Hello, hope all is well.

I agree, the original load of pipes are not the best.

Your set is basically the Cargo version of the wagons sold as lumber wagons, loaded or not loaded. It seems to me the pipe load would be a lightweight version if they are done correctly. The wooden log loads have a drawback because they are heavy and not prototypical. I tried to make a better wood load myself, perhaps it is also possible to make a better pipe load as a DIY. Perhaps weathering or painting the original pipes would make them more appealing. Maybe cut that plastic look a bit. Could the pipes be transformed to be closer to those from Zmodell. Perhaps, but the white lettering may be hard to duplicate.

I have not really studied the actual pipeloads but the Zmodell versions look very nice and since they would be hallow they would keep the weight down. I like to checkout loads on YouTube.

Here is a photo of how my log load turned out. Only drawback they are heavy too.`



Let me know what happens or if you try to do something with the originals.

Take good care.

Dwight

Hello, hope all is well.

I did find some photos of pipe loads and it seems not all of them have large vendor labels on them.



Some are even aged.



Seems when tines are available, they are used for securing the load.

Some pipes are large some are smaller. I wonder if a straw might work if painted. Could be a worthy project.

Take good care.

Dwight

Very useful, thank you.

All same size:
3 on 1st layer
timber between
3 on second layer
2 on third layer


2 different sizes:
3 on 1st layer
2 on second layer
3 on third layer
2 on top layer

I buy straws in various sizes available at any grocery store, then paint them with a spray can.
I am in HO but the principle is the same.

Kimball

Look in your nearest model hop for thin wall brass tubing or styrene tubes. They come in a range of sizes. The small brass tube used for guiding cables for manual operation of points on layouts should be suitable for what you want.

Hello, hope all is well.

Just a short update:

I ordered some of the wet slide decals. Here is the link: https://www.modellbahndecals.de/ I am waiting for them,but since they were not currently in production, they take from 4 to 6 weeks. Shipping for four sheets was 5 Euros. The site does not specifically list Z scale prices, but any decal in N can be shrunk further to Z scale and the price is the same as what is shown for N.

I found a few quality ZModell wood load items at this site. Here are a few great looking loads

https://www.1zu220.de/Zm...or-Maerk/ZM-MRK-SNPS-013

https://www.1zu220.de/Zm...e-Wagen/ZM-MRK-EANOS-013

I don’t think the vendor will ship to the US, it would be great to have a stateside vendor for these.

Take good care.

Dwight

They are, and after seeing them, I think you can use wooden kabob skewers, and cut them. You can stain them too with tea. Pack of 20 is about $5. They will be large z scale logs. I used them to fill my ho wood pellet containers.

Great video for explaining how those cars work. With the steel straps built in and the yellow cranking mechanism below for each post. I wish those were modeled on the Marklin cars. Anyway, as long as the straps are lined up on the posts it will look correct.
I like the giant pipes with logos but also have 2.2mm diameter toothpicks that work out to 48cm or 19” so they would work.
Also a quick black paint job on the Marklin loads, plugging them with yellow end caps cut from a suitable size plugs, and copper wire straps like on Zmodell’s tree loads would look like the loads in the video.
Anything would be better than the wax candles supplied, even empty cars with the straps added.

Hello hope all is well.

Below is the finished pipe load project, using straws and the decals mentioned above.



If you decide to look up the decals, you will find two sizes, this is the smaller one.

I still need to attach the tie down straps and am still thinking of how I should do it.

Take good care.

Dwight