Zmodell Ladegut für Güterwagen
Verfasst: Do 26. Nov 2020, 16:31
Greetings to all,
I would like to introduce a new range of my Z scale model accessories – load inserts for various freight cars. Of course, this kind of accessories is already being offered by other manufacturers, but the reason why I decided to start this project was just as always – if you want to do something better, do it on your own. Some years ago, I started to use third party loads for rolling stock in my own collection. At that time, the quality offered by them was acceptable to me.
Later, I came to conclusion that everything can (and should) be made in a better way. Therefore, I decided to replace all third party load inserts in my collection with my own variants. Some load inserts used by Märklin in their own sets were also replaces with better ones. Märklin does not produce their own loads and they also use them from third-party manufacturers.
I experimented with different production technologies and materials until I was satisfied with results. Then I thought that it makes sense to offer these accessories to others too. I developed a range of different types of loads and easy numbering system. Here are some highlights of my load inserts:
1. High precision. No rework is needed at all. Each type of freight car was precisely measured, so that the load insert always ideally fits. It is not loose – there are no gaps between the walls and the edge of the load. And it is not tight – the load can be easily removed from the freight car whenever you wish without any additional efforts.
There is a small exclusion from the rule. Sometimes, old freight cars become slightly bent or crumpled. It is caused by the aging of the plastic, which, in turn, may be a result of the constant storing of the model at a direct sunlight. In this case, installing and removal of the load insert may be a bit more complex than usual.
Based on my experience, it is not a big problem, as the aging issue is true mostly to the very old models that were produced around 20 years ago and more.
2. Compatibility with packaging material. Most types of my load inserts ensure full compatibility with packaging boxes – any freight car can be easily put into the box without removal of the load insert. Bulk loads do not have excessive “hills” that protrude outside the top of the freight car too much.
There are few exceptions though – for example, for some types of loads with wood or pipes. Most other types of load inserts (all bulk materials) ensure full compatibility with packaging.
3. Plastic base. I don’t use plywood as a base of my load inserts. Polystyrene offers higher precision and overall better technological look for the final product. I use polystyrene sheets with different thickness, according to the requirements of a particular type of freight car. Sometimes desired thickness of the base is achieved by combining multiple sheets.
All parts are milled out on a high precision CNC milling machine.
4. Perfect height of the load. All types of my load inserts are ideally adjusted by height. When I used loads from other manufacturers for my own collection in the past, I often had to adjust the height of the load, because it always turned out than it is either too low or too high.
5. Different colors of base material. I use different colors for base material. For dark bulk loads such as coal, ore and others, I use black polystyrene base. For light types – sand, sawdust, limestone, I use white polystyrene. In some cases, gray polystyrene used along with white and black. It helps to leave the base completely invisible even at the very edges of the load insert.
6. Natural materials. No cast resin imitation or something like this. Only natural materials used for all types of loads, including all bulk and wooden materials – natural coal, ore, fine-grade sand and gravel, as well as very fine sawdust, metal shavings and other.
7. Superb stabilization of bulk loads. All bulk loads are very reliably stabilized with a special adhesive liquid that prevents crumbling. After solidifying, this liquid does not change the look of the bulk load and remains invisible. This is true even to such a delicate material as a sawdust.
Note: Of course, if you try to scratch the bulk load intentionally – you will surely do it. Stabilization works perfectly for “normal” usage scenario.
8. Metal base. Some load inserts require a very thin base material. It relates mostly to the loads for flatcars. Thin plastic base cannot be strong enough, so I decided to use metal for the base in this case. All my load inserts for flatcars use 0.3 mm photo-etched metal as a base.
9. Comprehensive usage information. Each load insert comes with a complete list of train sets and single models where it can be used. Information about base thickness and precise weight is also supplied. Each load insert has a plastic label on the bottom side with a product code and short description.
Now about numbering system and types of loads. I developed a list of most popular kinds of loads. Some specific types may be added later:
001 – Coal
002 – Ore
003 – Gray Gravel
004 – Brown Gravel
005 – Sand
006 – Wood
007 – Metal scrap
008 – Sawdust
009 – Metal Shavings
010 – Limestone
011 – Glass
012 – Beet
013 – Stacked Lumber
014 – Pipes
015 – Wire Coils
016 – Steel Coils
017 – Sheet Metal
018 – Metal Beams
Not all types of loads are suitable for all types of freight cars. Some loads are specific only to the particular types of freight cars. For example, you will never see a wood load for OOtz 50, OOtz 43 or EAMOS dump cars.
Manufacturers:
MRK – Märklin (Germany)
FR – Freudenreich (Germany)
AZL – AZL (USA)
MTL – MTL (USA)
ROK – Rokuhan (Japan)
TEN – Tenshodo (Japan)
PRL – Prmloco (Japan)
Here is a sample – ZM-MRK-EANOS-001. “ZM” stands for “Zmodell”, MRK is “Märklin”, EANOS is a type of the suitable freight car, and “001” is a code of the type of load, which is coal in this sample.
Now the most important: all my load inserts are available for sale at www.1zu220-shop.de in a dedicated subsection:
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 00246.html
You will get all advantages of domestic shopping – no international bank transfers with additional fees, no long shipping times, no import tax, just a usual payment and fast and reliable shipping within EU. Most of load inserts are already in stock there. Some other types will be added later.
Now let me show you some pictures. Here is a set of different load inserts for Märklin type EANOS freight car. The base is made of two 3mm thick polystyrene parts joined together. Lower part have grooves for hatches that hold a metal floor inside the car:
And here is a small comparison of similar load inserts from different manufacturers. Here you can see a sawdust (or wooden chips) loads from the following manufacturers – Spur Z Ladegut, Duha, Heico and the last one – from me. Märklin uses Duha and Heico loads in some models. I don’t want to convince anybody about which one is better – let everyone decide on their own:
This is one more comparison of gray gravel load inserts for MTL 50’ Gondola. Original load from MTL (above) is a slightly weathered piece of cast resin. The center one is from Spur Z Ladegut. Lower one is mine:
Upper one is mine, lower one is from MTL:
Now about gaps. Left one is from MTL, right one is mine:
Comparison of two limestone loads (I applied square pieces of foamed material to the load insert from Spur Z Ladegut on my own when I used it in my train sets):
Comparison of two wood loads inserts for Märklin type EANOS freight car. Left one is from Spur Z Ladegut, right one is mine:
Now let’s come across current assortment:
Märklin EANOS – Coal
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40712.html
Märklin EANOS – Ore
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40713.html
Märklin EANOS – Gray Gravel
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40714.html
Märklin EANOS – Brown Gravel
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40715.html
Märklin EANOS – Sand
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40716.html
Märklin EANOS – Wood. Thin etched metal holding straps painted in gray were used in this type of load:
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40717.html
Märklin EANOS – Sawdust
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40718.html
Type EANOS freight cars from Freudenreich have slightly different internal dimensions, so I decided to produce separate articles for these cars:
Freudenreich EANOS – Coal
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40719.html
Freudenreich EANOS – Ore
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40720.html
Freudenreich EANOS – Gray Gravel
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40721.html
Freudenreich EANOS – Brown Gravel
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40722.html
Freudenreich EANOS – Sand
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40723.html
Freudenreich EANOS – Wood
(This article will be available at www.1zu220-shop.de later)
Freudenreich EANOS – Sawdust
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40724.html
Märklin EAOS – Coal
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40725.html
Märklin EAOS – Ore
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40726.html
I would like to introduce a new range of my Z scale model accessories – load inserts for various freight cars. Of course, this kind of accessories is already being offered by other manufacturers, but the reason why I decided to start this project was just as always – if you want to do something better, do it on your own. Some years ago, I started to use third party loads for rolling stock in my own collection. At that time, the quality offered by them was acceptable to me.
Later, I came to conclusion that everything can (and should) be made in a better way. Therefore, I decided to replace all third party load inserts in my collection with my own variants. Some load inserts used by Märklin in their own sets were also replaces with better ones. Märklin does not produce their own loads and they also use them from third-party manufacturers.
I experimented with different production technologies and materials until I was satisfied with results. Then I thought that it makes sense to offer these accessories to others too. I developed a range of different types of loads and easy numbering system. Here are some highlights of my load inserts:
1. High precision. No rework is needed at all. Each type of freight car was precisely measured, so that the load insert always ideally fits. It is not loose – there are no gaps between the walls and the edge of the load. And it is not tight – the load can be easily removed from the freight car whenever you wish without any additional efforts.
There is a small exclusion from the rule. Sometimes, old freight cars become slightly bent or crumpled. It is caused by the aging of the plastic, which, in turn, may be a result of the constant storing of the model at a direct sunlight. In this case, installing and removal of the load insert may be a bit more complex than usual.
Based on my experience, it is not a big problem, as the aging issue is true mostly to the very old models that were produced around 20 years ago and more.
2. Compatibility with packaging material. Most types of my load inserts ensure full compatibility with packaging boxes – any freight car can be easily put into the box without removal of the load insert. Bulk loads do not have excessive “hills” that protrude outside the top of the freight car too much.
There are few exceptions though – for example, for some types of loads with wood or pipes. Most other types of load inserts (all bulk materials) ensure full compatibility with packaging.
3. Plastic base. I don’t use plywood as a base of my load inserts. Polystyrene offers higher precision and overall better technological look for the final product. I use polystyrene sheets with different thickness, according to the requirements of a particular type of freight car. Sometimes desired thickness of the base is achieved by combining multiple sheets.
All parts are milled out on a high precision CNC milling machine.
4. Perfect height of the load. All types of my load inserts are ideally adjusted by height. When I used loads from other manufacturers for my own collection in the past, I often had to adjust the height of the load, because it always turned out than it is either too low or too high.
5. Different colors of base material. I use different colors for base material. For dark bulk loads such as coal, ore and others, I use black polystyrene base. For light types – sand, sawdust, limestone, I use white polystyrene. In some cases, gray polystyrene used along with white and black. It helps to leave the base completely invisible even at the very edges of the load insert.
6. Natural materials. No cast resin imitation or something like this. Only natural materials used for all types of loads, including all bulk and wooden materials – natural coal, ore, fine-grade sand and gravel, as well as very fine sawdust, metal shavings and other.
7. Superb stabilization of bulk loads. All bulk loads are very reliably stabilized with a special adhesive liquid that prevents crumbling. After solidifying, this liquid does not change the look of the bulk load and remains invisible. This is true even to such a delicate material as a sawdust.
Note: Of course, if you try to scratch the bulk load intentionally – you will surely do it. Stabilization works perfectly for “normal” usage scenario.
8. Metal base. Some load inserts require a very thin base material. It relates mostly to the loads for flatcars. Thin plastic base cannot be strong enough, so I decided to use metal for the base in this case. All my load inserts for flatcars use 0.3 mm photo-etched metal as a base.
9. Comprehensive usage information. Each load insert comes with a complete list of train sets and single models where it can be used. Information about base thickness and precise weight is also supplied. Each load insert has a plastic label on the bottom side with a product code and short description.
Now about numbering system and types of loads. I developed a list of most popular kinds of loads. Some specific types may be added later:
001 – Coal
002 – Ore
003 – Gray Gravel
004 – Brown Gravel
005 – Sand
006 – Wood
007 – Metal scrap
008 – Sawdust
009 – Metal Shavings
010 – Limestone
011 – Glass
012 – Beet
013 – Stacked Lumber
014 – Pipes
015 – Wire Coils
016 – Steel Coils
017 – Sheet Metal
018 – Metal Beams
Not all types of loads are suitable for all types of freight cars. Some loads are specific only to the particular types of freight cars. For example, you will never see a wood load for OOtz 50, OOtz 43 or EAMOS dump cars.
Manufacturers:
MRK – Märklin (Germany)
FR – Freudenreich (Germany)
AZL – AZL (USA)
MTL – MTL (USA)
ROK – Rokuhan (Japan)
TEN – Tenshodo (Japan)
PRL – Prmloco (Japan)
Here is a sample – ZM-MRK-EANOS-001. “ZM” stands for “Zmodell”, MRK is “Märklin”, EANOS is a type of the suitable freight car, and “001” is a code of the type of load, which is coal in this sample.
Now the most important: all my load inserts are available for sale at www.1zu220-shop.de in a dedicated subsection:
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 00246.html
You will get all advantages of domestic shopping – no international bank transfers with additional fees, no long shipping times, no import tax, just a usual payment and fast and reliable shipping within EU. Most of load inserts are already in stock there. Some other types will be added later.
Now let me show you some pictures. Here is a set of different load inserts for Märklin type EANOS freight car. The base is made of two 3mm thick polystyrene parts joined together. Lower part have grooves for hatches that hold a metal floor inside the car:
And here is a small comparison of similar load inserts from different manufacturers. Here you can see a sawdust (or wooden chips) loads from the following manufacturers – Spur Z Ladegut, Duha, Heico and the last one – from me. Märklin uses Duha and Heico loads in some models. I don’t want to convince anybody about which one is better – let everyone decide on their own:
This is one more comparison of gray gravel load inserts for MTL 50’ Gondola. Original load from MTL (above) is a slightly weathered piece of cast resin. The center one is from Spur Z Ladegut. Lower one is mine:
Upper one is mine, lower one is from MTL:
Now about gaps. Left one is from MTL, right one is mine:
Comparison of two limestone loads (I applied square pieces of foamed material to the load insert from Spur Z Ladegut on my own when I used it in my train sets):
Comparison of two wood loads inserts for Märklin type EANOS freight car. Left one is from Spur Z Ladegut, right one is mine:
Now let’s come across current assortment:
Märklin EANOS – Coal
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40712.html
Märklin EANOS – Ore
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40713.html
Märklin EANOS – Gray Gravel
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40714.html
Märklin EANOS – Brown Gravel
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40715.html
Märklin EANOS – Sand
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40716.html
Märklin EANOS – Wood. Thin etched metal holding straps painted in gray were used in this type of load:
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40717.html
Märklin EANOS – Sawdust
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40718.html
Type EANOS freight cars from Freudenreich have slightly different internal dimensions, so I decided to produce separate articles for these cars:
Freudenreich EANOS – Coal
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40719.html
Freudenreich EANOS – Ore
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40720.html
Freudenreich EANOS – Gray Gravel
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40721.html
Freudenreich EANOS – Brown Gravel
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40722.html
Freudenreich EANOS – Sand
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40723.html
Freudenreich EANOS – Wood
(This article will be available at www.1zu220-shop.de later)
Freudenreich EANOS – Sawdust
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40724.html
Märklin EAOS – Coal
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40725.html
Märklin EAOS – Ore
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Lade ... 40726.html