Hi friends,

A bit of a difficult task I could use some help with: a while back I saw a fantastic M track small station/winter layout, winter and/or holiday themed and with some snow cover if I recall.

It was unique in that sizing was very compact, the winter theme as mentioned, and the fellow had made the impression of the exit of a large station "hall" as the centerpiece, think like Munich, Leipzig or the other grand European station canopies. (of course massively scaled down!)

It was either a forum/internet darling, or in the Marklin magazine. I am desperately trying to find it as the layout contained several themes I can carry over to a project I am working on.

Does this ring a bell with anyone? I know this is a bit of a stretch without more information to go from, but it was a very unique layout.

Any help is appreciated!

Edited by user 26 September 2025 20:29:13(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Do you mean this one, which I have referred to several times since 2011?



Here is the German website with further photos (scroll down):

https://tischbahn.de/wei...ahnen/anlage-hr-m-aus-u/

An update as "step 1"

I picked up the track yesterday. Lots of cleanup and rework will likely be necessary, but it is generally useable. Next steps were:

1- Primary concern: do I have enough track? It will be close... As unloved as M track is- I cannot just drive down the street and get more of it. So the goal is making due with what I have. Signals would be nice as well, if I can land a few. (for the visual moreso than the control) I will skip catenary for access purposes.

2- Step 2 is just reverse engineering the layouts above for "fit and feel" - as well as sizing. You can see an image of that below. It is not quite right in terms of fitment and geometry, but not bad for a mockup. I'm also of course interested in how I can connect more of the station tracks somehow, if I go for a very similar track plan. Hence the curved turnouts.

3- Learnings from step 2 have dictated that the more enjoyable (and better size) plan might be the 1.35m squared Jimmy references in post #250 of Ak's other thread. But that is in terms of the layout's dimensions and track plans, I still need to put a Christmas tree somewhere in this!

More to follow as I tinker, no commitment to the project yet, but I'm sure I'll find a good plan, and most importantly I'm having fun...

Since you already pondering, how about a simplified single-level version on 130 x 95 cm?

Cover-up details.

How about a Brain **** from Jimmy...or 2

#1 Make the "Urban Buildings" removable and place the tree on that level

#2 Make the entire "Structures Set" (train shed and urban buildings, et al.) removable and place the tree at track level in the center bit

after Holidays put all the structures back over the tracks? Maybe?

The UK online shop „Scalescenes" sells a nice and cheap downloadable 00 scale cardboard kit for printing at home (or at a copy shop). I once kit-bashed (read: shrunk) their product for my late Slumburg-Alltoofar terminus.


Link: https://scalescenes.com/...ll-roof/?v=fc9fdf084e29#

Update: I spent today thinking through this further, and making framework for the baseboard. Due to room fitment, I may need to chop a corner out for the fireplace, and another for walkway access, so I'm working on those details.

More to follow. I'm fairly happy with the track plan and have sourced the missing #5200 curves, although I need to pick them up still.

Almost two decades ago, I found this free download on the internet that might suit the style of your layout: An H0 scale paper model kit of a large mid-century German tenement building with inner courtyards, which could be used as a 2D background prop or as a 3D view block.

Mietskaserne-Rueckwaende.pdf (294kb) downloaded 5 time(s).
Mietskaserne-1-Quergebaeude.pdf (482kb) downloaded 3 time(s).
Mietskaserne-2-Quergebaeude.pdf (541kb) downloaded 3 time(s).
Mietskaserne-Vorderhaus.pdf (546kb) downloaded 9 time(s).
Mietskaserne-Skizze.pdf (486kb) downloaded 4 time(s).
Mietskaserne-Vorderhaus-Rueckseite.pdf (519kb) downloaded 3 time(s).
Mietskaserne-Grundplatte.pdf (661kb) downloaded 3 time(s).
Mietskaserne-Dach.pdf (1,479kb) downloaded 3 time(s).

This is what it looks like when assembled as a 3D model on my first layout in Portugal in 2007 (see arrow).

The other two Parisian city blocks were free downloads from French websites that I can no longer find.

Meanwhile I discovered one of the Parisian building paper kits in a French forum post from 2008, but unfortunately the source (miniatureville.com) is no longer active: