This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Zmodell brand. In addition, 10 years ago, I became a member of ZFI forum that, in turn, became for me the main place of communication with friends and same-thinkers for many years already. It all began in 2016, when I started producing and selling Z scale train models – first, locally in Ukraine, then expanding to Germany and other countries. Later, I focused on another segment – digital decoders, load inserts and accessories.
However, my Z scale story actually started 10 years earlier – in 2006, when I, a former collector of Piko H0, got a luck to purchase on eBay my first Z scale starter set – 81862. This big beautiful train set still remains one of the top favorites in my own collection. Later, I added 81861 and 81435 sets – it was the point when my Z scale collection started growing.
After a while, when the first admiration of the new tiny scale calmed down, it became clear to me that many points and features in Z scale can and should be improved. After some “sleeping” during 2006-2014, I became a more active Z scale collector and started my first experiments.
I just wanted to remind what models have been produced since that time:
Motorized and digitized TE7 dual diesel locomotive from Atlas MiniTrains series
viewtopic.php?p=150057#p150057
Zmodell 99155 – Deutsche Bahn AG BR 155 electric locomotive
viewtopic.php?t=11662
Zmodell 99501 – LKAB IORE dual electric locomotive
viewtopic.php?t=12074
Zmodell 99108, 99109, 99110, 99111 – SZD/UZ double unit electric locomotive
viewtopic.php?t=11982
Zmodell 97101 – UZ passenger car
viewtopic.php?t=11983
Zmodell 96501, 96502, 96503, 96504 – SZD/UZ gondola car sets
viewtopic.php?t=12877
Zmodell 96505 – Novotrans gondola car
viewtopic.php?t=15352
Zmodell 96051 – DB GGths 43 “Bromberg” freight car
viewtopic.php?t=15344
Zmodell 99127 – ES64P-001 in Dispolok paint scheme
viewtopic.php?t=11981
Zmodell 99128 – Portuguese Railways (CP) class 5600 electric locomotive
viewtopic.php?t=13667
Zmodell 99129 – RENFE Class 252 electric locomotive
viewtopic.php?t=14486
Zmodell 99525 – DB BR 152 “Claas” electric locomotive
viewtopic.php?t=15312
Zmodell 99468 – Finnish Railways (VR) SR2 electric locomotive
viewtopic.php?t=13666
Zmodell 99494 – PRR GG-1 in silver paint scheme
viewtopic.php?t=13735
Zmodell 99495 – US Conrail GG-1 electric locomotive
viewtopic.php?t=16250
Zmodell 99120, 99121, 99122, 99123 – DR BR 120/M62 “Taigatrommel” diesel locomotive
viewtopic.php?t=15028
Zmodell DR BR 118 diesel locomotive
viewtopic.php?t=12106
Zmodell DR E11 electric locomotive
viewtopic.php?t=11996
Zmodell 99196 – BR 189 in Lokomotion "Black Zebra" livery
viewtopic.php?t=13283
Zmodell 99197 – ES64F4 (BR 189) in PKP Cargo livery
viewtopic.php?t=13664
Zmodell 92542 – PKP Cargo EANOS gondola cars set
viewtopic.php?t=13206
Zmodell 92543 – NS EANOS gondola cars set
viewtopic.php?t=13207
Zmodell 92427 – Set of PKP Cargo type RES flatcars
viewtopic.php?t=15868
Zmodell 92386 – Set of SJ type HBBINS freight cars
viewtopic.php?t=16508
Zmodell 91500 – Volvo 9700 bus
viewtopic.php?t=14919
Kibri trucks
viewtopic.php?t=13637
Märklin trucks
viewtopic.php?t=16333
Many things changed in my life in 2022, when a cruel and unfair war began in my native country. There is a dedicated thread about what was happening then:
viewtopic.php?t=18014
We were very lucky to find ourselves in safety, once we arrived in Dortmund. However, I was still so shocked and so uncertain about the future that I was nearly thinking that Zmodell will come to the end. Only a few months later, when we more or less got used to the new life and reality around us, I started thinking that Zmodell is something I must continue running, regardless of all these unexpected changes in our life.
In summer 2022, I managed to finish the project I already started in Ukraine – my first digital decoder that used the new technology from Doehler & Haass – for AZL SW1500 diesel locomotive:
viewtopic.php?t=17517
It is worth noting that I offered many different types of digital interior lighting solutions and sound decoders prior to that – I don’t offer these anymore due to a complete switching to the new technology.
After the first successful experience with the digital decoder for the SW1500 locomotive, I started expanding the range of the digital decoders for other models. I intentionally chose the models that were previously difficult to digitize – for example, V36 and V80 locomotives. Using the newest technological achievements in the electronic industry allowed me to develop and produce unique products that were never offered in Z scale before.
Meanwhile, together with my friends and colleagues who left in Kyiv, we decided to continue producing load inserts and accessories from photo-etched metal. Everything is still produced in Kyiv, Ukraine. However, I must admit that managing the whole manufacturing process became much more complicated – controlling quality, obtaining and testing new product samples, ordering, paying, and shipping and so on. Additionally, some valuable contacts to different companies in Ukraine were lost in the last time due to well-known circumstances. Moreover, of course, it is not a secret that everything became more expensive in Ukraine, too – given all the circumstances during the last years. Increased costs for CNC-milling, laser cutting, photo etching, UV printing and also for all kinds of materials – sheet metals, plastics, paints and so on – forced me to increase the prices for many products during last years. Nevertheless, most products remain attractive to customers because they offer a great value, quality and details for the money.
Despite of all this, I don’t think that moving the production completely to Germany is possible now – not only because most services are still more expensive here, but due to the fact that one of my very talented colleagues cannot move here, and it is impossible to find someone here in Germany who would be able to do all this work instead of him. Additionally, I don’t want to move the whole production here because I want to support my friends in Ukraine – I already mentioned before that by purchasing Zmodell products, you actually support people in Ukraine and help them to live – the life in Ukraine is, fairly saying, not “easy” at all since 2022.
After all, I cannot say that these 10 years were boring for Zmodell – I managed to develop and constantly offer more than 300 different articles – 200 types of different load inserts, more than 90 types of accessories and 25 digital decoders (I do not count the decoders I offered in the past and do not offer anymore). The numbers keep growing and I try my best to replenish all sold out items in time. I can only say that attempting to keep all articles in stock is not easy at all.
To commemorate the 10th anniversary, I prepared a small gift to loyal customers of Zmodell brand – Zmodell manufacturer plate:
This nice souvenir is made of thick 0.5 mm photo-etched brass specially covered with black lacquer and polished. The size of the plate is 32 x 18 mm. It comes with a set of 1 x 8 mm brass decorative nails and can be attached, for example, to any wooden surface like the framework of the train layout or diorama, or to the wooden box. The plate has its own article number – ZM-MS-037.
This item is available via 1zu220-shop.de and added for free to 50 first orders containing Zmodell articles for 10,00 Euro and more. The action starts on 26.06.2026 and finishes when all first 50 orders placed. Note: If the same customer places multiple orders for 10,00 Euro or more each, only one gift is added.
To be honest, I wanted to deliver one more article devoted to the anniversary – a freight car ordered from Märklin with my own print. Unfortunately, due to personal circumstances, I have to be more modest in my projects. Nevertheless, I hope very much this small item will become a good sign of appreciation to my customers.
Many thanks to everyone here for supporting Zmodell during all these years!
Best regards,
Alex
, und kann mich Jörg, bei allem geschriebenen, nur anschließen. 
