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Tuesday, August 22, 2017
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southernnscale - Thu 17 Aug - 23:38

Working is another thing that gets in the way and help support their hobby. I was just wondering what happened to all those who were on here.

southernnscale - Thu 17 Aug - 23:33

I have six acres and a 3/4 pond. have plenty of out side work! But can't spend every min in the sun. I know people have to work and other thing in life that are more important! but I still find time!

tealplanes - Mon 31 Jul - 21:11

Certain projects can only be done in the summer months......like beginning to dig a Koi pond. I've also built garden boxes, a chicken coop, making trees for folks, and on it goes. Someday...........

tealplanes - Mon 31 Jul - 21:09

I suggest that for many, 'life' in general gets in the way all to often. I look at my trains every day, but just can't carve out any time to work on them. Someday, but today I am needed elsewhere.

tealplanes - Mon 31 Jul - 21:07

Walt, I am responding to your July 8 comment about people losing interest in Z. That is certainly true in some ways, but I'd bet my bottom dollar the reason for not being active is totally different

southernnscale - Mon 31 Jul - 00:48

eJshelton where can I get information on these show! Are they local for you!

ejshelton - Sun 16 Jul - 11:49

I haven't done a lot of work on my Z but I took Z to a show yesterday. Have plans to be at a show this coming weekend and also at the NTS. I also have plans for a display in Sept. So I'm busy with Z

ZRailFan - Mon 10 Jul - 21:48

Busy! For sure. But the good part is our hobby will wait patiently. (Thanks, Walt, for the kind comment in my blog...it's OK if nobody comments...I do it for myself...).

fairbanks - Mon 10 Jul - 00:58

I have not done any of the fun things I use to do.. I still love Z Scale and N Scale but now I need a layout to put them on.. It will come with time & I look forward to the time I can have free time.

fairbanks - Mon 10 Jul - 00:57

I think people are busy. I know my world has turned topsy turvy with both of my parents {Father With Severe Alzheimer & my mother broke her hip in March 2017} in a nursing home in Plainview NY.

southernnscale - Sat 8 Jul - 12:38

It seem people loose there interest in Z scale I thought they were all decated to the Z world, so they jumped track and headed for the town of Facebook and now that's doing the same thing. slowly !

circusbuilder - Mon 3 Jul - 12:24

I agree with you Walt.

southernnscale - Sun 2 Jul - 01:28

Happy 4th of July to every one this week end! We need to get back to the Z scale spirit!

tealplanes - Tue 27 Jun - 01:20

First time on in months. Also glad to see new photos........need changing more often.

ejshelton - Wed 21 Jun - 20:42

And I thank you for listening.....

soccrdad30 - Sun 18 Jun - 09:21

Happy Father's Day everyone!

soccrdad30 - Fri 16 Jun - 22:06

I got some ribbing from Ellen :) to change them.

ejshelton - Wed 14 Jun - 20:04

I agree Thom.....new photos are great!!!

rvn2001 - Wed 14 Jun - 14:37

It's good to see new photos cycling on the home page!!

southernnscale - Sat 20 May - 21:12

Prices changing for the better! but getting models to pass are getting harder for smaller models!

stonysmith - Tue 9 May - 19:47

Shapeways FUD prices are changing - many items will be cheaper.

southernnscale - Mon 8 May - 00:14

Johnathan you need to be more like 220% then you will be good to go! and on the right track!!!

stonysmith - Mon 1 May - 21:34

Catt's Back!!

GNFan - Sat 29 Apr - 21:05

More on Johnathan (Catt) from Facebook: "Hi everyone,the good news is I am finally home.,does it feel good. :-) I'm not 100% closer to 85% but I will take [t]hat for now."

stonysmith - Thu 27 Apr - 11:32

News of Catt from Karen:Good morning everyone John is doing fine. He has been at Mary Free bed. He should be coming home tomorrow (4/28) I hope.

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Welcome to the Z Central Station! A model railroad site dedicated to 1:220 scale model trains.

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This Day In Railroad History
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MICHRR 1871-08-22 The first through train is run on the Detroit, Lansing & Lake Michigan between Detroit and Greenville. This is made possible as a result of the earlier merger of the I&L and the DH&L. The trip took 8 hours and consisted of a locomotive, baggage car and two coaches. The train carried Governor Baldwin, Ex-Mayor Mills of Detroit, James F. Joy, H. H. Smith the President of the road. The train went all the way west to Gowen to observe track laying crews do their work.
ACRR 1877-08-22 Camden & Atlantic Railroad Board authorizes cutting fares to jumi.50 or [other/tdirrh/tdirrh.php].00 excursion to equal Philadelphia & Atlantic City Railway. (MB, RRG)
MICHRR 1892-08-22 Jefferson streetcar line is electrified, followed by Woodward Avenue on December 15th and Mack Avenue in early 1893.
NHRS 1900-08-22 The first hobo convention is held in Britt, Iowa. The half-serious idea of a local businessman will become an annual event.
NHRS 1910-08-22 The first through passenger train on the Western Pacific arrives at the WP's Mole (ferry terminal) in Oakland. WP ferryboat service to San Francisco begins.
NHRS 1950-08-22 A national railway strike shuts down the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railways. August 22nd to August 30th.
ColinCRP 1950-08-22 The railway system is paralyzed by a nationwide railway strike. Services were resumed on August 31.
MICHRR 1987-08-22 Peaker Services, east of Brighton on the Chessie System, hosts an open house for the Michigan Railroad Club. Peaker refurbishes diesel locomotives. [MRC-7/887]

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Documenting a build

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I've read lots of advice, howto, intro, and helpful things on the internet about modeling railroads.

But nowhere is there any information for the beginner, such as myself, on how to document a build online. A sort of best practices for noobs. Sure I can read about how to blog one place and macro photo in another; there's an article or two published about photographing models every now and then. Composition and framing subjects aside, there isn't much in terms of sharing the process of building itself.

Some options:

  • dedicated site / cms / blog 
  • hosted blog (like this one)
  • facebook / google+
  • flickr / instagram
  • live video stream
They all have their pluses and minuses. For now, it seems like the hosted blog is the best way. They're great for just text and photos with tagging. The only problem with it is the backing up the posts on to a computer I own - an easily solved problem.
 
I'll will try to document my build here ~ if it gets in the way, a webcam and live stream will replace it. 

Random Articles

EasyBlog

Hand-Laid Turnouts the Easy Way

ZRailFan EasyBlog 29 April 2016
  I’m not afraid of hard work. Never have been. But if I can work smarter, I’d rather do that. In this case, it’s long been a…dream, I suppose, to learn to build hand-laid turnouts. It always seemed ...
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Hand-Crafting a Curved Turnout

ZRailFan EasyBlog 24 April 2016
  After having completed this, I’m not entirely sure if I was brave to try it or foolhardy. But I’ve always been amazed by hand-laid turnouts (and hand-laid track in general), so for this small Z lay...
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Roadbed Begins!

ZRailFan EasyBlog 15 April 2016
  With my basic table completed, it was time to start laying out some roadbed in preparation for track. Since the table is 24” across, and I wanted my mainline curve radius to be as large as possible...
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Kitbashing a Micron Arts 1083 Pratt Truss Dual Mainline Bridge

ZRailFan EasyBlog 23 May 2016
It’s not that I’m so old. It’s just that there are traditions that are important. And one tradition, at least to me, is to fabricate as much as possible. I don’t like buying ready-to-run models. I pr...
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Avoiding the Slinky Effect

ZRailFan EasyBlog 08 April 2016
I love Kadee couplers. They are the only couplers you can (generally) reliably uncouple without sticking your fingers on the cars. They appear more realistic to my eye as well. But I’ve read where Z ...
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Hand-Laid Turnouts the Easy Way
Hand-Crafting a Curved Turnout
Roadbed Begins!
Kitbashing a Micron Arts 1083 Pratt Truss Dual Mainline Bridge
Avoiding the Slinky Effect

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