Steve,

These are Railex items and are on the valuable side. Railex is a German
manufacturer of high quality Z scale items. Many of their smaller locos are
non-powered and employed a pusher loco (often hidden in a box car or
passenger car body) to move the loco. The problem is that their items are
often very hard to find. Only one dealer in the U.S. carried their line, and
they have a hard time obtaining their pieces. Without seeing your pieces, I
am not sure which ones they are, but they have a limited line so it would not
be hard to track down the item name and release date.

Rob Kluz
Ztrack Magazine
<A HREF="http://www.ztrack.com">www.ztrack.com</A>

Hello all,

Bill Kronenberger suggested that I might re-post this note of mine from
the Nn3 list to the Z list.

So that is what I am doing.

Bim Bousman


I bought a MRC Tech 4 Railpower 250 based on what you are reading.

****comment inserted**************************
[A Nn3-list member had read MRC's description of their Tech 4 line]
[They say that the max voltage can be set to whatever you like]
**********************************************

You can program AVERAGE maximum voltage, but pulses remain over 20 volts
in amplitude. It got my 8805 VERY HOT in less than 20 seconds.

I tried putting a bunch of diodes in series with the track, but then it
was just another pulse powerpack.

It is totally useless for commercial Nn3 or Z locos.

Bim Bousman

*****************************************************


Bim:

Wonderful testimonial !!!  And accurate too.

I keep screaming on the Z_Scale list about the dangers of SOME
combinations
of pulse packs and z scale locomotives.  Folks on the list must think
I'm
nuts since I'm accusing "reputable manufacturers" of selling dangerous
products.

But its true.  "Some" combinations work all day.  "Some" combinations
work
for a few minutes, then the loco goes Poof !!!  In this case, almost all
z
scale locos would go Poof !!

In the case of the MRC 2800, almost "none" of the z scale locos find
problems
with it.  Mind you, a 2800 hits the locos with 13vdc at half throttle,
but
only 30 times a second, and its waveform is a sine wave, not square.  At
full
throttle, it hits the locos with a full 13vdc RMS....way too much.
Fortunately, no one has problems at the high end, because their locos
are
doing a scale 300mph by the time you get to 3/4 throttle, so they never
turn
it up that high.  However, if they have an accident and go to full
throttle,
it won't take long to fry a loco.

If you get the urge to spread the alarm, a posting on the Z_Scale list
would
go a long way to help convince folks I'm not a nut case, and there are
real
dangers out there.

Regards,
Bill Kronenberger
Houston

Hi all, and a Happy 2000,

Just received a 4 car set of the PENNZEE Union Pacific coal hoppers. If
you haven't seen them, run them or ordered them yet, be sure you do.
Especially if you run US prototypes. Bob has done a great job of
producing a NEW product for Z scale modelers.

These cars have great detail, DIFFERENT NUMBERS, removable coal loads,
and MT couplers. Look fantastic on the layout and run super.

Don't know about the rest of you, but I'm sure glad to see someone else
get into the production of Z scale rolling stock. Rogue Locomotive put
out a great addition with the GP38-2 and had a real winner with the Dash
9, and now we have Bob Olson with his FIRST product. As Ron Ruddell said
in Ztrack, "Hurrah!". A few more products from Bob, and some of you
other 'kitchen table' producers and maybe the big boys, Marklin and
MicroTrains will realize that there really are hobbiests and modelers
out here, not just collectors. But we need to support those who are
adventurous enough to take the leap for our enjoyment.

Anyway, enough rambling.

Happy Z modeling to all.

Terry

Terry
Where did you get them?
I don't see anyone on the Web that has them.
John
-----Original Message-----
From: sutfin <sutfin@...>
To: z_scale@onelist.com <z_scale@onelist.com>
Date: Saturday, January 08, 2000 7:17 PM
Subject: [z_scale] PENNZEE coal hoppers


>From: sutfin <sutfin@...>
>
>Hi all, and a Happy 2000,
>
>Just received a 4 car set of the PENNZEE Union Pacific coal hoppers. If
>you haven't seen them, run them or ordered them yet, be sure you do.
>Especially if you run US prototypes. Bob has done a great job of
>producing a NEW product for Z scale modelers.
>
>These cars have great detail, DIFFERENT NUMBERS, removable coal loads,
>and MT couplers. Look fantastic on the layout and run super.
>
>Don't know about the rest of you, but I'm sure glad to see someone else
>get into the production of Z scale rolling stock. Rogue Locomotive put
>out a great addition with the GP38-2 and had a real winner with the Dash
>9, and now we have Bob Olson with his FIRST product. As Ron Ruddell said
>in Ztrack, "Hurrah!". A few more products from Bob, and some of you
>other 'kitchen table' producers and maybe the big boys, Marklin and
>MicroTrains will realize that there really are hobbiests and modelers
>out here, not just collectors. But we need to support those who are
>adventurous enough to take the leap for our enjoyment.
>
>Anyway, enough rambling.
>
>Happy Z modeling to all.
>
>Terry
>
>--------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ----------------------------
>
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>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>CraZy 'bout Zee!
>
>

John, I  posted to the list about the PennZee hoppers about three weeks
ago.  I had gotten a sample to look at and evaluate for Bob Olsen.  I
think they are great.  I haven't seen any of the painted and decorated
ones other than the one on the Z Track cover.  All I got were(one
sample, and then I ordered 8 more) undecorated as I will paint and decal
them my self.  We now have a reason to have a mining area on our
layouts.  They should go well with the new Milestone Gravel Co and the
Metal foundry kits that are out now.  I definatly agree with Terry
Sutfin that you need these.  There are 4 road names each with four road
numbers.  Contact Bob Olsen in the evenings at (717) 540-8833.  He does
this part time after his "real" job.  He is located in Harrisburg PA.  I
do not know of any shops that are stocking his products YET.
Ed Scullin

I'm interested in scratch building a streamlined Hudson (Empire State Express).

Does anyone have any suggestions for how I should proceed?

I was thinking about making a master from a combination of super-sculpey
sculpted over brass (I would brass etch the cab and solder it to a brass
cylinder, then use super-sculpey to build up the chassis detail).  Once I have
the completed master, I would make a mold and cast in white metal or something
similar.

Does this sound like it would work?

I'd like to end up with the finished product being some type of metal because on
z scale steam locos,  the chassis serves as the only weight that gives the loco
traction.

Thanks for any help that you can give me.

Cyrus

PENZEE can be reached by mail or phone at the following:

1333 Crums Mill Rd.
Harrisburg, Pa  17112
USA

(717) 540-8853

Rob Kluz
Ztrack Magazine

John,
The Pennzee coal hoppers are offered for sale at the following URL:
www.fathernaturetrees.com.  This is my webpage.
-John

At 08:09 PM 1/8/2000 -0500, you wrote:
>From: "John Jabour" <jjabour@...>
>
>Terry
>Where did you get them?
>I don't see anyone on the Web that has them.
>John
>-----Original Message-----
>From: sutfin <sutfin@...>
>To: z_scale@onelist.com <z_scale@onelist.com>
>Date: Saturday, January 08, 2000 7:17 PM
>Subject: [z_scale] PENNZEE coal hoppers
>
>
>>From: sutfin <sutfin@...>
>>
>>Hi all, and a Happy 2000,
>>
>>Just received a 4 car set of the PENNZEE Union Pacific coal hoppers. If
>>you haven't seen them, run them or ordered them yet, be sure you do.
>>Especially if you run US prototypes. Bob has done a great job of
>>producing a NEW product for Z scale modelers.
>>
>>These cars have great detail, DIFFERENT NUMBERS, removable coal loads,
>>and MT couplers. Look fantastic on the layout and run super.
>>
>>Don't know about the rest of you, but I'm sure glad to see someone else
>>get into the production of Z scale rolling stock. Rogue Locomotive put
>>out a great addition with the GP38-2 and had a real winner with the Dash
>>9, and now we have Bob Olson with his FIRST product. As Ron Ruddell said
>>in Ztrack, "Hurrah!". A few more products from Bob, and some of you
>>other 'kitchen table' producers and maybe the big boys, Marklin and
>>MicroTrains will realize that there really are hobbiests and modelers
>>out here, not just collectors. But we need to support those who are
>>adventurous enough to take the leap for our enjoyment.
>>
>>Anyway, enough rambling.
>>
>>Happy Z modeling to all.
>>
>>Terry
>>
>>--------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ----------------------------
>>
>>    GRAB THE GATOR! FREE SOFTWARE DOES ALL THE TYPING FOR YOU!
>>Tired of filling out forms and remembering passwords? Gator fills in
>>forms and passwords with just one click! Comes with $50 in free coupons!
>>  <a href=" http://clickme.onelist.com/ad/gator4 ">Click Here</a>
>>
>>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>CraZy 'bout Zee!
>>
>>
>
>
>--------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ----------------------------
>
>    GRAB THE GATOR! FREE SOFTWARE DOES ALL THE TYPING FOR YOU!
>Tired of filling out forms and remembering passwords? Gator fills in
>forms and passwords with just one click! Comes with $50 in free coupons!
>  <a href=" http://clickme.onelist.com/ad/gator4 ">Click Here</a>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>CraZy 'bout Zee!
>
>
>

Hi all,
     Just received my B&O set and thought I would send off a little
review.  I believe the engine set 88602 has the new 5 pole motor that
everyone has been talking about.  It runs very well especially on very
low voltage.  It is close coupled by a drawbar that you can apparently
change to regular couplers.  Maybe you can order this drawbar to close
couple other F7A&B's?  It would be a good development if you could.
    The passenger car set 87845 is quite handsome. The only drawback I
could see is on the "Oriole" sleeper car.  The decals don't match the
photos on the box.  In the photo the blue cheat line runs the length
of the car.  On the car the cheat line is only the length of the
lettering.
    Happy "Z"ing.
  --

"Truth is in the eye of the beholder"
  Guinan:STTNG


Join the "Z" list at http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/Z_Scale

George A. Vega
voyager4@...
voyager4@...

Hi there,

     I remember some years ago that there was a newsletter started up called
"Z track", and was happily surprised to see mention of it again.  Is there a
website with more info on subscribing?  Any other master linklists that I
may be interested in?  There wasn't much listed in the "links" area of the
onelist site...

     Thanks!

you can try hitting
http://www.z220.com/

and hit the Z-ring.

Bohus Blahut wrote:
>
> From: "Bohus Blahut" <bohus@...>
>
>     Hi there,
>
>     I remember some years ago that there was a newsletter started up called
> "Z track", and was happily surprised to see mention of it again.  Is there a
> website with more info on subscribing?  Any other master linklists that I
> may be interested in?  There wasn't much listed in the "links" area of the
> onelist site...
>
>     Thanks!
>
> --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ----------------------------
>
>     GRAB THE GATOR! FREE SOFTWARE DOES ALL THE TYPING FOR YOU!
> Tired of filling out forms and remembering passwords? Gator fills in
> forms and passwords with just one click! Comes with $50 in free coupons!
>   <a href=" http://clickme.onelist.com/ad/gator4 ">Click Here</a>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> CraZy 'bout Zee!

--
  Jeff Masiello - Level I Technician - Customer Services
  masiello@... - 301 847 5082 (fax)
  24-hour Support Line - 301 847 5200 or (800) 581-8711
  Intermedia Communications Business Internet

www.ztrack.com

Try doing a search on the archives for web sites.  I also like to use a
search engine on the net to look for web addresses.  My favorite is
www.dogpile.com

Cheers,

Jeffrey MacHan
www.Val-Ease-Central.com


>From: "Bohus Blahut" <bohus@...>
>Reply-To: z_scale@onelist.com
>To: <z_scale@onelist.com>
>Subject: [z_scale] any web resources for Z track?
>Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 11:24:59 -0600
>
>
>     Hi there,
>
>     I remember some years ago that there was a newsletter started up
>called
>"Z track", and was happily surprised to see mention of it again.  Is there
>a
>website with more info on subscribing?  Any other master linklists that I
>may be interested in?  There wasn't much listed in the "links" area of the
>onelist site...
>
>     Thanks!
>

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Dear Z_Scale members,

This is the last call for interest in participation in the Zone at the NTS
2000.

The NMRA National Train Show will be held at the San Jose, CA convention
center from August 4-6, 2000.  The show is a huge get together of railroad
enthusiasts and members of the general public.

The show coordinator, Dean Dickerhoof, has reserved some space for Z scale
layouts.

At the moment, I have only 3 participants for the area. Terry Sutfin, Marthe
Simard and I will be showing our respective layouts.

If you are interested in displaying a Z scale layout or diorama, please let
me know ASAP so that I can inform Dean and reserve your space.

I hope that you can join us.

PS: hotel / motel space is still available.  We're staying at the Motel 6
with prices of $69 per night double occupancy.

Jeffrey MacHan
Val Ease Central Railroad
Zone at NTS 2000
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

On Sat, 01 Jan 2000 21:01:22 PST, you wrote:

Hi,

>I would suggest that you build a grid framework (on edge not flat) from 1" x
>2" strapping  from your local home depot and glue down a first layer of 2"
>extruded polyurethane insulation.  2" will give you huge stability and
>strength as well as depth in which you can carve rivers, gullies,
>underpasses etc.  And you don't have to drill through plywood to install
>wiring!

This letter came just in time to let me avoid yet another mistake.

I'm preparing myself for starting right from the bottom on a new
lay-out incorporating hand-laid code 40 rail, turnouts/burried
tortoise motors etc. so this polyurethane-business looked promising.

I went down to the store where they sell materials for building etc.
Nope! - no polyurethane. I guess you mean polyurethane when you write
polyurethane. Dont you?
They've got polystyrene, which I don't like. I'll start an
investigation, but what do I do if I do not find any polyurethane?
Any other suggestions?? Any substitutes??

regards Ole Rosted, Denmark

>From: "Bohus Blahut" <bohus@...>

>    I remember some years ago that there was a newsletter started up called
>"Z track", and was happily surprised to see mention of it again.  Is there a
>website with more info on subscribing?  Any other master linklists that I
>may be interested in?

Contact the editor Rob Kluz directly: mailto:Ztrack@.... There is a
web-site too, but I don´t remember the URL.

Greetings Arnim

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
arnimvherff@...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bundesrepublik Deutschland      République fédérale d'Allemagne
Republika Federalna Niemiec     Bondsrepubliek Duitsland
Forbundsrepublikken Tyskland    Federal Republic of Germany
Repubblica Federale Tedesca    República Federal de Alemania
República Federal da Alemanha   Spolkova Republika Nemecko
(Do you knew this in a here missed language of a member of European Union
or a language of a neighbouring state of Germany? For example
Letzeburgisch?)

Ole,

What types of insulation materials do the building supply stores have?  The
extruded stuff we have here is widely available.  Ask them about rigid
insulating panels.  Let us know what results you have.

Regards,
Jeffrey MacHan


>From: Ole.Rosted@... (Ole Rosted)
>Reply-To: z_scale@onelist.com
>To: z_scale@onelist.com
>Subject: Re: [z_scale] A New Z... Wood Base attn: jmac_han@...>
>Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 20:56:00 GMT
>
>On Sat, 01 Jan 2000 21:01:22 PST, you wrote:
>
>Hi,
>
> >I would suggest that you build a grid framework (on edge not flat) from
>1" x
> >2" strapping  from your local home depot and glue down a first layer of
>2"
> >extruded polyurethane insulation.  2" will give you huge stability and
> >strength as well as depth in which you can carve rivers, gullies,
> >underpasses etc.  And you don't have to drill through plywood to install
> >wiring!
>
>This letter came just in time to let me avoid yet another mistake.
>
>I'm preparing myself for starting right from the bottom on a new
>lay-out incorporating hand-laid code 40 rail, turnouts/burried
>tortoise motors etc. so this polyurethane-business looked promising.
>
>I went down to the store where they sell materials for building etc.
>Nope! - no polyurethane. I guess you mean polyurethane when you write
>polyurethane. Dont you?
>They've got polystyrene, which I don't like. I'll start an
>investigation, but what do I do if I do not find any polyurethane?
>Any other suggestions?? Any substitutes??
>
>regards Ole Rosted, Denmark

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Hi to all,

We would like to buy a Rouge Engineering GP-38. Please contact us if you have
one for sale or know of someone who is interested in selling one.

Thanks,
Glenn and Sandy Stiska
1045 Porter Drive
Largo, Florida 33771
727-535-3819
email: stiska@...

Bohus,

Hello! Others beat me too it, but our web site is <A
HREF="http://www.ztrack.com">www.ztrack.com</A>. My e-mail is <A
HREF="mailto:ztrack@...">ztrack@...</A>. We have gone from a
newsletter to a nice magazine with color covers and even some color on the
inside!

The November/December issue is out. It is 28 pages with a wide variety of
articles and tips including an amazing cover photo by Paul Brooke. We will
have more of Paul's work in upcoming issues.

Another good link site to visit is the Z220 site. There is a link right on my
first page of the Ztrack web site. Rob Albriton, the manager of Z220 has
numerous links to other Z sites an areas of interest.

Rob Kluz
Ztrack Magazine

Hey Ole,

Check out http://www.woodlandscenics.com/ Check out their Sub-Terrain system.
I am planning on using this for my next layout. It is somewhat geared
toward N scale but can be easily adapted.

Pete

At 08:56 PM 1/10/00 GMT, you wrote:
>From: Ole.Rosted@... (Ole Rosted)
>
>On Sat, 01 Jan 2000 21:01:22 PST, you wrote:
>
>Hi,
>
>>I would suggest that you build a grid framework (on edge not flat) from
1" x
>>2" strapping  from your local home depot and glue down a first layer of 2"
>>extruded polyurethane insulation.  2" will give you huge stability and
>>strength as well as depth in which you can carve rivers, gullies,
>>underpasses etc.  And you don't have to drill through plywood to install
>>wiring!
>
>This letter came just in time to let me avoid yet another mistake.
>
>I'm preparing myself for starting right from the bottom on a new
>lay-out incorporating hand-laid code 40 rail, turnouts/burried
>tortoise motors etc. so this polyurethane-business looked promising.
>
>I went down to the store where they sell materials for building etc.
>Nope! - no polyurethane. I guess you mean polyurethane when you write
>polyurethane. Dont you?
>They've got polystyrene, which I don't like. I'll start an
>investigation, but what do I do if I do not find any polyurethane?
>Any other suggestions?? Any substitutes??
>
>regards Ole Rosted, Denmark
>
>--------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ----------------------------
>
>    GRAB THE GATOR! FREE SOFTWARE DOES ALL THE TYPING FOR YOU!
>Tired of filling out forms and remembering passwords? Gator fills in
>forms and passwords with just one click! Comes with $50 in free coupons!
>  <a href=" http://clickme.onelist.com/ad/gator4 ">Click Here</a>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>CraZy 'bout Zee!
>

On Mon, 10 Jan 2000 13:26:55 PST, you wrote:

>From: "Jeffrey MacHan" <jmac_han@...>

>What types of insulation materials do the building supply stores have?  The
>extruded stuff we have here is widely available.  Ask them about rigid
>insulating panels.  Let us know what results you have.

All they've got here, is some white expandet stuff. Polystyrene or
Styropor. It's rigid all right, but if you cut/saw it, it
disintegrates/crumbles. If the little bit of foam material - that was
in my new printer as transport material -  actually is polyurethane -
as I think - polyurethane is much better than polystyrene for my
purpose.

I found a polyurethane company - not far away from here (every place
in Denmark is "not far away") but they turned up to be a company
making the chemicals used to make polyurethane foam. They pointed me
to another company, though - at the other end of the country (still
not far away :-) ) -  who has 6ft x 2 ft. x 1" polyurethane boards,
but they cannot make up their minds if they want to let me buy one, as
they "only do business with professionals". They would "let me know"
Untill now I have heard nothing.

In the meantime I'm enjoying the fine items found on the address
pleahy@... gave to me.

I believe the white material - polystyrene - is much used. But I don't
want to have small, white, electrostatic charged crumbles clinging to
furniture etc. all over the place.

regards Ole Rosted, Denmark

Hi Ole,

I think that you have found the right stuff with the 6' x 2' x 1" board.
Why don't you ask a local builder to order a couple of sheets and pass them
on to you at his cost?

I would definitely not use the white crumbly stuff.  The surface is not
appropriate for the kind of carving that I have proposed.  If you do use it,
seal the surface with latex paint after carving.

Regards from wet and cold Vancouver,
Jeffrey MacHan


>From: Ole.Rosted@... (Ole Rosted)
>Reply-To: z_scale@onelist.com
>To: z_scale@onelist.com
>Subject: Re: [z_scale] A New Z... Wood Base attn: jmac_han@...>
>Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 19:10:24 GMT
>
>On Mon, 10 Jan 2000 13:26:55 PST, you wrote:
Snip
. They pointed me
>to another company, though - at the other end of the country (still
>not far away :-) ) -  who has 6ft x 2 ft. x 1" polyurethane boards,
>but they cannot make up their minds if they want to let me buy one, as
>they "only do business with professionals". They would "let me know"
>Untill now I have heard nothing.
>
>I believe the white material - polystyrene - is much used. But I don't
>want to have small, white, electrostatic charged crumbles clinging to
>furniture etc. all over the place.
>
>regards Ole Rosted, Denmark
>

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Hello everyone

Does anyone know where I can get wheels for z scale steam locos ?
I'm looking for the bigger wheels (the kind in a 4-6-2)

Thanks,
Cyrus

Jeffrey, and Ole:

> I would definitely not use the white crumbly stuff.  The surface is not
>  appropriate for the kind of carving that I have proposed.  If you do use
it,
>  seal the surface with latex paint after carving.

With the highest respect to Jeffery, I must remind myself there is no "right"
way to do anything in this hobby.  What my hands can do, your hands may not
be able to.  And vice versa.  Viva la difference.

For those of us who subscribe to Z-Track magazine, our little group here had
the excellent fortune to be in this month's issue with our Z-Bend Track
modules.  You might find it interesting to know that half of our modules have
"blue" or "pink" foam underneath, and the other half have the snow white
crumbly foam underneath.   For those that had a chance to look at the
pictures, I suspect they can't tell the difference.

Why the difference?  In a word, different skills among the individuals
involved.  Some of us can't make one of the foams do what they want,  while
the rest can't make "that other stuff" work.

My suggestion is to be inventive.  Try several methods.

Take the ones you like inside the house.  Show it to your wife.  Friends,
too.  Send emails out on your success.  Take pictures and scan them.

If it doesn't work, don't bring it inside.  Don't tell anyone.  Leave it
outside for the garbage pickup.  <grin>

For those in our group that find the crumbly foam delightful to work with,
the foam is carved to shape, and then covered with plaster-laden gauze which
has been dipped in water.  This creates a "hard shell" on the surface.   It
is on this final hard shell that all manners of plaster, paints, ground foam,
sawdust, buildings, tracks, etc. are attached.

A couple of layers of plaster-cloth are hard enough to hit with a hammer
(when driving nails), drive screws into, support plastic rock castings and
track.  Most folks add a coat of plaster (or other sculpturing materials) on
top of the "hard shell" both for scenic reasons as well as structural
reasons.  But the "blue" and "pink" foam folks often do that too.

On this side of the big pond, we have the nice folks at Woodlands Scienics
that sell plaster-laden gauze in a nice roll already marked "for model
trains."  However, its the same stuff doctors all over the world use to make
casts for broken limbs.  It hardens in minutes.  Doctors have to work pretty
hard to cut it off a patient when the bone heals.  Pretty good stuff.  Cheap
too.  If you stop by your local medical supply store, you can buy it in bulk
rolls, no matter your country, but it won't say model trains on it.  Many
arts and craft stores carry it under various names too.

I've watched you get great advice on the list so far.  Folks are talking
about things that really worked for them.  But try several methods, before
you pick your final method.  Finding "you way" is half the fun of this hobby.

Regards,
Bill Kronenberger
Houston

Hello everybody,

As you know, when responding to questions from the group members, I refer to
techniques that I have employed on the Val Ease Central layout and, although
I had initially tested the "white crumbly stuff", using extruded polystyrene
insulation was ultimately the Best solution for me.

White styrofoam insulation would never have survived the pounding that the
suitcases have received over the last 7 years.  There is no plaster anywhere
on the layout which keeps the weight down and because the base is subject to
a good amount of flexing.  A rigid plaster surface would crack and chip with
the flexing of the base.  The insulation board also allows me to carve
details directly into the foam.

I enjoy sharing my experiences with the group.  I hope that you understand
that I am doing only that, Sharing my experiences!  Please do not
misconstrue my personal opinions for universal Do's and Don't's.

Vive la différence!

Regards,
Jeffrey MacHan


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>Does anyone know where I can get wheels for z scale steam locos ?
>I'm looking for the bigger wheels (the kind in a 4-6-2)

From Märklin. If you say to wich steamer you refer, I will search for spare
part no.

Greetings Arnim

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arnimvherff@...
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Bundesrepublik Deutschland      République fédérale d'Allemagne
Republika Federalna Niemiec     Bondsrepubliek Duitsland
Forbundsrepublikken Tyskland    Federal Republic of Germany
Repubblica Federale Tedesca    República Federal de Alemania
República Federal da Alemanha   Spolkova Republika Nemecko
(Do you knew this in a here missed language of a member of European Union
or a language of a neighbouring state of Germany? For example
Letzeburgisch?)

Hello all,

remember my report on the Zm narrow gauge layout in Stuttgart? I once had an
email address of one of the guys who built it, but I lost it and so couldn't
provide it as requested. Yesterday I found a mail in a news group where
somebody was looking for a swiss bus in Z scale. I was hoping this was in
relation to this Zm layout and mailed him and right, he's a member of that
group. He gave me the following link:

www.zm-bahn.de

Take a look at it, it's not finished yet but nevertheless quite impressing!

Thanks,
Oliver

Hi Gang,

Things have been slow on the list so I thought I would give you a progress
report on my recent Y2K resolutions.

As you might recall I had resolved, among other things:

#2.  I will have Centre Val Ease ready for the National Train Show in San
Jose, California...

Well, I am happy to report that on January 8th Center Val Ease successfully
passed the plug and play test with its sister modules.  Trains have made
runs over the entire system.  In fact the new control box for CVE worked
without a hitch.

However as I feared, I did have to commandeer the dining room.  It will be
out of commission for regular dining activities until February 18 when I
pack everything up and transport the layout to Portland, Oregon for the
Great American Train Show on the weekend of the 19th and 20th.

#3.  I will complete 4 NMRA achievement certificates towards the 7 I need to
become a Master Model Railroader (Model Railroad Engineer - Civil, Model
Railroad Engineer - Electrical, Model Railroad Association Volunteer, Model
Railroad Author, Master Builder - Scenery)...

The Val Ease Central has theoretically qualified for the Electrical
certificate as of January 6th when an NMRA judge picked up the paperwork and
validated the requirements against the operating layout.  It took me a week
to do the paperwork during the holidays and I had to build a plug-in module
housing the DC volt and ampmeters in order to complete the compulsory
requirements. Surprisingly, they worked according to my schematic! (One
done...)

The Scenery is coming along very well.  Centre Val Ease is landscaped and
the track is painted and ballasted and the new bridge section is finished.
The basic dock and lighthouse scenes should be completed this week.  It will
take another week to finish the village at Centre Val Ease and the mine
scene.  The goal is to have the 2 NMRA judges examine the layout before I
dismantle the set for the Portland show. As usual I will add details bit by
bit over the next few months.

One compulsory element that I still have to tackle is to lightly camouflage
the turnout motors.  Fortunately a little ballast colored paint and some
shrubbery should do the trick.  (Two almost done...)

Certificates three and four (Author and Volunteer) are right on schedule to
be completed this fall with the publication of a series of articles and my
participation in 5 NMRA sponsored train shows.

A fifth certificate, Civil, is well advanced but I have to scratch build
three pieces of trackwork.  Fortunately (or unfortunately) I do need a
crossing through a curve and a Y turnout in order to eliminate two wicked S
curves linking the original two suitcases.  The Val Ease Central already
incorporates all of the other required elements.  Once again I have to
prepare the inevitable paperwork but once you've got the hang of it, there's
really not much to it.

#4.  I will work towards the MMR based on my work on the Val Ease Central
Railroad and in Z scale (this will take some missionary work on my part to
educate the local NMRA people in the qualities of Z scale, especially when
it comes to structures and motive power.  However, when it's done, I want to
be able to say that I did it the Z way!)...

The missionary work is underway. The gentleman who judged the layout for the
electrical certificate is waiting for his Master Model Railroader title
later this year.  He is an expert car and locomotive scratchbuilder and he
offered to give me a hand with the fine points of scratch building, yes even
in Z scale!  He wants to bring over 2 other judges for the scenery
certificate at which time I will be able to present the merits of Z scale.

So overall it looks like the local model railroaders are starting to take
the Val Ease Central seriously as an operating layout.

The completely functional, 3 suitcase Val Ease Central will be unveiled to
the public February 19-20, 2000 at the Portland Convention Center at the
Great American Train Show.  I'll have new pictures and a report on the show
shortly afterwards.

Happy modeling,
Jeffrey MacHan
Val Ease Central RR


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Jeffrey,

Good luck getting your NMRA Master Model Railroad Certification! You might be
the first Z scalers to do it "The Z Way".

I was thinking about my New Years Resolutions. The only resolution I have is
to complete my goods yard this winter (that is the same goods yard I resolved
to finish last winter). Wow, how time flies!"

Keep up the good work…

Rob Kluz
Ztrack Magazine

Hi all,

I managed to get a bunch more of the track on the layout clean. I thought
I had another loop ready for service. However when I ran a loco it ran great
almost all the way around and then stopped dead about 10 inches from a switch
that leads to many other switches and other loops. After checking things out I
have discovered the track seems to be dead in many areas around these switches.
I also noticed the engine seems to run fast in one direction but really slow in
the other. I assume this probably means things are wired wrong or something is
shorting out. The layout has six transformers and is supposed to be able to run
six trains at once. Anyone have any ideas what may be causing these dead zones
or tips on what I should do to figure this out? If so please email me.

I also want to thank everyone for your help with the Railex locos. I have
discovered one is a "GlasKasten" or Glasbox loco and the other is a D VI that
came with a 4 axle pipe car I also have. If anyone is interested in these
please email as valuable pieces I can't run are not of much use to me.

Thanks,

Steve

Work is progressing well on the first layout, and I'm almost ready to purchase
the DCC system and enter into the no doubt character building effort of getting
the DZ121 into the engine. Before I do that, however, I have a question. All of
the DCC stuff I'm seeing puts 12 or more VAC onto the tracks, but my
understanding is that 8 VDC to the engine is the maximum allowable. I've also
seen a warning not to run the DCC system with less than 10 VAC on the tracks.

How is everybody else dealing with this? Can the controller be set up to limit
DC voltage to the motor? What happens when the controller goes into pass-through
mode? Can the track voltage be dropped to 9 VAC or so and still work?

Any help or advice will be appreciated. Now if I can just track down Stan
Jones tonight and get my homaboard...

Dave