Hey BaZ boYz, Jerg and other great artists! Yes ARTISTS! Because we aren't hobbits, yes hobbits aka hob-E-is-tis New Word . but instead we are artists due to the fact our skills are so far fetched in the model rail road world. We are much diffrent from others due to the fact we have P.E.S (Patience- like an architect, Eyes- Like a Hawk, Steadiness- like a brain surgent) to work with such tiny objects and love doing it! To be able to include so much detail within such a small object was always amazing to me, and I'm sure to you guys too. The first train show I ever attended was with my father at the age of 3 years old. This was in 1986. (Dad was a huge train guy) Made a fortune recently selling his Lionel original aquaram cars NIB, Robber and cow boy cars, giraffe cars, brass steams ex ex. He currently models in H.O and is catagorized as a rocking chair modeler at this point of his life. Rocking chair modelere meaning hes the guy that spends so much time on base board, track planning, and track laying. But thats about as far as he gets haha! My father was also into N scale, and when I first saw N scale when I was 5-6 years old I was fasanated by such tiny choo choos. From that day forward we attended many local shows, and he bought me some track, box cars and I'll never forget a florecent safety green tank car! but no loco, hmm wonder why? I started seriously modeling N when I was about 16-17 years of age. I was caught up in a lot of sports, friends, partying, and getting some ASH KETHCUM. When entering college I was away for 3 years so I was unable to really work on my hobby, but exception to summer vacations and holidays. When I was 21 years old I bought a 5$ quick pick from a local gas station, and from that day on my entire life, and my entire familys life changed within an instant. As most of you know I won about 45-50 Million Dollars with taxes taken out. I never knew I would be rich out of college with no job. But anyway, I began to figure out the small things in life are the big things that make a difference. So I went back to my roots with my father and we began looking into Z scale. I saw how much it had grown from seeing suitecase layouts that were only german at train shows when I was younger, to seeing a whole american line in Z. Z scale became a priority and a challenge I wanted to take, upon being very frugal to model RR. I was willing to give Z a shot about 4 months ago. When I joined this forum I was 2 months into modeling. I went through 2 failed layouts and hours upon hours of frustration. My first layout was an ovel with 1 switch track that led to a freight house. It was to boring for me and I needed more! My second layout was a dogbone type of layout on a small 2x4 table top. It was a nice looking layout but I made to many rookie mistakes with it and it ended up failing due to very bad electrical problems (coudn't get an engine to run 4 inches). I thought Z would be very simialr to N scale. But it is no way even close to modeling in N. This is why I call Z an art form. We are dealing with the tinest objects other then T which I don't include as an actual scale, but rather an absolute waste of anyones time who desides to work in that scale. My 3rd layout is my current layout on a 7x3 table top that me and my dad constructed out of ply woods. At first I was sceptical, and couldn't find the perfect track plan. It was frusterating because I would come on here constantly asking you guys for help on track plans. It took me 3 months to develop somewhat of a blue print for my dream layout. I finally put something together and so far its working out great. This layout has huge potential to be a great! with not under doing it and not over doing it. I'm very excited to get potential magazine entries and possible covers (ZTRACK KEEP IN TOUCH!!! I'm a die hard subscriber) Not only do I love the trains part about Z, but I love the structure part, the scenery the road making, the yard making, the weathering rails ex ex... Everyone I show my structures to is just so fascinated by the size. My goal is to eventually donate my layout to a local museam one day after I'm done with it. Because If I can have just 1 little kid say "daddy daddy look at how small those choo choos are, they are the size of ants!" then I can know my job has been done as far as to inspire futre Z artists to keep the name that Z now carries and excelling it even higher then what its become now. I was once that kid who pointed to my dad and said look at that scale daddy, and he said to me "You don't want those they fall off the tracks" getting older and just remembering that moment I had with my idol makes my hair rise on my arms. It's just so crazy how far this community has come. And non of my favorite scale ever would have came where it is today without any of you guys here today! For that I thank each and every one of you! P.S Oh and heres the pics Summery for my lazy people: How I started railroading when I was young, went to train shows with pop. Fell out of the hobby due to sports, and college. Won the Lotto, at 21 got right back into it but choose something I always wanted to try as a kid and teen. That being Z!!! Failed at 2 Z layouts, 3rds a charm aka current layout Love building small structures and making people say is that a real scene when I take pictures up close LIKE KING JERGS WORK AND PHOTOS! INSPIRES ME JERG! trying to get magazine shoots eventually Wanting kids to look at my layout and say dad can we get Z. Thanks to all you guys who made Z what it is today because without you guys this Art form would be nothing at all! Thanks to Jurg, BaZ BoyZ, My custom sd40-2 maker you know who you are! and thanks to N2Z for helping me obtain my CSX custom! THANKS GUYS HERES THE PICTURES SO FAR OF TRACK PLAN SEMI, NOT DONE YET! PLEASE CRITIQUE HONESTLY! DONT BE AFRAID TO BE NEGATIVE, I WANT HONESTY ONLY!!!
Is this a Ztrack module? Is this going to be DCC or DC wire layout? I would like to see more of the landscape to give you my opinion. I do howeverer like the track layout that you choose, but are the grades too steep for a locomotive to climb? Chris Baz Models BAZBOYS
I like the photo progression. Looks like an east Coast pike, lots of hills, overpasses and valleys. The yard like operations in the middle looks like fun times when operating. DCC operations here would make it a blast, especially with friends running with you. Watch out for those curved turnouts I see. The throw (what would be considered the tracks to a spur) are 145mm (5.7") radius so many locos are not going to like that. Also, don't run into the points it thrown, these are notrious turnouts for derailments. Always enter from the exit rail ends for best running. If you are going to run longer cars (like passengers or modern freight), make sure you have transition curves (the change from straight track to curve). Flex track helps with this but if you do it all with sectional track, using something like the 490mm 8591 between the straight & curves works great. Or a 220 before a 195. Keep it up ! 3rd time is a charm ! .
Nice progress! It looks like you have built quite a few structures so far, looking good! Before you get your trackplan permanent, try and leave an area for a waterfront and pier. MTL just released the first of their pier and waterfront series structures, with the promise of more to come to make a really neat waterfront scene.
thanks for all the replies guys, and yes I've built, painted and weathered over 10 micro structures in brass and about 5 MTL structures so far. I can't wait to get my pier in the mail. That building looks so cool with the doc. I'm still trying to figure out where I'm going to put my waterfront. I still have about 3x3 of unused space, for a possible very nice dedication to a dock and man made canal. I can't wait to bring this piece to life. The curved turnouts aren't put down just yet. That was just an option if I wanted to leave it open for progression. I'm most likely going to scratch that. I'm not running DCC for I don't really have the knowledge in DCC for Z, although I wish I knew how to do DCC! I want to be able to park engines at my bumper stops without them moving but for DC I can't do that. I was thinking about maybe plastic rail joiners but IDK can someone help me for this? Also I'm adding another main line and feeder track so I can run 2 engines at the same time. mostly freight and coal, running to a possible wood dock. My grades are all 2%, so as for as hauling steam locos (which really isn't my thing) I'm sure they would do the grades just fine. So far I like what I have but it can be much better. I have a ton of work left to do and it will probably take me another 5-6 months to complete this layout due to my sceduale right now. For the best realistic water what do you guys prefer? I have woodland scenics water but don't really like it compared to the Water I got off some sight that contained 2 parts. Resign and hardner which looked super real! Also for a west/east cost water color what should I do for that greeny muggy look as far as painting for my peirs water and canal. Any tips on creating that would be very good as well. Thanks guys!
I know Michael's craft store has water kits in the floral dept. I can't remember the name something like water of essence. Zocal guys swear by it. Go for NCE CABs and TCS decoders and not very difficult to learn. Just ask Don Fedur, Robert Ray and that other guy Jeff @%%!? I think his nick name is Pwiped.
I use MAGIC WATER which seems to hold a glossy surface for years, then sprinkle VERY LIGHTLY a silvery glitter made by Darico is the manufacturer. It sparkles like water as you move your head and the light reflects at different angles. Price is about $3.00 or so in most craft stores. Magic Water, which is a 2 part resin can be poured over other waters that you have previously used. ...don
Ah Water!! We've had great results using artist"s Glesso. This can be bought at any art supply store. Paint the surface first (Black for deep water) and then apply several coats of the Glesso. It is important to let each coat dry well (overnight). You will get a great shine and if it dulls over several years, just apply another coat. The stuff doesn't stink and its good for making ripples etc. Best, Ron:tb-rolleyes:
I see Gesso not Glesso. Also they have multiple different colors. What color is the basic Gesso? Or should I try clear gesso?
Dear Mr Conrail & BNSF- Forgive my spelling as this medium maybe Gesso! Anyway, what we use is Liquitex Acrylic Gloss Medium and Varnish. (made by Binney & Smith). It is a milk colored liquid that dries clear and glossy. The opposite of Matte Medium. It is non-toxic and can be thinned with water, but too much water and it looses its gloss. We use it straight from the bottle rather than coloring it. It really looks good enough to make you thirsty. I understand London Bridge may be hosting a scenry clinic sometime this summer. If possible you may be able to atend that and learn more. Take care and good luck! Ron ( Cornell Red forever)
