Brad's Z-activities Site - P&W-RR Materials List
Updated: May 07, 2005
The following is the growing list of the products being used in producing the P&W-RR Z-scale layout.
- Benchwork
- 5/8" Plywood (4' x 8' sheet), one side sanded smooth
- 3/4" white laminate shelf (11 3/4" x 48")
- Shelf supports
- 1" x 4" clear lumber (8' length cut to various lengths) - used for shelf and support retainers against back wall
- 1" x 2" clear lumber (8' lengths cut to various lengths) - used for structure and edging under the plywood
- 1" x 3" clear lumber (8' length cut to various lengths) - used for additional table structure above the plywood
- 2" x 2" clear hardwood (18" lengths cut in halves) - used for raising hinges above table to get necessary operating clearance
- Door hinges
- Foam
As a means to keep the layout relatively light in construction, I'm using the Woodland Scenics line of foam products. As mentioned earlier in the layout design section, I chose to use the standard grade ramps that they manufacture and had to adapt the original John Armstrong design to the use of pre-set grades. Early on I noticed that the 2% grade ramps were actually slightly greater than 2% ... in reality they rise 1/2" over a 24" run which works out closer to 2.083%. This relationship also held with the 3% and 4% products so my grade analysis for the layout factored these adjustments in when determining heights. Also note that in order to get 1% grades, you have to use a subtractive combination of either 3% minus 2% or 4% minus 3% grades.
- 2% incline starter pack
- 3% incline starter pack
- 4% incline starter pack
- 4% incline set - for the Northside grade
- 1/2" foam sheets - for shelf yard area
- 1/2" risers
- 3/4" risers
- 1" risers
- 4" risers
- Roadbed
Having experience already with the Woodland Scenics N-scale roadbed material, I chose to use the same product for this Z-scale layout since it was the most cost effective and easiest to use. After laying the material down and establishing the track, the excess roadbed foam can be easily trimmed to produce a more realistic width in areas where this visually matters. Although the N-scale material is obviously thicker than Z-scale roadbed, this will be readily disguised by the surrounding scenic features blending with the track ballast.
- N-scale foam sheet roadbed - for shelf yard area
- N-scale roadbed in 24' continuous roll - for all other roadbed needs
- Track
I chose to use Marklin track products for my first full-size Z-scale layout. This was primarily due to the uniformity gained by sticking to a single manufacturer and Marklin being the only one that covered all of my track requirements at this time.
- Right curved switch
- Left curved switch
- Right switch
- Left switch
- Crossover switch
- Reverse loop kit
- Flex track
- Various straight and curve sections
- Electrics
Although I'd not used Peco electrics in any previous layout, I've always been impressed with the function of the sample switch controls that I had acquired many years ago. Functioning much like the Kato switch controls that I'd used in previous N-scale work, the Peco controls are much, much smaller and more in scale with my overall layout size so I decided to go with them this time around.
- Passing contact switch (Peco PL-26) - for use with track switches
- Miscellaneous
- Woodland Scenics Foam Tack Glue
© 2006 Brad Saunders