Locomotive Break-In Method
Whenever there’s a new Z scale locomotive about to be introduced, there’s always a lot of buzz and chatter in online user forums. The new Mikado from AZL is now the talk of the Z scale motive world and as we look forward to its release, I got to thinking about correct break-in methods and […]
Juergen Faulhaber | Marklin
As a result of the still recent (March 2013) acquisition of Marklin by the Simba Dickie Group, based in Fürth-Stadeln, Germany, many Marklin Z enthusiasts here in the US have been wondering what this means for the future of Marklin in Z scale. Immediately following the Simba Dickie sale, we contacted Juergen Faulhaber, Marklin Mini-Club […]
Showcase Miniatures
I really love to see existing manufacturers opening up their product lines to include Z scale, as Showcase Miniatures has just done, with some much-needed high quality pieces. Vehicles such as trucks are hard enough to come by in Z scale, to find great looking US-style trucks is even more difficult. I came across this […]
Red Rock Layout Spires
As I began working again on our Red Rock desktop layout, I was looking through lots of online photos from iconic areas in the US such as Sedona, Arizona and the Colorado Plateau. These are such beautiful areas; I wanted to try to bring a bit more of this feel to our desktop layout. Building […]
Z Scale Mini-Module Layouts
Is Z scale moving more towards the big, permanent layout model, the Z-Bend Track modular route or the smaller desktop layout approach? Maybe it’s just my own need to categorize things and Z scale is actually growing on all fronts. I don’t know how popular it would be but I’ve again been thinking about a […]
Goodbye Milwaukee
I hated doing it, but the Milwaukee Road layout had to go. I never like giving up on a piece as I did earlier today and the short version is there was an issue with the track itself. On most layouts, these smaller desktop layouts included, I always add just a touch of superelevation, or […]
A Rock Outcrop Made With Water Putty
I came across some photos recently on TrainBoard in the HO section and enjoyed these images so much I contacted the model builder, Michael Cawdrey of Brisbane, Australia, and asked if he’d write an article for us here at Ztrains. I was really taken with Michael’s groundwork but what I didn’t know at the time […]
100 Z Scale Articles
As I responded to an online comment today here at Ztrains.com, I noticed our recent Marklin article was actually our 100th article since we went live with this Ztrains.com redesign in 2011. This means we’re averaging an article per week, and while I don’t think we’ll be challenging Stephen King anytime soon for the most […]
Where Is Marklin In 2013?
When many of us in this hobby think about small trains, Marklin and Z scale really are synonymous. In the past couple of years though, there were financial issues with Marklin including a 2009 insolvency filing in Göppingen, Germany. Companies (and countries) around the world had major financial issues after the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, […]
The WLE Track Plan
This material is a supplement to the Westphalian-Eisenbahn GmbH (WLE) article and track plan in the January | February 2013 issue of Ztrack Magazine. Recently I was talking with Rob Kluz of Ztrack Magazine about a railroad webcam in Germany featuring a crossing on the Westphalian-Eisenbahn GmbH (WLE) in Lippstadt, Germany. Rob decided to write […]
