i'm enjoying all the reports and pictures of the various shows. it makes me wish i was in an "active" Z area where a club (of modules?) could be organized and sustained. i've talked it up here in town, but there aren't enough train modelers, let alone interest in Z yet to bring it to life. but every day that i check in on the forum, i'm looking for that next bit of news -- of a new release or some available item. we know SP GP35s will be coming in December from MTL; we've been told the ribside-plug door box cars will be released then too. Joe at MTL offered that Rio Grande PS2 will be produced next -- i assume in december (but no date was actually given that i recall). so all of a sudden we going to have December mayhem with the next new release of boxcars, road names, etc. and then there is Full Throttle's announcements to come and hopefully Pennzee will give us something good to talk about. it's getting so close now! I WANT TO KNOW! i want to get my christmas list filled. (AND ... i want to see some AZL SD70 flared [radiators] SOON, so i can get started kitbashing one). it's all i think about when i start up the computer! dave f.
If you have any train shows in your area, you can start it yourself. Build a couple small end modules and, say, a 30 degree bend module over the winter. Then take it to your local NMRA meet in spring, and they will invite you to display it at a local show, home layout tour, or some other venue. Next you sign up to display at one of the bigger train shows like Greenberg or GTE, and bring your wife or a friend, or even invite someone from one of the other groups out of town to help out, then run trains for the weekend, and you will do wonders at spreading the news of Z. You will probably meet someone at the show who wants to get involved, and next thing there will be a couple guys running Z at these shows. You got to get out there to get started. We get converts from other scales all the time now.
I displayed my modules only by my self the first time I went to a "big" Train Show. I was pretty nervous but after the rewarding welcome I got from the visitors and the fact that the trains just ran al week without any trouble. It has been many more shows for the Needle Eye modules. And now we are between 5-7 module builders every time we display on shows. Some one just has to take the first step and the rest will come on its own. It may take some time but it's nice when you know you inspired someone else to get in to this business together with your self.
I agree with Rob, Dave just try a 30 degree and a pair of end modules. and go from there. we as Z scalers need to get this scale going like N & HO at these train show. I just did my first show as a Z scaler. I had a blast. I honestly can say I had a better time with the BAZ BOYZ then I've ever had with my N-track group. Which I've been involved with for over 10 years. Hope this helps you get started w/ Z-bend
Yes Dave, I agree with the others. If you can swing building just a couple of end loops and a middle module and get just a little bit of help to do a show, you will generate more interest just by yourself. There are lot's of Z-Bend Track folks that are more than willing to help out with questions. Rob Kluz will put inserts into ZTrack magazines distributed in your local mailing area to help announce new groups forming and will also send freebie sample back issues if requested prior to a show. I know more than one of the 16 or so existing Z scale groups in the USA started with only one person and grew from there. I'm more than willing to help if there is anything I can do from afar. Build it (and show it) and they will come. Randy Smidt ZTrack magazine module coordinator
thanks everyone for their encouragement. when i'm done building for everyone maybe i can get a module or two made for display. BUT ... the essence of my post was to ask "what's being released!" no one's responded to that yet! ha ha ha. dave
Oh, new releases! I think the MTL SP GP35 is coming out in January rather than DEC. Joe showed the new 60' flatcar in Milwaukee, so that will probably be early 2007 release. The plugdoor 50' FMC boxcar may be the DEC release. I haven't heard about any new PennZee releases, but Full Throttle will likely have more releases of the 2 bay hoppers soon. AZL is supposed to have the autoracks (and long lost CoalPorters) soon, possibly DEC. The BNSF SD70i's or M's or whichever these are are out now. I don't think they've announced when the UP W/F/F units will be released, but should be in the next few months. The SeaRails whalebelly tank car is coming very soon. Haven't heard any recent reports from Mark4Design, but Mark had said that he had a few more cars in the works for Z scale. Did I miss anyone? Randy
David, Marsillius a German Dealer will release US Streamliner Cars in various Roadnames in the next couple of month.
Yup, sorry about that lapse in to "foamer" speak (aka railfan). W/F/F is shorthand for "wings, flagged and flared" - the winged herald on the nose, the flags on the hood and the newer flared radiators. Other examples of railfan speak would be "Stealth" for the primer gray NS and CSX units that were put directly into service before going to the paint shop due to motive power shortages, MT for empty cars, Pumpkins for the BNSF heritage scheme, Tophats for NS standard cab GE's, Catfish for NS wide cabs (the logo sort of looks like whiskers), etc. etc. Bryan and I are scheming about making a trip to the western VA and eastern WVA to see some of the current CSX detours over NS. Somehow, NS seems to be having no problem running both their trains and CSX's and while our normal railfan spots on the RF&P are dead due to the Anacostia Bridge Closure, the NS lines are seeing double or more trains than usual. Sorry for the digression from Z scale. I haven't worked up to the level where a scanner is taking priority over my Z scale budget yet though. Randy
Might as well stop over in Western MD and see the Cumberland yard and locomotive shop. Depending on where you're at in WV, the Cumberland yard is just across the state line. Joe
I've been there, but not in a couple of years. We were thinking Shenandoah Junction. that's only about an hour away for us. Man, when it rains it pours on CSX. They've really had another string of bad luck this week. How is your "Spirit" coming along, Joe? randy
The Z stuff from MT this month: PS2 D&RGW 50' rib side boxcar PRR 40' std boxcar Rock Island modern log car I got a D&RGW car on reserve,a nd an N autorack. Very sharp in SOU scheme!
