“z-slat“ 02 railroad crossing (z-scale)

“z-slat“ 02 railroad crossing (z-scale)

Last November I visited the „International Modellbahn Ausstellung (IMA 2024)“ („International model railway exhibition“) in Friedrichshafen. There I saw „z-Brettchen“ („z-slats“) , small modules, for the first time.

This was at the stand of a regional model railroad club „Spur Z Stammtisch Radolfzell“ => search for their homepage, where some pictures of perfect examples of these modules are shared.

These module consists of a 11x22cm slate with a Rokuhan 22cm track fixed 1 cm from the edge, as published on the club’s homepage.

The idea is that at a club’s meeting several of these modules can be assembled to a bigger layout in the middle of the table.

I liked the idea of a highly versatile layout of a model railroad with easily exchangeable elements, since I typically get stuck in the planning phase and end up not building any layout…

Because I am not good working with wood I transferred this idea to 3d-printing.

Paint design “z-slat“ 02 railroad crossing to your taste and assemble as seen in the picture.

After painting, assembling and decorating to your taste glue the slat on the substructure to raise it to the right level.

Attach track to the finished model, e.g. by using adhesive modeling clay (e.g. Blu Tack).

Attach the track inserts on the sides and in the middle of the track, applying a small amount of adhesive modeling clay (e.g. Blu Tack) to keep it in place. Carefully check of the inserts do not block the trains to pass this section and reposition the inserts if required.

Print the elements flat on the printing bed to allow the details printed without/few supports.

Mirror the elements in your printer software in case you need it in another orientation.