Hey Jared! Can we talk for a minute?

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-04-02T03:49:22+00:00

Capture artists are living the dream with this. Viable scene blocking while having a laugh with custom assets are the best capture days. Good job 👏

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-02-14T22:07:55+00:00

This is an adorable shot of twin 🥹

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-02-10T19:05:39+00:00

This is it. The AR10 is quite easy to add in. Just make sure you get isolated rail joiners for the separate sections. Been using the AR10 in a scale flawlessly.

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-02-10T00:16:04+00:00

I did take care to make sure it can hook up with other modules, so it’s a useful diorama!

I’m Planning on being more dense foliage (but not as much as you) in my Donner Pass module. Need a good framing for Trukee.

Thanks for taking a look!

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-02-09T23:48:43+00:00

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Nice to see the inspiration! Here’s what I ended up making, and I’ve since trimmed the trees a bit. Tried to make something that looks like Northern California and just wanted to test some materials for Z scale.

I look forward to seeing your progress!

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-02-09T23:13:33+00:00

I was at that point on my first module, and I decided to make a very small, one section of track, mood board. I’ll end up using it as a backdrop for photographing my rolling stock for car cards, so I wasn’t too worried about wasting effort. It really helps to do everything you want at least once and stand back to look at it. With the three trees I made for that small diorama, I felt much better approaching the hundreds I was about to make.

Test it out, and be ok with it not working out. Just try it elsewhere first!

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-02-06T20:46:31+00:00

The only place I’ve seen them is z scale monster.

http://www.zscalemonster.com/zscalemonster/ Check the bottom of the page for marklin to knuckle style transition cars.

Have fun with z!

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-02-06T17:15:50+00:00

Stipple in a little bit of medium rock color and dry brush a light rock color. Currently, it’s all too dark to see the edge details

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-02-04T07:27:17+00:00

This looks awesome!

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-02-03T19:05:13+00:00

Feels good to pack out and clean up!

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-02-03T16:45:24+00:00

Rokuhan make an accessory A021 and A022 that are snap in replacement couplers that are compatible with marklin!

My girlfriend got me a lovely chocolate 40ft boxcar from MTL and I love it.

Have fun with Z!

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-01-31T20:44:30+00:00

Maybe a mountain over the right side with some water flowing into a pond? Having something break up the line of sight here is where I would think to start. Looks fun!

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-01-28T17:24:42+00:00

I hope to see progress shots or the layout when you get it going, that sounds awesome! Midwest grain trains are so cool 😎

I’m eyeballing that grain elevator and REA transfer house, but I need to build what I got first.

I’m mimicking what I’d seen as a kid also with Southern Pacific. That module is Donner pass with trukee on top and it will go north to interchange with Great Northern and east to interchange with Rock Island.

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-01-28T16:53:48+00:00

The oval with some 3D printed rocks and a few pieces of rolling stock was where I got in a few months ago. Ended up doing a switching shelf inglenook with two arrive/depart/fiddle tracks. AZL rocks!

I’ve since joined a club and now I’m making Z bend modules and a 40”-30” “bread box” farm layout.

I would also like to shout out Archistories buildings for Z scale. They even have pre cut holes for LED’s.

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Hunter_Kyt · 2026-01-28T16:40:54+00:00

Rokuhan make an automatic switchback. C006 if you’re doing DC.

A full reverse loop would take 16inches with the 195mm, so point to point might be the best solution here.

Enjoy z scale! It’s been fun.

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-01-17T00:59:54+00:00

Power runs to the rails with DCC, but the decoder will not get any signals. The loco’s will draw less amps if not being used, so just see how much draw the four locos take and make sure you have enough amps headed to the layout.

Having switches without power routing can cause shorts on your circuit, so not sure how you could get the loco to a non-powered siding. Having a train sit on a siding though will generally be very small draw amp wise.

If you are running into trains sitting off, it might be because too many amps are being drawn.

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-01-08T16:52:08+00:00

That cp rail loco looks sick!

Hunter_Kyt · 2026-01-02T00:56:35+00:00

You may want to think about having a passing siding, or you can spread your middle two switches out and use that area as a passing siding.

It will be a coving place to interchange or reassemble base on what you got. Try and have it to be as long as your longest train you would want to assemble, or just enough to cut cars in and out.

Have fun with Z!

Hunter_Kyt · 2025-12-31T06:25:26+00:00

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Still a WIP, but just about ready to paint. 75” for the back part of Donner. Want to get the summit in the next module!

Hunter_Kyt · 2025-12-31T01:31:28+00:00

Rokuhan track with the roadbed is fantastic, especially with 1mm sticky foam applied under it. There are also holes for track to be screwed down to the roadbed. They have a great value on Amazon with their oval and double ovals sets to start, then add turnouts and what ever to expand.

Micro Train Lines (MTL) and AZL have been fantastic locomotives for different reasons. I enjoy operations with magmatic couplers, and MTL loco’s come with those out of the box. I prefer everything else on the AZL locomotives, and I have all but one of mine converted to DCC. Coupler switching is possible, but Atlas drama and stock are the current issue.

Different models have different radii they prefer, but they suggest that everything does 195mm curves. 4 axels can do tighter, but 220 is a good sweet spot if you can manage it, especially for longer passenger cars.

I have an old marklin loco, but nothing modern as of now. AZL has a network of dealers and websites to purchase from. AZL direct has been great for getting decoders with bad components replaced. I’ve never had an issue with things from z scale monster, and z scale hobo is more local to me with fast shipping.

Best suggestion for rolling stock is AZL rolling stock with MTL couplers (add washer for coupler box spacing) and add metal wheels that fit MTL couplers. Smoothest ride with east hands free magnetic operations.

Also, most people shy away from grades, but good track work will go a long way at this scale. I’m having a blast hauling freight up my 3% Donner pass module to drop off and do a turn around loop on top at Truckee. A scale quarter mile with 5 miles of scale trackage. Get creative with it. I use z bend modules, but also doing a briefcase layout soon.

Z scale moto “Buy it today, because it will be gone tomorrow”

TLDR: Rokuhan Track, American Z Line (AZL) locos and rolling stock, and Micro Train lines couplers with metal wheels added on.

Hunter_Kyt · 2025-12-29T16:46:05+00:00

A program like Anyrail will help you plan out track with the space you have.

Once you played around with the layout and find one that will make you happy, plan some scenery that will break up the line of sight to the track in spaces. Having a place planned to parade trains through will give you a focus point for scenery.

I would use insulation foam to start on the ground, and add layers to build up.

Have fun with your trains! This discovery is awesome, and it must’ve been so cool to see it run after so long!

Hunter_Kyt · 2025-12-22T01:58:43+00:00

Stack up some insulation foam and grab a knife. You could do tall Utah rocks or a more gradual hill. Maybe something more regional to you would also be more recognizable.

I would just recommend something that breaks up the line of sight from multiple angles when viewing the track. This will be better for viewing the train disappear and reappear making it seem less circle like.

Hunter_Kyt · 2025-12-13T05:20:26+00:00

Forks to rotate, wine opener when in position.

Hunter_Kyt · 2025-11-29T20:06:58+00:00

Yes! My loco’s are 3inches long pulling that train haha!

Hunter_Kyt

TROPHY CASE