Track Panels in H0f

With the continued arrival of Soviet narrow gauge models, the practice of photographing them on the work table or in the garden has become annoying to me. The models will look much better in a more life-like setting and I have now decided to make a small diorama for photo purposes. I have a good supply of 9 mm gauge track and turnouts and have just taken delivery of some nice 6,5 mm track.

Auhagen H0f track with over head loading machine and mine tub.  

I have equipment in H0 scale in prototype gauges of 750 and 600 mm and the little diorama has to have both and I thus need both H0e (9 mm gauge) and H0f (6,5 mm gauge) track. For the 6,5 mm gauge track I decided to use the Auhagen set 41701 'Feldbahngleis - Attrappen' which is injection moulded plastic track panels on steel sleepers. As the track is all plastic it is non-operational in contrast to the Busch track in the same gauge. As I'm not planning any operation on the H0f track the all-plastic Auhagen track suits me fine.

The set includes much more track than I need and I suspect a lot of the contents will end up as a load for a 750 mm gauge platform wagon or a lorry model. The contents are as follows:

• 18 curved track panels 
• 18 long straight track panels 
• 12 short straight tracks 
• 1 left and 1 right turnout 
• 1 Y-turnout 
• 1 left and 1 right crossing for standard gauge
• 1 turntable 

The Auhagen track geometry explained on part of the instructions.

The track is moulded in a dark red-brown colour to look like rusty steel track panels and the parts are moulded with extra height to give strength and to facilitate easier ballasting when laying the track. The track panels are quite tiny and there are limits as to what detail can be fitted to track in this scale. Nevertheless the track looks good and I'm looking forward to lay track this small.

One long straight section of track and one curved panel. It's obvious how the rails have been moulded solidly and with an extra 'web' between the steel sleepers. Probably to obtain strength for handling and to ease the moulding proces.

Close up of the sprue with turnouts and standard gauge crossing.

Regular track panels - straight and curved.

I've already been cutting a basic structure for the diorama that will be a relatively flat area with industrial buildings, concrete plated road area as well as track in 3 gauges.