Z-Bend Track.. Who has modules?

rray Feb 22, 2006

  1. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    I am just curious how many Z Scalers we have that are into Z-Bend Track, and how many modules you have?

    Also is ZBT planned in your future, or are you in a ZBT club already?

    I am a member of BAZ, and have 4 modules. Our club has 5 guys building modules, and quite a few that don't have modules but come to offer support, run trains, and man the BYOZ tables.

    Tell us about your Z-Bend Track experience?

    -Robert :D
     
  2. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    Robert,

    I LOVE Z-Bend Track! This was my first experience building modules and the standard worked very well. I did see it in person for years and could not wait to try building a set. I personally have two modules, but they are basically one. They are 8' in total length.

    [​IMG]

    The above photo shows the modules. In the back, you will see a 2nd tier with a fully operating mine train loop. The yard is a blessing for assembling trains.

    These modules are not on display with the COZE's modules at Kingsdales shopping center in Upper Arlington Ohio. We are members of an O scale club. We have other modules on display including ones from Jim Thomas, Rich Petruska, Paul Peterson, and Carl Albrecht. I think our total length on display is close to 20', plus we have other modules not on display.

    Rob Kluz
     
  3. Kez

    Kez TrainBoard Member

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    Robert,

    I have two Z_Bend_Track modules currently, with plans for at least two more just for home. Before I build the next two for home, though, I'm going to build a two piece yard module for the club, so we can build trains on something a little larger than my small desert intermodal yard, seen in another thread here. It's tough to build 100 car trains five cars at a time. ;)

    I'm a Z Bender!

    Bryan
     
  4. shamoo737

    shamoo737 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Is there anybody in South Florida that has a module. I dont think so, but I am still asking.
     
  5. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    I seen Rob's and Bryan's modules at the NTS last summer. Great job guys!

    I know there are more guys with modules on this list, so lets hear more!

    -Robert [​IMG]
     
  6. RSmidt

    RSmidt TrainBoard Member

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    Hi Robert,

    I've got a couple of ZBT modules as well. I'm in the same ZBT group in DC that Bryan is. Art Bildman in our group also has modules built already. Rob A. has modules built, but his are so large, he just leaves them set up in a garage now and he is contemplating building some more, smaller modules with a desert southwest theme (instead of Swiss) to display at shows.

    There are another two or three people in the group currently building modules and numerour others that come out to run trains (some almost every show, others maybe only once a year or so).

    I personally have plans for about another 12 modules to use set up as a layout at home, but I'll be lucky if I get one more module built before NTS this summer.

    Putting on my official ZTrack hat as Z module coordinator, there are currently 14 clubs listed for North America in ZTrack plus another 2 or 3 not listed or just forming up. Of those:
    12 use Z-Bend Track (or some modification of it)
    3 use Z-Mod (or some variation of it)
    2 use ZtrakZ

    Additionally there are also individuals using ZBT standards for modular home layouts.

    Some folks are also now experimenting with TTrak-Z.

    Randy
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 18, 2006
  7. RSmidt

    RSmidt TrainBoard Member

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    Rob K.,

    Are you planning on sending (or bringing) your module to NTS this summer? Please tell me yes. I tried to call you about this and another question the other night and got your voice-mail. Haven't had a chance to call back yet.

    Randy
     
  8. RSmidt

    RSmidt TrainBoard Member

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    John, After NTS 2002 in Ft. Lauderdale there was some talk about forming a Z scale modular group in South Florida, but I never heard anything more about it going anywhere after that.

    There did seem to be a number of Z scalers coming out of the woodwork during that show. The only one that I can think of off hand though is Mitch Brownstein (sp?).

    If you are interested in trying to start a group, Rob Kluz is usually willing to put a flyer insert in ZTrack magazines mailed to subscribers in local zipcodes. Z scalers in some areas are very gung-ho about forming and joining groups, but in some other areas seem to keep to themselves and are very reluctant to join groups.

    We here in DC have seen the local interest in Z scale increase after we started displaying at local trains shows and got out in front of the public.

    Randy
     
  9. shamoo737

    shamoo737 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks Randy
     
  10. TimZBend

    TimZBend TrainBoard Member

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    I have three modules: the necessary two ends, plus a third for the middle. It was recently displayed at the local "Supertrains" show in Calgary.
     
  11. shamoo737

    shamoo737 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Welcome Timz, and we want pictures.
     
  12. Kez

    Kez TrainBoard Member

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    Welcome Tim! Glad to have you here. Like John says, show us some pictures! [​IMG]


    Bryan
     
  13. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    Hi Tim! Welcome to Trainboard! :D

    That's great news that Z-Bend Track is taking hold all over. Please post some pictures!

    I started with 2 end modules and a 4' straight module myself. I added a 15 degree bend module that is about 3' last year, giving me 4 total now.

    At the last GATS we had here, we had the Y setup again.

    Here is a leg of Jeff' Merill's Y with his mine end module:
    [​IMG]


    Here is Loren Snyder's mountain end module connected to another leg of the Y: [​IMG]


    Here is Loren's 15 degree module, with Loren in the center. He drives down from Oregon to run with us:
    [​IMG]


    Here is my leg of the Y with my drive in module on the end. Behind the Y in the middle is Jeff Merill talking to Kim Vellore:
    [​IMG]

    Well that's what our setup looked like last month at the SF Cow Palace GATS.

    -Robert
     
  14. TimZBend

    TimZBend TrainBoard Member

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    Hi All,

    Thanks for the welcome. Here are a couple of pictures of the modules at the recent train show. I am in the early stages of creating another module...too many ideas.

    I only started putting these together about 6-8 months ago trying out the scale and Z-Bend Track standard for feel. I must say it is fun.

    My layout was the only Z-Scale at the show, so it had a lot of visitors. A few Z-Scale people came out of the wood-work and asked if I was planning on creating a club or anything. I think a few people who were shopping for a scale to work with were converted to Z-Scale as a result of my display.

    If you squint at the photos, you'll see a ZTrack magazine, representation of the Z-Bend Track logo and decals on one set of intermodels from TNT'z (the other was bought in show, so now I'll have to get more) in addition to all the tiny animals the vistors to the show had great fun in tring to locate.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [ February 24, 2006, 09:15 AM: Message edited by: TimZBend ]
     
  15. Kez

    Kez TrainBoard Member

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    Holy cow, Tim!! That's mighty impressive for a one man operation. You've done a wonderful job already! Glad to hear that you had a successful show, and that you garnered some interest in our scale. Your show presentation looks very nice, and I can see why there was so much interest. I hope that you'll consider getting a club together up there, and maybe coming down to run with us in Philadelphia in July!

    Keep up the great work!
    Bryan
     
  16. RSmidt

    RSmidt TrainBoard Member

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    Very Nice modules Tim!

    I would like to see close-ups of your trees (both the ones with leaves and the bare branched trees on the one end loop) as well as the grade crossing and the rock cut. They look good even from a distance.

    If you are interested in starting a "club" or group, Rob Kluz will put inserts into ZTrack mailings to any local subscribers in your area for you and he will also send you a few back issues to hand out as freebies at shows (if you ask). I see you picked the issue with the CPRail GP35 on the cover. ;)

    It's good to see the possibility of a group forming in Canada. I don't know of any z scale groups north of the border yet. If you need any help or ideas let me know (I'm listed as the module group coordinator in ZTrack).

    Thanks,
    Randy Smidt
     
  17. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    Yes that is nice work Tim. You are a true Ambassador to Z, holding down the fort in Alberta! [​IMG]

    I would like to see more closeups too!

    -Robert [​IMG]
     
  18. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Was it the one with a CP Geep35 running circles with a few cars, standing on a table near the entrance? That was a nice show--the book deals at Chinook were the best!
     
  19. TimZBend

    TimZBend TrainBoard Member

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    Yes it was HemiAdda2d. The GP35 ran from 9AM to 5PM non-stop, except for a few requests for pictures when I stopped it where the photographer desired. All I basically had was two ovals with a pair of switches between the mainlines. Saturday I ran the train counter-clockwise, Sunday I ran it clockwise for variety. *laughs* I really must start on another module...

    I will have to take a few more photos for the detailed shots requested. The following one was for the decals (they make such a huge difference), but also shows the rock cut as requested.

    [​IMG]

    The rocks are basically painted foam board that was creatively sliced. The white things in the grass are the Z-Scale sheep. In the distance you can just make out the circle of logs that defines the play area of the camp ground, with the yellow being a tent and car.

    [ February 24, 2006, 11:33 PM: Message edited by: TimZBend ]
     
  20. Phil

    Phil TrainBoard Member

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    I really do like your cut rock. I would have never thought of using foam board that way! Very cool! :cool:

    How many "layers" of paint did you use to get that effect? It looks very realistic.

    - Phil
     

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