Jörg Baumann: Albtal Railway (Gauge H0m)

Presse / Press

From the hobby room into the limelight - 8 model railways compete in the contest for privately owned railways at Faszination MODELLBAHN Sinsheim 2017

Jörg Baumann: Albtal Railway (gauge H0m)

The layout consists of 9 segments that form a U-shape measuring 4.25 x 2.05 metres. Theme of the layout is the Albtal Railway from Karlsruhe to Bad Herrenalb, including both terminal stations. The layout is set in the 1950s and 60s, shortly before the railway changed from a 1 metre narrow gauge to standard gauge. All the rolling stock is self-made except for a model of a Mallet steam loco which was built from a Weinert kit. The buildings were all designed and built according to old construction plans and photos. On the Herrenalb station segment, vehicles are controlled using the Faller car system. These vehicles are also all self-built or modified.

Gerd Ziller: "The Snail" – A model railway based on the Palatinate Overland Trolley Line (gauge H0m)

Presented in three display cabinets are scenes and rail motifs from the Nussdorf to Böchingen stretch of the 'Pfälzer Oberlandbahn'. On display are three segments: "Three stones", "Palatinate vineyards" and "Böchingen", equipped with integrated backdrop and lighting.

A particular challenge lay in the construction of tram vehicles for the layout. As no appropriate models of the prototypes are available, it was necessary to build them from scratch. After much research, numerous old photos and construction drawings were used to create 3D models, which in turn acted as blueprints for the production of 3D-printed parts for the construction of the tram models. 5 motor coaches and 10 carriages were made in this way, and just like the segments of the layout they portray various different eras. The layout in gauge H0m is automatically controlled in combined digital-analogue operation. At each end of the layout terminal loops, partly with fiddle yard, guarantee plenty of true-to-life rail traffic.

Andreas Grüner: Gypsum works Entringen (gauge H0f)

In November 2015 Uwe Eisele and Andreas Grüner completed their reproduction of the Entringen gypsum works with quarry and light railway, with shortened railway line but otherwise true to original details and set in the era between 1950 and 1960. The layout is constructed in scale 1:87 in gauge H0f (track width 600 mm).

The track route corresponds as far as possible to the original track plan dating back to the 1950s/60s. All the buildings at the works, the quarry and Breitenholz station were handmade according to original photos and drawings. The production of wooden structures for the sheds and the window elements made of tiny plastic profiles were particularly intricate. The LED-lit backdrop was created by "picture artist" Christoph Laubmann from Wildberg.

Wolfgang Stößer: Oil loading in autumn (gauge H0)

This layout is built as a showcase construction and has an impressive backdrop and lighting. It depicts a North German landscape with a movable oil pump at the end of the 1950s. A tank train travels to the oil-loading station where it is loaded up wagon for wagon, with the oil crane swivelling out automatically and accurately. On a branch line a work train serves the construction sites.

The lighting in the buildings is exemplary and the interior of the railway workshop is visible. Model figures and animals enliven the scenery. Birds of prey fly above the landscape and the authentic sound of northern songbirds completes the enchanting atmosphere of the layout.

Günther Jirouschek: Steam engine festival (gauge H0)

A fictional club "EFC Collenberg" has rented an old railway site from Deutsche Bahn, restored everything and brought it up to scratch. Now EFC are celebrating their opening day by holding a steam engine festival.

A special feature of the diorama is a six-track fiddleyard in the form of a transfer table driven by stepper motor. Each time the button is pressed it moves one step further down the line.

Stefan Seim: "Bärwurz am Wald" (gauge TT)

This display portrays an intermediate station in Franconia in the 1950s, with no specific prototype. Apart from the usual agency building, there is a loading track with loading area and an agricultural store. Attached to the backdrop of the layout are some typical Franconian houses and an inn. The vehicles all have H0-pur wheels and are equipped with spring buffers and original couplings. Some vehicles have been aged. There is a modest amount of freight, while passengers are transported in an old railcar. The agency building has a furnished storage shed. There are many hand-made trees on the landscape, with Silflor used for the leafage. The agricultural store is a completely self-built structure. The railway line leads through the backdrop and ends in a siding at each end of the layout, where the railcar can be parked.

Heinz-Ulrich Grumpe: The Moor Railway (gauge H0e)

This layout depicts conditions in the East Frisian region in the summer of 1950. The layout is constructed on a Boesner painting canvas measuring 50 x 60 cm, covered with a 20 mm sheet of polystyrene out of which the rough form of the landscape was carved, with the deepest part of the water ditch at the level of the base. All tracks were self-built with Code-55 rail profiles (1.3 mm). These tracks were soldered onto copper-plated Pertinax sleepers or glued onto wooden sleepers made from 3 x 2 mm slats.

Of particular interest is a stub switch in the visible area of the layout. This type of switch dating from the early railway days has no movable point blades, and on light railways with double-flanged wheels they are actually mandatory. However, on the layout there are also vehicles with 'standard' flanges. The rolling stock is operated using analogue Heisswolf controls. The switches are operated using 'ancient' post relays that run on 12 volt direct current. The frogs are polarised to ensure a continual supply of traction power.

Normal retail scatter and flock were used in landscaping, but some were also self-made. Bushes and trees consist of 'sea foam' and lichen moss combined with scatter materials, the two birch trees are by MBR. The water in the drainage ditch was made from thickened acrylic dispersion and coasted with clear lacquer after drying.

Albert Messerschmitt: Quinta do Messerschmitt (gauge 0e)

This layout is presented in an open-front display, whereby the tracks outside the cabinet serve only to drive around the layout. Subject of the railway is the replica of a port winery with a connecting line from local port vineyards, though without any specific prototype. The houses were constructed by hand using wood, plaster and polystyrene. The distinctive features of this layout are the visible interiors of some of the buildings, and also the special goods wagons. At the loading ramps the freight can be discharged. Some of the rolling stock has been slightly aged.

Contact: Messe Sinsheim GmbH

Phone: +49 7261/689-0, Fax: +49 7261/689-220

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