Press Release dated September 1, 2026: Introducing the model railroad layouts for the 2026 Friedrichshafen International Model Railroad Exhibition!
2-meter gauge (G): RhB trains
The model layout is built to a scale of 1:22.5; the 45-mm model track gauge corresponds to a 1,000-mm gauge on the real-life railway, which is common on numerous narrow-gauge railroads in Switzerland and Germany.
The model layout consists of two through stations, a passing track, and two turning loops, including a large-scale storage yard with a maintenance facility. The layout is digitally operated and can be controlled via computer using control software. Train operations on the layout are modeled after the Rhaetian Railway (RhB), featuring trains from various eras.
More than 100 individual modules, equipped with over 300 meters of track and about 60 turnouts, are incorporated into the 35-meter-long and 6.4-meter-wide layout.
To ensure a variety of train operations, approximately 20 locomotives and over 100 railcars will be available on the layout during the exhibition days.
The well-known Glacier and Bernina Express trains, with their modern rolling stock, are in service alongside nostalgic trainsets with historic locomotives. The prototypical freight trains—which are heavy even in model form—are up to six meters long, and some must be pulled by multiple locomotives in multiple-unit traction.
Operator: EBC Wuppertaler Stadtwerke, 42287 Wuppertal
Pool size: 34 x 6.4 meters
2m G Gauge: GDR Reichsbahn layout circa 1965
The theme of the layout is the German Reichsbahn in Central Germany in the 1960s and is being presented to a wide audience for the first time!
Most of the Gauge 2 layout is homemade; the buildings alone took up to four hundred hours to build! The locomotives are also mostly homemade and therefore one-of-a-kind. The trains run on real steam. There are also battery-powered locomotives and railcars, which are either homemade or converted from production models.
The water tower, which is well worth seeing, took 6 months to build and is a replica of the Salzwedel water tower with a height of almost 90 cm.
He and the train station are replicas of the so-called Prussian Standard Design. The layout depicts typical everyday scenes from the “workers’ and peasants’ state,” so it’s worth taking a closer look. The heaviest trains weigh over 80 kg, are 12 meters long, and therefore require lead locomotives.
Operator: Spur 2 Echtdampf Freunde, Tobias Mey, 76530 Baden-Baden
Pool size: 17 x 7.5 meters
Gauge 1 and 1e: Narrow gauge traffic in the Jagst valley with rolling stock traffic
The combined 1 and 1e gauge layout recreates the narrow gauge operation with rolling stock traffic in the Jagst valley from Dörzbach to the sugar factory on a fictitious standard gauge line.
The passenger service ends in Dörzbach and starts in a fictitious station with a three-rail track. Dörzbach station is a faithful replica of the original. The narrow-gauge line passes the Berlichingen bulkhead works and a warehouse. Here, as in Bieringen in the Jagst valley, G-wagons have to be transferred from the rolling stock to a standard-gauge track for loading and unloading.
This standard gauge track is only used for loading and unloading in front of the warehouse. This procedure was necessary because the Jagsttalbahn had too few rolling blocks. To make matters worse, a country road crosses the standard and narrow-gauge tracks between the rolling stock pits. This situation is also recreated. Beet wagons loaded along the line are taken to a sugar factory via another pit and emptied there. This sugar factory has a complete interior, and molasses wagons, sugar wagons and wagons from sugar factory customers are shunted on the access road.
Operator: Pi`s Modellbahnfreunde, 74613 Öhringen
Builder: Thomas Pauli. Construction time so far over 10 years.
Pool size: 14 x 6.2 m
US size Standard Gauge (54mm): US tinplate railroads of the twenties
Vehicles by Lionel, American Flyer, Dorfan, and Ives. All of the exhibits date from 1901 to 1939. Most of the exhibits are over 100 years old.
Topic: From the City to the Wild West.
US Standard Gauge (gauge) was the standard gauge in the USA before the Great Depression of the 1930s. However, this gauge is not compatible with European gauge II, the US Standard Gauge (gauge) is wider.
These models are very popular among U.S. collectors due to their colorful paint schemes and glittering bronze trim. While they are not true-to-scale reproductions of the actual locomotives, they were, at best, modeled after specific originals from that era.
We, the Tinplate Players Association, are probably the only collectors in Europe specializing in this gauge.
Four collectors have assembled nearly the entire range from this era and display the pieces on a large layout featuring three circuits. All of the decorative elements are also from manufacturers of that period. Many moving accessories, such as figures, signals, and railroad crossings, complement the layout to create a complete picture of U.S. model railroading in the 1920s.
A large suspension bridge and a Wild West town are also part of the set, along with a loading game featuring the Deutsche Biller Bahn. Schuco Varianto provides the road vehicles.
Organizer: German Tinplate Toys Players Association, Freiburg and Karlsruhe
Pool size: 15 x 6 m
Gauge 0: Palatinate branch line
The 0-gauge Palatinate branch line modular layout reflects a single-track branch line in the heart of the Palatinate. It shows the situation around the Siegelbach stop not far from Kaiserslautern on the Bachbahn. Based on original plans, the stop with its imposing station building named “Irmingen” has been reproduced almost faithfully on a scale of 1:43.
This is an alternative siding that provides shunting operations at the stop. Agricultural goods were usually transhipped there at the loading ramp, thus supplying the village with goods.
The “Irmingen” stop is nestled in the Palatinate Forest, with a bridge, a tunnel, green areas and sandstone formations. Scenic areas, including a dilapidated shearing shed, a cow pasture and a paddock round off the entire scenery.
The modular layout is bordered by two fully equipped staging yards, which allow the five trains to be moved. The staging yards resemble a stabling facility for passenger coaches.
Operator: EMK Eisenbahnfreunde Modelleisenbahnclub Kaiserslautern, 67655 Kaiserslautern
Pool size: 12 x 6.5 m
Gauge 0: Depot NORD and La Chapelle Station
The “Chemin de Fer de la Chapelle” model railroad layout consists, in part, of an SNCF locomotive depot from northern France featuring a locomotive ramp. The swing bridge leads to a covered roundhouse with nine tracks.
All of the backdrop scenery is painted. All the elements typical of a locomotive depot are present: a workshop, a locomotive ramp, inspection pits, a sanding station, and, of course, the dormitory for the staff.
On the other side are a curved overpass and a train station with five platform tracks, which are accessible from both ends. A signal box and a track lead into the rear section of the building and to the freight yard.
The village square, dating from the 1950s, overlooks the tracks leading into the station. The network’s signaling systems replicate the mechanical signals of that era.
Operator: Chemin de fer de la Chapelle, France–41190 Valencisse
Pool size: 15 x 5 m
XL Fair Models: The Fascination of the Fair in 1:16 Scale
Fair model builder Christian Geist creates highly detailed, fully functional fair models featuring thousands of LEDs, up-to-date music, cool announcements, amazing effects, and a complete diorama atmosphere.
With “KirmesmodelleXL,” master mechanical engineer Christian Geist presents an extraordinary model-building project that impressively brings to life the atmosphere of a real fairground on a 1:16 scale. After hundreds of hours of work, he has created highly detailed fairground models that are not only visually striking but also fully functional and truly one-of-a-kind in the modeling community.
The exhibition centers on two large amusement ride models: a Break Dancer and a Musik Express. Like their full-size counterparts, both carousel models can be completely assembled and disassembled. The models are made of up to 90 percent aluminum. Thousands of LEDs, running light modules, contemporary music, atmospheric jingles, and numerous effects—such as running lights, flashing lights, and fog—create a realistic fairground atmosphere.
The model fairground is complemented by lovingly designed row of stalls, such as a grand raffle, a shooting gallery, and a candy stand, as well as a nostalgic carnival organ. These models are also fully illuminated and feature special effects. The rides are complemented by a complete fleet of vehicles—including travel trailers, cargo vans, trucks, and other fairground vehicles—that authentically round out the scene.
The entire display covers approximately 15 square meters of exhibition space and is designed as a highly detailed fairground diorama. Hundreds of figures, real plants, and numerous small scenes bring the miniature fairground to life. KirmesmodelleXL combines precision craftsmanship, mechanical engineering, model-making artistry, and a passion for the world of fairground performers to create a unique exhibition experience.
Operator: Kirmesmodelle XL, Christian Geist, 69514 Laudenbach
Pool size: 7.5 x 2 m
H0 Scale: Wajcha Poznan Modular Layout
The modular system from Wajach Poznan in Poland consists of seven segments.
At both ends, there is a mountain into which the trains can enter, and where the cars in the Car System also have their loops. The trains run in a closed loop on a double-track line! Behind the scenery, there are six tracks, allowing trains from eras I through VI to be displayed.
The model train layout features interactive buttons that allow visitors to set the Viessmann figures in motion. The scenery on the model train layout, which includes a beautiful viaduct bridge, is incredibly detailed!
Operator: Wajcha Poznan Marcin Magner, Poland – 62-651 Poznan
Pool size: 12 x 1 m
H0 Gauge: Double-Track Main Line of the Ehingen Railway Enthusiasts
The model railroad enthusiasts from Ehingen an der Donau are bringing 38 modules from their large segment layout. The layout, designed as a double-track line with appropriate turning options, ensures lively and varied exhibition operations.
The glass double spiral, at one end, also serves as a yarn storage unit. This makes it particularly easy to observe the various sets of yarn here.
The modules were designed individually by each club member with great attention to detail and blend together very well in the overall display. A specific time period was deliberately not specified. The stations at Ehingen and Munderkingen on the Donautalbahn offer recognizable features.
The digitized trains run on Märklin C and K tracks. They are controlled via Märklin Central and Mobile Station, and in some cases also via cell phones. Automation was deliberately omitted to enhance the gaming experience. Turnouts and signals are set on-site using a track-diagram signal box or push buttons.
The structure is 80 cm high throughout. This makes it easy even for children to explore the many small scenes.
Operator: Ehinger Eisenbahnfreunde e.V., D-89584 Ehingen/Donau
Pool dimensions: 40 x 0.60 (up to 1.20) m
HO Gauge: North Module System with freight transport and Faller Car System
The club was founded in 1989 with the goal of bringing together DC and AC enthusiasts. We chose the Nord-Modul system.
The standardized modules can be combined in virtually any way. The 1:87 (H0) scale model railroad layout, which is customized for each exhibition, is constructed from up to 168 individual modules. The trains operate in either two-wire or three-wire mode, as needed, and either an analog or digital control system can be used. The length and depth between the end pieces, as well as the design of each module, are determined by the builder. Overall, this construction method saves space and offers endless design possibilities.
Among other things, the layout features cities, villages, industrial facilities, and a brick factory with a light railway. A “turning module” depicts a freight company equipped with the Faller Car System.
Operator: Modulbaufreunde Ladenburg, 68229 Mannheim
Pool size: 10.5 m x 6.5 m
H0 Gauge: From De Provins to Villiers-Saint-Georges
The operators of the model railroad layout from France will present a digital HO-scale model railroad layout measuring 9.1 by 3 meters, which can be viewed from all four sides and offers visitors a comprehensive experience.
The layout is a faithful and historic replica of the line that connected Longueville with Villiers-Saint-Georges, as it existed in the 1960s and 1970s. It was a typical branch line that ran through the French countryside and, at that time, was still used for both passenger and freight service.
Every element—buildings, bridges, landscapes, vegetation—was handcrafted and custom-made based on archival documents, field studies, and historical photographs.
The landscape is characterized by several distinctive features: authentic rural landscapes of the Brie region, with open fields and charming villages; a faithfully recreated train station featuring a passenger terminal, a freight yard, and siding tracks; and typical engineering structures such as small bridges and railroad crossings.
Realistic operation featuring alternating passenger and freight trains, reflecting the schedules and rolling stock of that era. The layout is operated using digital control (DCC), which ensures smooth and dynamic operation.
Visitors can enjoy a historic and immersive journey and experience the atmosphere of a real French regional train, brought to life in miniature.
Operator: Club de Modelisme Ferroviaire de Provins, France–77160 Provins
Pool size: 9.5 x 3.5 m
H0 Gauge: Arlberg Railway West Ramp – Hintergasse Station
The model railroad layout is part of the large modular layout at MEC Bregenz and depicts several distinctive sections of the Arlberg Railway’s western ramp in the style of the 1950s, including the Hintergasse station.
The layout shown here consists of 14 track modules, including an operating station, with a total length of 20 meters. The Hintergasse station serves as a junction station.
The layout features trains that are as true to the original as possible, representing those typical of the Arlberg West Ramp. The scenery and buildings were all built by the modeler.
Operator: Bregenz Model Railroad Club, Austria-6900 Bregenz
Pool size: 9 x 2.6 m
HO Gauge: Single-track fictional branch line with a terminal station and a maintenance yard
A single-track branch line with a rail yard, set in a scenic location somewhere in the southwest, featuring a railbus and a steam train. A spa hotel, a large medieval market, a campground with a swimming lake, a small train station with beet loading and a gantry crane. A church with a cemetery, a castle, vineyards, and an authentic replica of Y-Burg in Kernen–Stetten.
The railroad is part of the whole but not the dominant theme. The two-wire layout is controlled by a Märklin CS3 in semi-automatic mode, leaving room for a dispatcher to take over.
There is a lot of activity on the diorama, featuring a large number of hand-painted figures. Era: Transition from 3 to 4. The background was painted in oil by Mr. Christoph Laubmann according to our specifications.
Operator and Builder: IG Modelleisenbahn Kernen, 71394 Kernen
Pool size: 8 x 2.2 m
H0 Gauge: “Grenzenlos” Module Set
The idea for a modular layout group came to Markus Horn during a Märklin Insider get-together; our goal was to give members the freedom to design their modules however they wanted. The only requirements were the size of the modules and that Märklin C-track be used.
The rest is up to the builder’s imagination and vision. This has resulted in modules that are simply amazing.
From mountains to cities, from a small idyll to a chemical plant, and from Bundeswehr barracks to a locomotive museum—there’s a lot to see on the layout.
Both standard, off-the-shelf materials and custom parts created from recycled materials were used.
A double-track main line runs from a storage yard through all the modules, with trains and cars from every era running on it. The entire layout is controlled via the ESU Ecos. Numerous lights that operate independently of the electrical circuit, along with several push-button controls for spectators, round out the experience.
Märklin MS2 train operations are also available on branch lines, independent of the main line. Both the Faller Carsystem and Viessmann Carmotion can be found on the modules.
There are many little details to discover, but also grand masterpieces—such as a marketplace made of 7,000 bricks and a cemetery wall made of 3,000 bricks by Juweela—which a builder painstakingly constructed on the module.
The module group is called “Grenzenlos” (Boundless) because we have 24 members from Germany, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, making us an international group of Märklin-crazy model railroaders. The group also includes several YouTube stars from the model railroad scene, whom you can meet in person and talk shop with about their modules.
Operator: Modulbaugruppe Grenzenlos, 78073 Bad Dürrheim
Pool size: 13 x 8 m
HO Gauge: Äpfingen Station on the Öchsle Narrow-Gauge Railroad
The Modellbahn Bodensee Friedrichshafen club has created a small masterpiece.
A tribute to Upper Swabia featuring a faithful replica of the Äpfingen train station as it appeared in the 1960s (Era III). This station is part of the Öchsle Narrow-Gauge Railway, which was also home to Locomotive 99633, known as the title locomotive of the SWR television series *Eisenbahnromantik*.
The layout can be viewed from both sides: on one side is the Äpfingen station, and on the other is a section of the line between Äpfingen and Herrlishöfen.
Many small details (including a cornfield made up of over 5,000 individual plants) invite viewers to linger and discover more details, such as a fully furnished train station building, birds in flight, and so on.
The station buildings were built from scratch based on original photographs. The tracks were also custom-built, since steel-sleeper tracks are not available on the market.
Realistic train operations and a bus system round out the overall picture.
Construction of a modular plant:
Of course, we’re not neglecting our modular layout either. It’s supposed to grow right before our eyes at the model-building fair. Last time it was a small-scale trial, but due to the positive feedback, we’ve decided to make it a bit bigger this time. This will allow us to show visitors even more, and—just like last year—they’ll be able to ask questions, get tips and suggestions, and learn about various techniques. Not only in landscape modeling, but also in technical areas such as electrical systems and digital technology. By building on-site, it’s easier for interested visitors to ask questions, and we can demonstrate solutions or construction techniques right there. With a combined total of over 75 years of model-building experience among our members, we’re a knowledgeable resource for visitors.
Operator: Modellbahn Bodensee Friedrichshafen, D-88074 Meckenbeuren
Pool size: 6 x 3 m
H0 and N Gauge: Tram Layout and Groß-Enningen
HO Gauge: Our 1:87-scale tram layout is an automated compact layout on which up to three tram trains operate in block mode and stop at stations. They travel through an extremely intricately detailed cityscape (for example, nearly every store has an interior) and, after circling a spacious monastery complex, reach a residential neighborhood. Along the way, the trains pass many lovingly designed scenes for visitors to discover. Visitors can trigger numerous animations (such as the ringing of bells or an elevator) and lights themselves using push buttons on the layout. Another unique feature is the street intersections equipped with working traffic lights, which also feature realistic streetcar signals that, in turn, affect streetcar operations.
Measuring 1.25 meters by 2 meters, the layout has a track length of approximately 10 meters (Tillig tram track). A tram system naturally includes overhead wires.
N Gauge: The “Groß-Enningen” layout depicts a double-track, electrified main line on a 1:160 scale. Set against the backdrop of the 1980s (Epoch IV), six train sets run automatically at block intervals through a low-mountain landscape. The route, which winds back on itself several times, spans three levels and passes through an 8-track station.
A single-track branch line also connects to the station; it is operated as an automated shuttle line with its own shadow station. In addition, the station has a small freight section with switching tracks and a mini-depot.
A passing yard in the foreground of the layout, along with a hidden yard, complete the approximately 50-meter-long track layout.
The city consists of a new district near the train station, where there are mainly commercial buildings and more modern apartment complexes, and an old town on the hill. Both districts are designed with great attention to detail (e.g., working traffic lights in ”
” N gauge!) and feature elaborate lighting.
All of this takes place in a space measuring just 2.8 x 1.4 meters.
Operator: Würzburg Model Railroaders Club, 97082 Würzburg
Pool dimensions: 2 x 1.25 m and 2.8 x 1.4 m
H0 Gauge: Model Railroads and Transportation History with Hagen von Ortloff
Former host Hagen von Ortloff, known from the television series “Eisenbahn-Romantik,” joins Lutz Mäder, Rolf Brändle, and Eric Haake to present a model railway layout set in the 1950s and 1960s titled “Model Railroads and Transportation History—Presented Through Play.”
Trolleybuses manufactured over sixty years ago by the Esslingen-based company Eheim operate on this track. On the other side of the track, two Loop trams—one from Stuttgart and one from Dresden—run. Both circle the cardboard model of the world-famous Frauenkirche.
The highlight and centerpiece of the park is the Wuppertal Suspension Railway. And, of course, it features Tuffi the elephant.
The railroad, which connects all the other vehicles and circles the layout, is made by the Göppingen-based model railroad company Märklin. Also included are direct-current vehicles from the former GDR, which were often ridiculed by some West Germans but were certainly capable of keeping up with the locomotives and cars from the West.
Two circuits powered by crank generators invite you to play.
Fans of old tin toys will also find something to enjoy. The Alpine Express, the old cable car, and the Techofix Mountain Train all come to life once you wind them up.
Operators: Hagen von Ortloff, Lutz Mäder, Rolf Brändle, and Eric Haake
Pool size: 6 x 5 m
H0f Gauge: The Lerchental Forest Railway
The layout depicts the transport of logs through a remote mountainous region in Austria. From the Thomasberg loading point, the logs must be transported on forest railway cars down into the valley to the St. Martin unloading point. The route passes through a picturesque gorge, which is also traversed by a hiking trail. Due to the topography depicted, viewing the layout reveals ever-changing perspectives. Because of the sparse track layout and the regulations and restrictions that must be observed during operation, extensive shunting maneuvers are required. Coupling is always done by hand. There’s a story behind every scene, every building, and every vehicle! The buildings are fully furnished, and some can even be viewed from the inside by removing the roof. The layout features numerous details just waiting to be discovered.
Operator: Manfred Scholz Private Farm , Austria-8020 Graz
Layout size: 1 .1 x 1 m (Model Railroad Community Area, as of 1206)
H0 Gauge: Abra La Raya
The Abra La Raya train station is located in the Peruvian Andes. It is the highest point on the train route between Cusco and Puno—one of the highest railway lines in the world. During the trip, the train makes a brief stop here so that travelers can enjoy the spectacular Andean landscape or purchase local handicrafts at the small market. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks and vast highlands, Abra La Raya offers one of the most impressive views along the entire route.
Near the central monument to the Inca ruler Pachacútec Yupanqui, tourists mill about in a bustling tourist market or enjoy the view from the bus parking lot, while the local residents go about their daily work: Whether it’s feeding the cuys (guinea pigs) in the courtyard or supplying the nearby ore mine with trucks. And of course, there are alpacas!
The operation of the 1:87 scale model layout (H0, 2L RP25) is modeled after the real-life railway. Authentic train sets are used, some of which were built or modified in-house. A car system is also in operation.
Operator: Private facility owned by Tobias Mandt, 50968 Cologne
Layout size: 2 .5 x 1 m (Model Railroad Community Area, as of June 2012)
H0 Gauge: Lummerland in H0 – an island with two mountains
The Model Railroad Team Bodensee has created a fictional replica of the “Island with Two Mountains.” An island with two mountains and the deep, vast sea, featuring many tunnels and tracks and rail traffic.
Notable landmarks include the Lummerland train station, King Alfons’s castle, Mrs. Waas’s store, and the locomotive shed where the steam locomotive Emma is housed.
There is a volcano on the island that occasionally emits smoke. The vegetation consists mainly of palm trees and cacti.
On the platform, the passengers are waiting for Jim Button and Lukas the Train Engineer to arrive. High up in Lummerland Castle, Alfons watches over his island, which he can see from his balcony.
Operator: ModellBahnTeam Bodensee, 88048 Friedrichshafen
Layout size: 1 .5 x 1 m (Model Railroad Community Area, as of June 2012)
TT Gauge: Nostalgic Model Train Set in 1 : 120 Scale
The nostalgia isn’t just about age. This compact layout showcases a railway operation featuring all the model railroad control options available at the time: block operation, shuttle trains, and manual control via a track-diagram signal box. Even overhead wires have been included in the display. Mounted on a 12mm gauge track, the old “treasures” can make their rounds here. One of the oldest models from “Zeuke,” an E94, also takes center stage. Transporting the layout is incredibly easy—it fits in a standard mid-size station wagon. A model railroad that fits right in the car, so to speak.
Operator: Warener EBF, Steffen Becker, 17192 Peenehagen
Layout size: 1 .75 x 1 m (Model Railroad Community Area, as of June 2012)
TT Gauge: “Stiller Winkel” Model Railroad Layout
The “Stiller Winkel” model railroad layout is Ingo Scholz’s well-known miniature diorama, which demonstrates just how realistic railroad operations can be in a very small space. The concept proves that a fascinating model railroad doesn’t require a huge basement room. Measuring 1.0 meter in length and 25 centimeters in depth, the layout depicts a fictional terminal station on a branch line. Incoming trains are uncoupled here; the locomotive moves onto the homemade turntable, is slowly rotated there, circles around the train, and then reattaches itself to the front of the train for the return trip. Despite its small size, the layout demonstrates absolutely lively and prototypical shunting and train operations.
Thanks to its masterful use of space and attention to detail, the layout was featured in detail—including several pages with large-format photos—in the trade magazine *Miba Spezial* (Issue 122), among other publications.
Operator: Ingo Scholz Private Farm , 01844 Neustadt in Saxony
Layout size: 1 .5 x 0.3 m (Model Train Club common area, as of June 2012)
Track N: SceNic Module Group (German Premiere)
The SceNic network was founded by enthusiastic model railroaders and brings together talent and ideas from all over France.
His goal: to work together to create impressive modular installations in which each individual design retains its own identity and personality.
A common standard makes it possible to connect the modules to one another and ensure seamless system operation, while at the same time giving each model builder a great deal of creative freedom.
Today, more than 25 model builders are part of the SceNic consortium and are continually enriching the network with new modules. Since its founding, more than 100 modules have been built and presented at over 70 exhibitions in France.
Each module tells its own story and offers a unique landscape and atmosphere, always with a special emphasis on realism and attention to detail. The variety of modules invites you to travel through landscapes—inspired by numerous regions of France—all within just a few meters: from Provence to northern France, through the Paris metropolitan area, the Ariège, and all the way to Alsace—the scenery is constantly changing and never the same.
This diversity is one of the group’s greatest strengths: Each modeler contributes their own unique vision of the world of miniature railroads. Without any formal club membership, SceNic thrives above all on the joy of creating, sharing ideas, and running the trains. Over the years and through numerous exhibitions, the group has made a name for itself and now brings together model railroad enthusiasts from all over France. Interacting with visitors and other modelers also provides an opportunity to share techniques, ideas, and experiences.
The exhibition in Friedrichshafen marks a new milestone for SceNic and, at the same time, a new adventure that takes our passion beyond France’s borders for the first time! At this first presentation outside of France, visitors can expect one of the largest layouts SceNic has ever built: About a dozen modelers will connect nearly 30 custom-designed modules to create a model railroad layout more than 40 meters long.
Operator: SceNic Modul Group, France – 67117 Hurtigheim
Pool size: 16 x 7 m
Route N: Swabian Alb
Covering an area of 6.5 x 1.1 m and 5.0 x 1.1 m in an L-shape, the “Swabian Alb” theme is brought to life in N scale. In addition to a large quarry for cement production, the layout features a replica of Derneck Castle in the Great Lauter Valley and the “Hohle Fels” World Heritage Site in Schelklingen. The large train station in the center of the layout and the small town with its half-timbered houses are not based on any specific real-life model. The high-quality layout design, featuring significant variations in elevation, captures the distinctive natural features and landscape of the Swabian Alb, with its mixed forests and limestone cliffs.
The layout features a two-track main line with two stations, divided into 8 segments, as well as two
single-track branch lines that converge at the large “Karlsburg” station. Elaborate switch layouts in the stations, along with 4 switches for track-switching operations on the main line, allow for varied layout operation.
The layout is computer-controlled and has storage capacity for up to 75 trains in 4 hidden stations. At least 20 complete train sets are in continuous operation, bringing the operations of eras 5–6 to life in an engaging way. Modern ICE and long-distance trains, as well as a wide variety of commuter railcars and double-decker reversible trains, provide a diverse picture of modern rail transportation. In addition, many freight trains (block trains, container trains, and combined transport) operate with locomotives from a wide variety of international rail companies.
The overhead wire serves no functional purpose, but it gives the facility a harmonious overall appearance.
Visitors can walk all around the layout, and the hidden stations are visible. A large second screen allows visitors to view the computer-generated track diagram showing all routes and train movements.
Operator: Eisenbahnfreunde Schelklingen e.V., 89601 Schelklingen
Pool size: 6 .5 x 5.0 m
Track N: Cavallersolaro
Designed by Costanzo Malecore, who also designed the track layout and the arrangement of the station buildings, the project drew on the work of the outstanding model maker Stefano Carrari, while some of the finer details and the station buildings were created by the versatile artist Davide Comba.
The model, “unveiled” in 2025, is set in the period from 1950 to 1970 and depicts a train station on a branch line in the province of Cuneo in northern Italy, serving a village nestled partly in the hills. Despite its small size, this diorama offers the viewer an extraordinary visual impact thanks to the use of appropriate model-building techniques combined with the application of the basic principles of set design and landscape design.
Stefano Carrari has masterfully crafted Cavallersolaro: The diorama is characterized by a high degree of realism and is enhanced by the organic and original use of scenic partitions; it captivates with its skillful arrangement of the scenery, thanks to which the vanishing point is situated in a surprisingly advantageous position, guaranteeing excellent results for both photography and film shoots.
Operator: Costanzo Malecore Private Resort , Volpiano, Italy 10088
Layout size: 1 .75 x 0.75 m (Model Railroad Community Area, as of June 2012)
Gauge Z: Gauge Z—A Small Train, Big Impact
During the “Faszination Modellbau Friedrichshafen” event, Z-Freunde International will be showcasing several impressive Gauge Z model railroad layouts created by a wide variety of builders. The Z-Freunde will be happy to answer questions and provide information.
Operator: Z-Freunde International, 73666 Baltmannsweiler
Pool size: 14 m x 7 m
Thank you for your reports and announcements.
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