and the present day 2-4-0 +T last. The last one being the ‘ooh I rode behind that’ so I want one hook. 

You can see this with the Re 484. A standard-liveried Cargo model would be popular I'd imagine, but so far they've released a modern one-off and the short-lived Cisalpino variant. I think Fleischmann know what they're doing, for better or worse!

2 hours ago, westie7 said:

 

Seriously considering an IC2000 set, what would be everyone's recommendation for a retailer, TIA

Mark 

If you're UK-based, I can highly recommend Scograil. Excellent service and prices. Free shipping for orders over £35. The one time I did have to return an item (an IC2020 ironically!) they were very helpful and processed it with no fuss.

https://www.scograil.co.uk/

I imagine that when Fleischmann tool up for a model like the Re4/4II, with so many variations possible coupled and  a seeming lack of production capacity to release more than 2/3 variants at a time, they have a roadmap set out for the next 10+ years. So I wonder how much thought actually goes into what will fly off the shelves fastest. Maybe I'm assuming they have a plan and giving them too much credit!  Arnold have done a similar thing with the New Pendolino - any number of variations on the market, but no sign of the "obvious" RABe 503 in plain SBB livery. 

On 16/12/2023 at 10:52, cornish trains jez said:

Morning all,

 

Just seen a video reel on Lemke’s Facebook page showing the Hobbytrain EP’s of the Stadler KISS. As I mentioned in a previous post, this model seemed to have gone quiet but clearly still on the cards.

 

 

Best regards,

 

Jeremy

 

Another shot of the KISS from Facebook a couple of days ago. Perhaps they are gearing up for a 2024 release? Would be nice!

Just a couple of pick-ups for me recently: new release wagons from Hobbytrain and Arnold respectively. Both are excellent, with some lovely etched metal detail on the tanker. Merry Christmas all! 🎄

Andrew

On 09/12/2023 at 11:19, MOB 2002 said:

It’s quite scary that it’s almost time to think about 2024 - although having said that, some of the more exciting 2023 announcements don’t seem likely to appear before the end of the calendar year. 
 

Can I tempt a repeat of the Re4/4 IV shock of this year by praying for an up to scratch EWII D luggage van? I think I’d buy half a dozen!
 

Mark

 

In light of the fact that, yes, 2024 is somehow already upon us(!), I've updated the thread title. Seeing as the wishlist has already spoken the Re4/4 IV into reality 😉, we'll keep it going, but primarily this can be a place where we keep abreast of manufacturer announcements. All scales/eras/categories welcome!

Andrew

Lemke's Autumn 2023 announcements; amongst other things, it looks like there will be a new run of IC2000s:

Not off-topic at all @Gordonwis - while the it's clearly possible to recreate some of these trains in N, I 'wish' there were more examples produced and with more regularity, so definitely appropriate for the wishlist. Another great example of the variety you see on Swiss railways, within just one type of wagon. 

23 hours ago, Gordonwis said:

 

Minitrix

 

Minitrix tend to issue packs or sets (some very large - up to 20 wagons in one set), hence the numbering system. This is why finding Minitrix wagons is somewhat of a lottery. The sets tend to get broken up (either by retailers or by the purchaser) so you can find them here there and everywhere on the second hand market. 

 

For example, set 15254 was "20 modern freight cars" with ref numbers 15254-01 to 15254-20, of which 15254-01 to 15254-04 were the classic grey ribbed oil tankers with GATX brand (seen in Switzerland)

 

For tank wagons therefore try:

15198

15163

15254 01 to 04

15265-01 to 04 (VTG markings silver livery)

15274 01 to 05 (OMV/Wascosa)

15514-01 to 15514-16 (all GATX large logo)

15643

15645-14

15651

 

 

Fleischmann

 

I've got very few Fleischmann tank wagons , because for years Fleischmann has just reliveried old 'shorty' tank wagon mouldings, but at last, as you correctly identify, the new 825819 bucks that trend, but they still have the 'heavyweight' German bogies (which I feel tend not to be seen in France or Switzerland)

 

Arnold

 

I like some of the Arnold offerings, eg:

 

HN6288

 

 

Great detail @Gordonwis, thank you. It looks as though I won't have too many problems assembling a prototypical mix-and-match consist. 

Cheers,

Andrew

Thank you for the info and images @Gordonwis

A little bit more digging and it looks like Fleischmann have some tankers in the 82581x range with new variants still being produced.

Minitrix suggestion was spot on - this is exactly the type I'm looking for: https://www.trix.de/en/products/details/article/15367 Their numbering system is a little less intuitive but hopefully with a bit of digging I'll find more examples. Still no VTG in present day configuration. Maybe that's one for the wishlist!

Question for the forum hivemind: are there any N bogie tank wagons that would be appropriate for Swiss standard gauge set 2017-present? Specifically types that convey fuel/other flammables. 'Zacns' seems to crop up a lot in photos in various liveries and states of cleanliness - hopefully this gives you an idea of what I'm after!

Cheers,

Andrew

Nice pick ups @cornish trains jez

The Re 450 isn't exactly suited to my planned layout, but I wouldn't say no to one either - it's a fine looking model! Would I be right in saying the yellow doors denote the earlier version?

Andrew

On 08/08/2023 at 22:54, cornish trains jez said:

Hi Andrew,

 

Your layout idea is really good. My current layout is a four track mainline through a Swiss industrial scene allowing me to run scale length trains, a bit of a “watch the trains go by” layout. So I’d say go for it!

 

Love the new purchases by the way. I have 3 bt coaches however I really wished Fleischmann would stop moulding the front end pipes using a semi-circle piece of plastic for each one. It doesn’t look great.

 

Look forward to seeing the layout!

 

Best regards,

 

Jeremy

 

I've been following Gelternau keenly for a while now Jeremy, and you've definitely had some influence on my thought process. The way you can have up to four trains cruising around the layout - with the option for a bit of shunting as well - really is a great setup! Never thought I'd be a fan of a tail-chaser, but I'm fully on board now.

Re: the Bt, I have to agree. I know there are differing opinions on this, but I'm someone who would prefer the finer detail over robustness. I get why they've done it to an extent, but we know that better is possible on models these days. Particularly on a coach with an RRP of £100!

On 09/08/2023 at 17:58, MrTea said:

Hi Andrew,

 

I think your layout idea sounds great. I don’t know if you’ve seen my layout thread, but it’s fair to say that the plan for Veja Megstra evolved as the layout build continued. I opted for a double-sided layout with a station on one side and a pure scenic section on the other. With the gradient involved that seems to have worked quite well and it meant I could keep the station loop on the level. 

This is another setup I'm pondering @MrTea - town station on one side, pure scenic section on the other. The best of both worlds!

That's a beautiful little layout you have. Lots of scope to get creative on the winter side in a relatively small space.

Andrew

On 31/07/2023 at 11:45, Keith Addenbrooke said:

Personally, I’d love a layout like that - and for the reasons you give: running full length trains and practising scenery.  It also gives practise at baseboard building and track laying (plus DCC wiring).  Not to everyone’s taste, as your comment basically acknowledges, but could still be very enjoyable, and somewhere to run in those new locomotives.  Just a thought, Keith.

Cheers Keith - yes something I hear a lot when it comes to layout building is 'get trains running asap' and that would be the focus here. And even if the enjoyment factor isn't there in the end, at least the layout will have utility for all the things you mention.

16 hours ago, Frutigen said:

Oh yes, long trains on snaky track would be very satisfying.
 

When I was trying out layout ideas on the tabletop (lots of unitrack and nowhere for a permanent layout at the time) I discovered that I just liked chilling out and watching the trains go by, even without scenery. So I eventually built my layout with that in mind, and I’m very glad I did. 
 

And I thought I would just need some basic scenery to provide a setting while I ran the trains, but I found the scenic work absorbing and it became a major part of the project. As for the fiddle yard, with a bit of thought you might make that scenic too, it doesn’t have to be a station. 
 

This is exactly my experience so far too! Having run trains on my limited assortment of track, I find what I most enjoy is setting a train off and just letting it run in the background. I really like planning and find myself cooking up ever more complex ideas, but when I really think about it, a simpler layout as described feels like the best option for maximum fun and minimum headaches. Thank you for your thoughts.

14 hours ago, Gordonwis said:

Not everyone's a fan, but my three current Swiss layouts are all Unitrack. I wonder if you could employ Kato's shallowest superelevated track (rad 480+447mm) . Kato's double ballasted track is a close match to well engineered tidy Swiss trackage and lends itself well to simple track layouts.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your thoughts Gordon. I'm definitely open-minded when it comes to track, with all the options out there on the market. The rough plan I have in mind will definitely be enhanced by super-elevation on the scenic section, so I'll look into that for sure. 

Latest additions to the collection: this ubiquitous pair, new from Fleischmann. The Bt is DCC fitted for controllable lighting. I pre-ordered mine but Scograil currently has them at a good price.

I'm halfway to being able to field an 8 car Re460/EW IV rake - just need to get on with building a layout to run it on! What I have in mind is a scenic test track based on the well-photographed, snaking section of line between Burgdorf and Wynigen. It would be a double-track oval with a through fiddle-yard off-scene; the idea being a relatively simple layout to test and run full-length trains on, as well as practice my scenic skills. My question is: does this sound like a good idea for a first big project, or will I regret the lack of operational interest? Keen to here your thoughts if you've ever done something similar.

Cheers,

Andrew

Thank you for sharing all your purchases so far - keep them coming!

Today I'm VTG'ing it with this pair of wagons. They'll need a good bit of weathering to bring them to typical in-service condition, although it'll be a shame to cover up some of those fine Fleischmann details.

18 hours ago, MichaelE said:

I bought my first two freight wagons for RhB. I was going to get three more, but I needed some Preiser figures and autos.

 

I also got around to adding the crossing signals at Langwies.

 

 

Nice pick-ups @MichaelE ! Always enjoy your layout updates, looking forward to what's coming next.

2 hours ago, 37201xoIM said:

Well, as I read this I am sitting on a German train, trying to escape the chaos that is Germany's railway system, with a new, sound-equipped Bemo Ge 6/6 II (703 St Moritz, as you ask!) on the table in front of me, having diverted my journey home from the Czech Republic via Modellbahnshop Lippe's fine establishment in Detmold..... in an attempt to evade the post-Brexit costs and tedium of getting it sent to me via DHL...! 

 

Given the state of DB these days (I may well not make it home today despite all the extra hours' allowances I'd planned to take account of what we know all too well about German railways), you could well argue that any saving I may or may not make will be something of a pyrrhic victory...!!

Taking the scenic route home and picking up a model along the way - sounds like an ideal use of time to me, even with all the delays! 

I'm tempted to make any future big purchase from the continent conincide with a trip to 🇨🇭, for exactly the reasons you describe. Always frustrating when a bargain pops up but the additonal fees cancel out any saving.

Inspired by a similar thread on another forum - so I can't take any credit (or criticism?) - I thought it would be nice to have a place for everyone to show off their latest purchase. It can be big or small, extraordinary or mundane, in any scale or even railwayana. Anything goes, as long as it has some connection to the railways of Switzerland (this could include non-Swiss rolling stock that may be seen on Swiss infrastructure).

I'll kick things off with this Vectron, picked up 2nd-hand ( Fleischmann 739304 ). Red ends > blue ends, in my opinion!

Over to you then. Let's see what your modelling bugdet is being spent on!