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Hi: My name is George Menzie and I work at Micro-Trains Line Co. I am pleased that Jeffrey has created a list for Z Scalers on @onelist. While I will not be a very active participant in discussions, and have opted for the digest version of the list, I will be reading your posts every day (as I do the Nn3 list and the N list.) I model in both N and HO scales, but I am in full support of all scales and all levels of intensity (rivet counters vs fantasy islanders.) I don't believe any scale or method of modeling is any better or more important than any other. I just love trains. I find the newsgroup forum quite valuable, so while you may not hear too much from me... I'll be listening to you! Best regards to all. George George Menzie / Marketing Director Micro-Trains Line Co. 351 Rogue River Pky. Talent, OR 97540 Tel: 541-535-1755 Fax: 541-535-1932 email: george@... Web: http://www.micro-trains.com

Hi all! (How many have we had time to become yet?) I'm Jacob Munkhammar, a Swede in Norway, and am just getting back into the hobby after a near-20-or-so year lapse. (I'm now 34.) In my previous life, I ran Minitrix N-scale, but Z is a quite obvious choice for me this time. I simply love miniaturazation. I am not a typical model rail-roader (I believe), as I am not a train-nut; I am in this hobby because I love technical things, model building, and miniture machinery. In other words, a model train layout is for me not a matter of train travel logistics, but I see them more like moving sculpures, if you know what I mean. OK, so I like real life locos, travelling by train, and grew up by a 891mm narrow gauge train that I went to high-school with every day, so there are a few grains of train-nut in me too. ;-) And there is a reason why I select train minitures and not other mechanical machinery. I am also an architect and like to build towns and landscapes with all its life, situations and places. Another reason to love model rail-roading. So, what "stuff" do I have? Nothing. As I said, I am just getting back - but I am getting back seriously. And as I am not a cheat - and as the building is the greatest fun (for me) - I plan to build a lot of my rolling stock and other stuff myself. Especially locos as well as buildings and other scenery. If there is an interest in what I do, I will develop some of it into kits. In other words, my main interest is in scratch-building in Z. I hope many others of this inclination joins the list! I'll get back with my thoughts and questions about this later (not in this introduction). Finally a thanks to Jeffrey for this initiative. I hope many join us! /Jacob ______________________________________________________________ - - - Jacob Munkhammar - - - jacob@... - - - - ARCHITECTURE - DESIGN - COMP.SOFTWARE - WRITING - mail: Arkitekt Christies gate 4b, N-7012 Trondheim, Norway www: http://www.stud.ntnu.no/~jacob/ ______________________________________________________________

My name is Phil Grant and I am a Z-scale collector, mostly Marklin and a little Micro Train. I live in Tucson and always plan, but never seem to build, layouts. Phil phgrant@...

Hello to one and all, I have a confession to make. I'm a Z scale runner! Yes, runner. I have a modest collection of Micro-Trains F7's A's and a B (a personal kit bash) and freight cars. I have a M?rklin US passenger set that I have repainted in Union Pacific colours as well as some scratch built cars and kit bashed steam locos. These are all based on UP prototype and are made to run relentlessly at 5-6 train shows a year. They all have 100's of hours of operation on them. So if I ever try to sell something, assume it's used, very used! I must also confess that I do have a collection... the NMRA Heritage Collection in Z. I couldn't resist. My layout is built for train shows and ultimate portability and reliability. The Val Ease Central RR is contained in two, and soon to be three, 36" hard shell suitcases. The cases are linked together to form the complete layout although each suitcase is self contained. I have been working on this labour of love since December 1993 and overall attendance at trainshows and exhibits where the Val Ease Central was operating has now surpassed 500,000. Current projects are: 1- refurbishing and testing the VECR for the upcoming National Train Show in Saint Paul, MN, July 23-25, 1999. I'll update you on where you can find me at the show. I've been assigned an excellent space but I have to find the letter from the NTS! 2- building my most ambitious loco conversion...making a UP 2-8-0 from the M?rklin 88981 0-8-0 chassis. So far so good, as I've got the superstructure almost done, the tender is ready for painting and decals and I've found a way to add the leading truck to the underframe. I'll post updates on the project as my courage allows! 3- of course adding the third suitcase to the layout. The track is laid, the control box is built and the fast clock works! I have more terraforming to do and scenicking will probably take place later this summer. If all goes well, I hope to officially unveil the complete Val Ease Central at the GATS in Puyallup, WA in November. 4- painting and lettering the Miller Engineering 2 and 3 bay hopper car kits that I succeeded in building. Honestly, I thought that they were a pinch too big but after a while I fell in love with them. I believe that there is one manufacturing error on the 3 bay hopper (one side of the centre bay was not angled). Please correct me if I am wrong and that the prototype hoppers were built that way! 5- building a work train...only in the "buying the NN3 cars for later bashing" stage. This project is inspired by Terry Sutfin, a wonderful Z scale RUNNER! in Vancouver, WA. 6- getting my Val Ease Central web site into shape. I have the web space, the scanner, the web publisher (Word 7 for Mac), the pictures and the good intentions... I just need the WILLPOWER! I'll sign off for now. I look forward to sharing electrons with you so I can get my Z fix between train shows. Cheers, Jeffrey MacHan

Hi, wherever you may strome ! May be some of you know me as "The Z-Man", some may know me by my "natural" name "Wolfgang". - I feel comfortable to have joined this list. Below, feel free to know some more "details" about me and my background. ...and there is absolutely no reason why you should not try.... <<http://members.aol.com/wbolt1809/zm_home.htm>> (........) ....'cose clicking this URL, you would - approximately... - know, how I look like....... All the best to US ALL !!! ------- Wolfgang Bolt ------- For me, this hobby means much more than buying, trading or selling the cute little items of "Z-Scale" ! Having contacts through the internet for nearly 2 years now, has given me the opportunity to get to know quite a many of people in all parts of the world having the same hobby as me - and some contacts have even developed into real friendship since ! I always like to know more about my partner "on the other end of the line" ... Here - as an "advance", as motivation, something about myself you might like to know: My first name is Wolfgang, I turned 50 in August 1998 (...) - feel free to address me as "Wolfgang" ! Christmas 1998, it has been 10 years since I received a starter pack with a "BR-89", a flat, a banana car, some rails and a transformer as a present from my wife. And from this very moment - I had fallen inevitably in love with "Z", too (...) !!! My wife and I, we have 2 children, 2 very promising young men, who we are very, very proud of !!! The elder, 21, just finished his social service as a consciencious objector and has taken up his studies of graphics and design this March. He knows a "little bit" more than something about computers.... - The younger, just 19, spent 10 months on High School in the USA - South Carolina - and will finish school in the year 2000. He's a very inspiring tennis player and a practice-orientated, dynamic young man. My wife has a part-time job with physically and mentally handicaped people. She is very much engaged in this job. Though never having studied this, this job fills up her life and she is the beloved one of all these young people ! I am a salesman - very unfortunately out of work for more than 3 years now. For more than 10 years, I sold high-tec medical equipments to hospitals. I am very fond of sports in general and playing table tennis in a team. Besides "Mini-Club", I am interested in consumer electronics and...cactus. I am "rather" fluent in German, English, French and Russian. If you don't mind, I would very much like to know a little bit of you and your life !

Hello Z Scalers - Thank you for welcoming me, and here's a brief intro... I've been collecting and operating Marklin HO since 1985, and Z Gauge since 1988. With Z, it was dissatisfaction with the proportions of N Scale, and just sheer fascination, that led me to start. Additionally, unlike in HO, Marklin Z has hardly changed its standards - that is, become more flashy and hi-tech etc etc - since the early sets, though there have been one or two improvements like the Br89 revised chassis etc. The kind of info I'll always welcome is anything which will make the models easier to operate - they are a little fussy and the uncoupler-technique has to be learnt, anything on unusual models, and anything on layout plans, as I'm currently planning a new Z layout. I'm very fond of the Riley O'Connor book which I expect you all know about, especially if you're based in the States. For myself in general, I'm 49 and currently work as a freelance consultant in software testing. I live in a village called Chinnor about 25miles from Oxford, and apart from trains, my other main enthusiasms are music (all sorts - although I play rock guitar, I play classical cds all the time), history, and general reading. My Z scale ambitions: - Design, build, install and most of all operate a new z scale layout - Get hold again of some of the z scale models I used own in the past (eg. the beautiful NYC black mikado, and some of the discontinued sets) - Get hold of a couple of those new Railex Br212 (?) diesels I'm on a couple of other mailing lists - the Marklin Mailing list (MML) and another z gauge list where the messages are most often in German - I can't really remember anything useful I've read there at all. So all the best from me and I look forward to your mails. Happy Rails Steve Thomas Oxfordshire, UK. "To be free, to be who you are" ---------- > From: z_scale-owner@... > To: steve.thomas2@... > Subject: [z_scale] Welcome to z_scale@... > Date: 29 June 1999 21:46 > > Welcome Fellow Z Scale Enthusiast, > > Feel free to ask questions of the list, share Z scale commentary and attachments (i.e. layout photos, web links, etc.)and generally contribute to sharing information with our small but dynamic Z Scale community! Please be courteous at all times and do not FLAME! > > If you like, please take a moment to introduce yourself and let us kow about your Z Scale interests. If you know of an interesting Z Scale event or where Z Scale will be present, please share the dates with us and if you attend, update the list with your observations. > > Thanks for joining and Enjoy, > > The List Owner > Jeffrey R. MacHan .

Just a cheery note to say I like the development of this. I have, since I joined, received four introductions and we already have runners, collectors, layout-designer (builders and dreamers) *and* scratch-builders in the group! Jeffrey, will the introductory letters be stored anyplace? For newcomers. I'll wait with my postings for a while, 'til people have had the chance to gather. But I'll answer what I can, of course... Cheers, /Jacob ______________________________________________________________ - - - Jacob Munkhammar - - - jacob@... - - - - ARCHITECTURE - DESIGN - COMP.SOFTWARE - WRITING - mail: Arkitekt Christies gate 4b, N-7012 Trondheim, Norway www: http://www.stud.ntnu.no/~jacob/ ______________________________________________________________

Fellow Z members, Our community is now composed of 27 members representing 8 countries: USA, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Japan, Germany and France. I will continue to announce the list on rec.models.railroad from time to time and I will invite my Z Scale buddies to join. Please contact your entourage and let them know about the list. The more the merrier and the greater the expertise to be shared. I am also inviting manufacturers to join the list (even as lurkers) to allow us to share suggestions with them and to ask for feedback from them. One of our members suggested that the introductory messages from members be made available to new subscribers. Wonderful idea and I am learning how to use the "shared file" function of the onelist.com site to see if it can be used to store these snapshots of our Z friends for all to consult. If it does work, I will update the welcome message to inform newcomers of the availability of the introductory postings. I believe that the list is off to a fine start and some of the names of members are familiar to me. We have some fine modelers in our group who have alot to share I'm sure. So keep those questions and answers coming, we all have something to learn. Don't forget to pass the word on to your Z friends. Jeffrey MacHan Val Ease Central

Hi, my names Dave and I live in Kansas. Right now I model in N scale and collect Z scale. I have been stocking up on switches and cars and picking up an F unit or two. I had hoped to add some more diesels but the cost is somewhat prohibitive and the selection is poor. I hope that Micro Trains wil add to their line sometime in the future. Rogues are just out of my price range at this point in time, although they are marvelous looking engines. Z scale appears to be where N was twenty years ago although the introduction of American prototype buildings and cars will help it grow. Right now I am picking up all the Peco flex I can buy, I liked Micro Trains track appearance but the Peco is so much more flexable and much easier to work with. That's my 2cents. Dave in Kansas

Hi everybody After a month of struggle, "zman's bunker" is now finalized http://home.netvigator.com/~zman/index.html hope you enjoy it have some Z fun ! zman

Hej, Jacob, traction tires available from: Manfred Joerger Huegelstr. 9 D-82178 Puchheim-Ort Germany Tel./Fax: Germany (0)89 - 803260 Prices: (1) You may send only the axle(s) - well packed, not just a normal envelope ! - this will cost you DM 10,00 per axle. 2 axles per loco-truck should be equipped. (2) You may send the whole loco which costs DM 50,00. (3) I cannot tell you, how much you are charged when sending just the loco-trucks, because sending the whole loco does not make sense - perhaps you will let me know the result of your inquiery ? When I had it done by sending 4 axles, I enclosed an "EC" over DM 40,00. Mr. Joerger sent the modified axles back "shipment to be paid by recepient" = DM 5,40. Annotation - not only for beginners ! - dismounting a truck is fairly easy - pay attention to the coupler spring ! Otherwise you will be playing hide and seek till the 4-th millennium dawns..... - Reassembling, after you have received the modified axles back........well, not so easy: coupler + spring, then you have to care for the contacts to be positioned on the inside of each wheel - which makes 4........ This leads me to the question: Who has THEEE idea(s) how to do this quick- and safely ??? Stay tuned ! - Wolfgang -

OK, as I am completely new to the Z scale, I'll start with a few stupid -- that is to say basic -- questions. First, how steep a climb is possible? Would 5 cm up in 91 cm travel (1:18) be possible? (That is one "level" on one round at the smallest radius.) By the way, are there any "berg-bahnen" in Z-scale? I mean the kind that has a "cog-bar" third rail, and a cog-wheel under the loco for steep climbs. I remember someone did those in N-scale. (Arnold?) Secondly, how do the different brands of flexi- (and normal-) track fit with M?rklin turn-outs? Don't they have different profile heights? I know that M?rklin, Micro-Train and Peco all make Z scale flexi-tracks. Anyone else? Anyone else make turn-outs? And what make of tracks look best? That usually means have lowest profile. I remember that in my days in the N-scale (long ago), I wasn't happy with the huge rails. And while we're on turn-outs; does anyone make 1-to-3 turnouts in Z? I hope this sets the list off to a flying start! :-) /Jacob

Dear Jeff - You are one country out of date :-) I joined 29/6. Cheers Steve Oxfordshire UK "To be free, to be who you are" ---------- > From: Jeffrey MacHan <jmac_han@...> > To: z_scale@... > Subject: [z_scale] z_scale list celebrates its 2nd day! > Date: 30 June 1999 06:15 > > From: Jeffrey MacHan <jmac_han@...> > > Fellow Z members, > > Our community is now composed of 27 members representing 8 countries: > USA, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Japan, Germany and France. I will > continue to announce the list on rec.models.railroad from time to time and I > will invite my Z Scale buddies to join. Please contact your entourage and > let them know about the list. The more the merrier and the greater the > expertise to be shared. > > I am also inviting manufacturers to join the list (even as lurkers) to allow > us to share suggestions with them and to ask for feedback from them. > > One of our members suggested that the introductory messages from members be > made available to new subscribers. Wonderful idea and I am learning how to > use the "shared file" function of the onelist.com site to see if it can be > used to store these snapshots of our Z friends for all to consult. If it > does work, I will update the welcome message to inform newcomers of the > availability of the introductory postings. > > I believe that the list is off to a fine start and some of the names of > members are familiar to me. We have some fine modelers in our group who > have alot to share I'm sure. > > So keep those questions and answers coming, we all have something to learn. > Don't forget to pass the word on to your Z friends. > > Jeffrey MacHan > Val Ease Central > > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > > Looking to expand your world? > http://www.onelist.com > ONElist has 180,000 e-mail communities from which to choose! > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Z Scale RULES!

Fellow Z nauts! I am pleased to announce that I have come to an understanding of sorts with the "Shared Files" function of Onelist. For the benefit of new members and those of us who are in need of memory reinforcement, I have transfered the 8 member introductions that have been posted to date in the directory entitled "Who are we" (read Whoarewe!). Click once on the directory and you will have access to the introductions that our members have posted. All the messages are in html so that you can read them via your web browser. Therefore, I conclude this missive with another invitation to one and all to share a little something about yourselves and your Z modeling interests. If you are only interested in receiving posts for the moment, please feel free to say "Hi" and let us know where you are listening (er, reading) from. Regards, Jeffrey MacHan Val Ease Cental RR

Hello. I'm new to this Z-list, but I know most people from Z92-list. I build modern Denver & Rio Grande Western trains, while I collect USA type Marklin cars. Thanks. Yuji Kuwabara

Hi, Zers, if you are interested in the product Rogue makes, try to contact Mr. Don Bouchard at Rogue's. Rogue Locomotive Works Inc. 1100 N. Central Ave. Medford, OR 97501 USA Tel. : 541-858-5119 Fax : 541-858-5052 Email : SMLSCALE@... Good luck !! - Wolfgang -

Hey there fellow Z heads, As mentioned in my personal introduction I have posted the floor plan of the National Train Show, Saint Paul, MN, July 23-25, 1999. It is just part of the floor plan actually (Wilkins Exhibit Hall only) but it is the section where you can find the only private Z scale layout that will be on display - Val Ease Central Railroad. The floor plan is file "NTS-VEC" in the "Pictures" directory of the z_scale "Shared Files" section. I will also post the floor plan on my web site eventually! The layout is at position 883 (the black dot on the image) which gives visitors excellent access to the layout on three sides. There is room for people to move around without crowding. Most important of all, my crew will be two steps from the washrooms and the concession! Check out the image and let me know if it works. And if you are planning to be at the NMRA national convention or the National Train Show in Saint Paul, stop by and say hello. Please identify yourself as a member of the Z_Scale list. I hope to have a souvenir for you. Cheers, Jeffrey Chairman of the Board, VEC

I'm considering buying a Rail Zeppelin (#8876, one of my little loves), but have never seen or run any, so I have two questions. 1) Someone told me the detailing isn't impressive. I only want it if it looks good; does it? 2) It has only two, fixed axles and a *very* long distance between the axles; how sharp turns can it navigate? (Regardless of what may look silly - there are tunnels ;-) (M?rklin's HO version is shortened (and thus out of scale) and has two two-axle boogies, to make it a better model RR runner.) The Rail Zeppelin is perfect for my layout; wouldn't mind having two actually. If I can only get it through my extreme tunnels... Happy for any thoughts, /Jacob ______________________________________________________________ - - - Jacob Munkhammar - - - jacob@... - - - - ARCHITECTURE - DESIGN - COMP.SOFTWARE - WRITING - mail: Arkitekt Christies gate 4b, N-7012 Trondheim, Norway www: http://www.stud.ntnu.no/~jacob/ ______________________________________________________________

Hi all, I'm new to z scale and really only own one car. Right now my main interest are N and Nn3. I joined this lit to observe and look for info that could help in Nn3. I do have a web page with some Z scale stuff a friend made if you would like to take a look. http://members.aol.com/mmyers19 Marc

Hi Z-nauts - I'm not really sure why current demand is seen to be a factor - as has been written earlier in the thread, Marklin Z locomotives hold records for length of continuous running, though I must admit we don't know what electrical set-up was used for those test runs. You could e-mail Marklin, but my suspicion would be that standard control equipment was employed, set at a very modest output. I do admit though that Z locos get quite hot when run over longish periods. Having said that, this I assume is catered for in their design as I've never had one stop or burn out due to overheating. As far as friction / effort is concerned, what about employing a sensitive spring balance as used in laboratories? Used horizontally, it should show effort in grams before slipping occurs. Hope this helps Steve "To be free, to be who you are" ---------- > From: Jacob Munkhammar <jacob@...> > To: z_scale@... > Subject: Re: [z_scale] Locomotive current demands > Date: 04 July 1999 04:17 > > From: Jacob Munkhammar <jacob@...> > > >From: BJKRONEN@... > > > >Since motor current demands are affected by load (number of cars/wagons) > >there is no clear definition of what a "standard" load might be. We "think" > >wheel slip represent the maximum load condition on a loco. We "think" it > >represents that point where any more cars/wagons cannot be pulled by that > >particular loco. In any case, it would be the same point for a given loco > >every time. > > > >Comments please? A better way? Are we on a fool's path? > > > > Actually, maximum load isn't when the wheels spin. To explain this I'll > have to give a crash course about friction. > > There are two types of friction. I do not know their English names, but > I'll try to explain anyway. > One friction is the "gliding friction". It is the resistance an object > gives while *moved* over a surface. > The other friction is the "threshold friction". This is the resistance an > object gives when it is stationary and you *try* to move it. > The "threshold friction" is always higher that the "gliding friction", > often much higher. > > This is easily illustrated with car tyres. Once the wheels lock, we have > much less braking power. This is the princible behing anti-lock breaks; > they keep the wheels at just about locking, that is where friction is > greatest. > > Another way to easily test this is to put an un-powered loco on a long > piece of rail, then lift one end of the rail. You can lift it quite high > before it slips, but once it is moving you don't need much angle at all to > keep it moving. > Friction is actually measured as this angle - or rather, these two angles. > The other angle, for "glide friction", is the angle where the loco stops > again. > > So, when you meassure a spinning loco, it is only encountering "gliding > friction". Before a moving, loaded train starts spinning, it must be > subjected to a load that makes it pass the "threshold friction". > > And after this lenghly lecture, do I have a way to measure current demand > at maximum load? No. None other than to put weights on a freight car till > just before the loco slips. > > I hope this helped more than confused. > > /Jacob > > > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > > Find people who care about what you care about. > http://www.onelist.com > At ONElist: your connection to community. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Z Scale RULES!