International Day of Z!

[ztrack]

The first annual international day of Z is here! Ztrack is calling for February 20th (2/20) to be an annual day of Z scale! We encourage all Z scalers to do something with your Z scale trains on this day. Suggestions... run your trains, work on the layout, participate in the forums, join other Z scalers to meet and talk trains, build a kit, support your Z dealer or just think Z!

I encourage everyone to post what they did for the first annual day of Z on this threads. Share your passion for Z scale!

Rob Kluz

[DKS]

I like this idea. A nice distraction from economic woes, etc.

[DKS]

http://1-220.blogspot.com/2009/02/today-is-z-day.html

[Pray59]

Here's my contribution. I took these photos this morning, after decaling and finishing the FMC car I made yesterday:

Thrall Phase 1 60' Centerbeam.

The Thrall phase 1 60' centerbeam has been reworked with peel & stick lazerboard construction. This is the BN scheme.


This is the Western Pacific scheme




Thrall Deep Rib Woodchip Gondola


The Thrall cars have dump doors at both ends, so the brakewheel is on the side of the B end.

[Pray59]

FMC Deep Rib Woodchip Gondola


You can see the hinges at the top of A end of the car. The door swings open at the bottom for end dumping, and the yellow triangle at the end shows which end is the dump end. These cars were designed for either rotary dumping or tilt end dumping.


No dump door on the brake end of this car. After NP purchased these cars, UP ordered them, but with a side brakewheel, and 2 dump door ends, so theirs could be dumped from either end.


All this brake gear is plywood and lazerboard peel & stick assembly.

[tom mann]

Those look really nice, and even nicer with the 100ton AZL trucks.

[Pray59]

Actually the AZL trucks are a perfect match, as these cars were licensed by Gunderson to other manufacturers following their 100T design. The 100T is the FMC-Gunderson Model Number.

I love the way the AZL wheels roll, with momentum and authority!

[DKS]

Those look really nice, and even nicer with the 100ton AZL trucks.

Agreed and agreed.

[Sokramiketes]

Wow Robert, those look great, and really crisp with the lazerboard instead of wood.

[tom mann]

Robert,

Let me know when you have a few modern boxcar kits for sale.

[Pray59]

Before boxcars, I want to do the Thrall All Door car. I have a fetish with Lumber based cars, and after the All Door, I need to do Newsprint Boxcars!   ;D

-Robert

[DKS]

My contribution for the day:



BTW, no digital trickery, not even cropping. Just careful lighting and one long, single exposure (8 sec @ f/22).

[BAZ-man]

Hey, Int'l Z day isn't about making stuff, it's about getting out !

I didn't hear about it until 2 days before.  I travelled Thursday for snowboarding in the dumps we got and Friday, Z day, I had to fly to San Diego . . . so I took my new attache case layout.  No time to put an internal battery supply tho so just lookie.

Jeff
SF Bay Area Z
a.k.a. The BAZ BoyZ

[ztrack]

I hope every body had a wonderful International Day of Z! I thought I would share what I have been up to the last few days. On Friday, I did not have too much time to work on Z, but I did talk to quite a few Z scale friends. Today though was my day to get back to the layout. This afternoon, armed with liquid nails, saber saw, foam, rasps, cork and one cat, I went to work on the layout. I have been laying cork for me new track extension. I also spend a good part of the day cutting foam and working on the terrain on parts of the layout. I have concentrated on finished up a couple tunnel portals that need work. I am also starting to contour the area around the track on the on the peninsula. The trains still are not running. I have not run them since I started the great expansion. But, I a have a few pieces of flex track to complete and I should be able to get the trains running again. I can't wait!

As for International Z Day, I think this was a great success. Here in our offices, we heard from Z scalers in ten countries! We even saw new members on the forums and first time posts. It was very encouraging! I am already planning next years International Day of Z. Mark you calendars, Next year, it will be Saturday, February 20th!

Of course, every day should be Z day!

Rob