The Figure-8 Plan Resolved
In our previous article, Inaccuracy In Track Planning?, I looked at why a simple Figure-8 that looked good on the back of a Rokuhan track package couldn’t be replicated to a 100% degree of accuracy using AnyRail track planning software. As I mentioned in that article, I’d write to both Rokuhan and AnyRail and include […]
Inaccuracy In Track Planning?
Last night I wanted to put together an article on breaking-in locomotives using a Figure-8 track plan built with Rokuhan track. I fired up my copy of AnyRail track planning software and created the basic Figure-8 track plan shown on the back of the Rokuhan 90° crossing package. I quickly ran in to a snag, […]
Evangelizing Z Scale With YouTube?
Recently I’ve been to looking at what’s popular in model trains videos over at YouTube, trying to see if we can adapt any new evangelizing ideas to Z scale. I’ve been surprised at what ranks high in the online video world when it comes to model trains. As YouTube is the second most popular search […]
You Say It’s Your Birthday
Yesterday, July 25th, was my birthday, always an interesting day. I took the day half-off, getting to a few small organizational chores around my workshop. As some readers may know I’m a sucker for milestone days and events, and birthdays definitely qualify. Not wanting to let a good milestone go to waste, I decided to […]
Oyster Bay, Long Island Yard Switch
I saw a story online this weekend about an original turntable dating from 1902 not too far from where I live here on Long Island. The turntable is in its original location at the Oyster Bay, NY train station, about a mile from Teddy Roosevelt’s summer White House at Sagamore Hill. It’s a safe bet […]
US Road Dimensions
I received an email late last week from one our readers here at Ztrains, asking about some specific American-style road dimensions. Nothing like getting it right from the horse’s mouth so I took my camera on the road, almost literally. Here’s the road question from Ryan: I am making a road on my Z scale […]
HOS | Hardened Oil Syndrome
HOS stands for Hardened Oil Syndrome, a condition found in older Marklin Z scale locomotives where the loco does not run due to congealed, or hardened, oil in the gears. We utilize a pair of older YouTube videos in the article to illustrate, the quality of these videos isn’t quite up to new video camera […]
More From Showcase Miniatures
I recently wrote about a very cool new pick-up truck in Z scale from Showcase Miniatures. Here it is just a short time later and I felt compelled to again highlight this company. I got a few more of their vehicles this week, I popped their “F” Type Day Delivery Tractor out of its bag […]
Crewe Works In 1938
Long-time Z scaler Jeffrey White sent a YouTube link along to Rob Kluz and me last night that I wanted to share. With a length of just 15 minutes, it’s an amazing look back at one corner of the world just prior to WWII. From the YouTube description of this video: Building a full size […]
Red Rock Reworked
I don’t know what it is about this desktop layout, I just can’t seem to leave it alone! I find myself going back, again and again, reshaping this, adding that, etc. I think I have the basic shape now in place after the most recent changes. Of course, I’ve said this before. I’m still not […]
