Welcome to newsletter Number 17.Yet again I am late but never mind better late than not at all. After 4 years I would hope everybody is use to me being late by now. Included in this newsletter is an article by Doug Nash about his layout Kurtz und Switt and a few ideas to pass on fromvarius members.
KURZ UND SWITT EISENBAHN
Kurz und Swittt is a small freelance Z Gauge railway somewhere on the German border.
The layout started out as a test track but has ended up as a small but fully scenic exhibition layout, a request from my local Model Railway club.
The test track was laid on a baseboard 6 ft x 11 ins and built on a 3x1 frame with a sundeala top. The track was an oval 5 ft 8 ins x 9 _ ins. To this I did add two loops, one at the front and one at the back, two turn offs leading to a raised terminus station and a small branch line. Mail Line trains run under fully working catenary, this being built from brass rod and wire at the front and old N Gauge track at the back.
All track on the layout is Peco with Marklin turnouts. I first glued 1/16 thick form to the baseboard using PVA to the track diagram. When dry I then pinned the track on to the foam using Peco fine pins, after first drilling the sleepers. Next came the backboard and the scenic supports, I made these from sheets of cardboard glued together with Evo-Stik. A rough shape of the mountains was made from wet card pressed to shape, left to dry then covered in Polytex mixed with plaster and poster paint, then ground cover was glued in place using Woodlands and Heki scenic scatter. I then ballasted the track again using Woodlands light gray scatter PVA water and a drop of washing up liquid.
The waterfall and lake are varnish, the railway viaduct over the lake and the overrail bridge are scratch built from Slaters embossed plastic glued to card, the three buildings on the layout are kitbashed Marklin kits, as is the station footbridge. The control of the layout is full cab control using 15 switches for train control, 12 push to make switches for the electric points, all run from a four in one Gaugemaster controller with 15 sections. I can run up to four trains at any one time, two continuously if requested.
I am just starting the next section for the branch line station. When complete a start will be make on the new 5 ft section readdy for the Basildon MRC exhibition on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th July 1999, with the next two sections ready and running for the year 2000 show.
Auction Report
I attended the auction at Towcester on the 11th April and at the sugguestion of member Bob Palmer here is a quick run down of the Z gauge lots and the prices attained.
Lot . Desription Attained
110 Two US Diesel Loco
=s Sante Fe/Burlington 60.00111 Two US Diesel Loco
=s Amtrak/Sante Fe 100.00112 Two Us Diesel Loco
=s Amtrak/Southern Pacific 60.00113 2-8-2 USA Steam Loco 95.00
114 Burlington Diesel & Chessie Set 220.00
115 Green Swiss Croc & RE4/4 130.00
116 Brown Swiss Croc & AE 6/6 120.00
117 Ae 3/6 & Blue Shunter 120.00
118 Red V220 & Rail Cleaner 90.00
119 Rhine Bahn 110 & Red Shunter 55.00
120 2 DB Steam Loco
=s 100.00121 2 DB Steam Loco
=s 110.00122 Green 4-6-2 & 216 Diesel in Blue 85.00
123 2-10-0 Steam Loco & Blue V220 120.00
124 Blue 110 & Red 103 65.00
125 144 electric & 103 in Red/Cream 65.00
126 Red 111 & 120 in Red/Cream 55.00
127 Green 150 & 140 in Green 65.00
128 Green DB Croc & Old Time Steam Set 180.00
129 Bahn 200 RE 4/4 & Wagon Lit Coach set 110.00
130 Two Elmer Class 47's 110.00
131 Demo Livery set 75.00
132 City Bahn set 70.00
133 Early Airport Express set 70.00
I will be attending the following exhibitions with my layout Wintersdorf over the next few months - so please come along and have a chat.
6th June Olney
16th/17th August Colwyn Bay
12th/13th September Weymouth
Brian Yallop will be attending the following exhibition with his layout Standen Watchett.
19th September Hoddesdon
Well that's it for now - I hope to be able to get the next newsletter out on time but please don't hold your breath! Once again, many thanks for your continued support and I look forward to any articles or comments you may wish to contribute.