My wife just bought this package as well. It will be interesting to compare notes once she starts setting it up.
Ira

Thanks Ira and Rob for your replies.

Rob, as far as I can see, my loc has a closed cover on the bottom. I can see that any open cover can easily pick up dirt since it is so close to the track. The track looks metal color to me, so i presume it is nickle-silver. So I guess that your tip to use rubbing alcohol should be enough to keep it clean, no corrosion to be expected like on my HO-metal track (M-type). On my HO layout I typically use smoke-fluid-alcohol.

For laying down the track: I planned to lay down a 3mm (1/8") roadbed and put 2-sided adhesive tape on top to keep the track in place. Final fixation will be done by the ballast. Does this sound like an acceptable way to lay down track to you?

Regarding your last tip to have fun: Thanks, that is just what I am planning to!!

I am perhaps the only guy in the world that does not have a digital camera yet, but will try to put some photo's on this site sooner or later.

Regards,

Hans

Jon Digranes has some inspiering photos of the Neuschwanstein here: http://home.online.no/~j...ne/z-scale/photos-01.htm

Ira and Hans
Same story - started with Z last year after a number of years of H0 analog...

Love Z-scale. Here are some stuff you might have a use for

Good expert links where you can pick up some good advice:

http://www.zscale.org/ - how to clean tracks etc
http://www.heinepedersen.com/miniclub/ - the norwegian guru

Generally - that I found out after a couple of mishaps:

1) Use 2 sided self adhesive tape to fixate track on board. Glue is too brutal.
2) Dont try ballasting between the track if you have bad eyesight and shaky hands as I have or dont have 200 hours free. I ballasted outside the tracks and painted dark grey btw tracks - works fine for me.
4) Skip Marklin lights for decoration around the layout - they are elegant but too fragile - at least for me with normal sized hands - my wreck ratio for them is about 20% and you cant repair them unless you have a brain surgery microscope I guess.
3) You can buy most stuff on Ebay - really cheap - esp buildings - will save you days of work and tons of money
4) Depending how much you love to do landscaping and can afford - buy a layout with Z-track plan - my 2:nd attempt I did with a Noch/Woodland Scenics landscape which looks great after decorating it. I got a nice one for about $300 that has 2 separate tracks with many tunnels, crossings at different levels etc - making everyone believe it is a single track system with advanced blocksignals etc.

Hope this helps!

Thomas, Stockholm

Thanks to all of you for your responses and tips. Wonderful websites and great pictures.

By now the substructure and the roadbed are finished. Track is laid and I am busy finishing the very simple electrical work (the winter module will only contain the content of the starter package = track connection and 2 switches). I've made a small switchboard instead of using the pushbutton-box out of the starter kit. By now my kids are pushing me hard to get this done, because they want to start building mountains etc..... From my various businesstrips to the States I still have a lot of Woodland material left over from my HO layout, so fun can start.

But for now I wish you all a nice Sylvester evening and a happy new year.

Hans

I picked this kit up last fall for a Christmas layout also. I am about 80% done with the model. I'm spendign a bit of time detialing and weathering. I've decided to make not make this a winter scean after all. The picture posted above is a good insperation[:p]
I bought a smaller Noch type form on eBay and I'm busy winterizing that right now. Missed the Christmas deadline though[xx(]

Latest news: Just found out the scale. Marklin model is about 1:360 instead of 1:220.

Still looks great upon my modelled hills though.

I just wonder what I should do when I want to place preiserleins next to the castle. Does anyone have suggestions?

Regards,

Hans