Ztrains: 2007 Coffee Break Topics

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2007 Coffee Break Topics
Beginning in January 2007 Ztrains began the weekly Coffee Break column to highlight various products, websites and stories that we think may be of interest to the Z community. Pour a cup of coffee and join us each week as we visit with a new idea in Z scale (1:220) model railroading. If you should find a non-working link on this page, please let us know.

2010 Coffee Break

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2009 Coffee Break

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2008 Coffee Break

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2007 Coffee Break

January 29, 2007
Craft-S of Japan is getting closer to the release of their Glaskasten Dampflok (glass case steam locomotive). Visit the Craft-S

February 5, 2007
Watch a pair of Z scale videos from Torsja of Norway: Needle Eye Lumber Co., Part I and Needle Eye Lumber Co., Part II

February 19, 2007
GCLaser introduces their Z scale livestock auction house: Visit GCLaser

February 26, 2007
Zthek of Long Beach, California produces a beautiful brass EMD SW-1 diesel switcher kit: Visit Zthek

March 5, 2007
Tom Mann does some of the most realistic weathering we've ever seen, download his PDF (1.5 MB Download): Download now

March 12, 2007
Fantasonics of Orcutt, California produce both custom audio and stock CDs for your Z scale layout: Hear Samples Of Fantasonics

March 19, 2007
Digitrax of Norcross, Georgia releases the first drop-in DCC decoder designed for the Micro-Trains® Line GP-35 loco: Visit Digitrax

April 1, 2007
Dave Frary 's Blue Ribbon Models offers both books and DVDs for creating beautiful scenery everytime: Visit Blue Ribbon Models

April 9, 2007
Zthek of Long Beach, CA has introduced an improved version of their popular Snail-speed controller for Z scale. Visit Zthek

April 16, 2007
Luetke Modellbahn of Germany currently produces a wide range of Z scale structures and accessories. Visit Luetke Modellbahn

April 23, 2007
Nigel Lawton of the UK sells 6V coreless micro motors suitable for remotoring your Marklin 0-6-0 locomotives. Visit Nigel Lawton

April 30, 2007
The Norwegian Z scale group ZMOD have photos from a weekend show in Oslo, Norway April 28 / 29,2007. Oslo Photos 1, Oslo Photos II

May 7, 2007
Jurg Ruedi has his own, very convincing bit of US Southwest railroading in Switzerland on his Rosetown website. Visit Rosetown

May 14, 2007
Philippe Danne of France shares his 5-1/2 minute YouTube video titled "Journée d'Automne" showcasing his Z layout. Watch Philippe's Video

May 21, 2007
Some wonderful railroad footage shot back in 1956 around the Athens, Georgia area by the late Robert M. Soule, Jr. Watch This Steam Film

May 28, 2007
Andy Hart of Z-Panzer has completed his Z scale WWII German armoured train, made up of 13 individual cars. Visit Z-Panzer

June 11, 2007
Kingmill Enterprises offers us a new Z scale, laser cut structure: The Gold Dollar Saloon. Visit Kingmill Enterprises

June 18, 2007
A video of the Marklin 0831 Mini-Club, point-to-point layout from 1982. Trains are running too fast, but it's interesting. Watch The Video

July 1, 2007
Here is a series of amateur DIY videos on building scenery. These YouTube videos range for 4:00 to 9:00 minutes in length. Watch The Videos

July 9, 2007
The Model Railroader (no, not the magazine) website offers interesting articles and thoughts on our hobby in general. Visit The Model Railroader

July 15, 2007
If you like creativity in a small (and fun!) space, have a look at Micro / Small Layouts. Lots of photos, track plans and fresh ideas. Visit Micro / Small Layouts

July 24, 2007
Wright Turnouts of England has developed a new turnout designed to work with Micro-Trains® Line flex track. Visit Wright Turnouts

August 1, 2007
Here's a clickable map that shows regional and short line railroads across the US and Mexico. Visit American Shortline & Regional Railroads

August 13, 2007
A very useful user forum site on model train weathering, get busy weathering your Z scale trains!. Visit Model Trains Weathered

August 21, 2007
RSLaserKits has added a single stall engine house to their Z scale laser cut line of products. Visit RSLaserKits

August 26, 2007
RailPictures.Net is quite possibly the finest online railroad photo reference available, and it's free! Visit RalPictures.Net

September 11, 2007
Neolube by PBL is a dry lubricant, a graphite powder in a suspension agent, that can be painted on all surfaces. Visit Neolube

September 17, 2007
Sweetwater Scenery offers many tree kits and suppiies, including sagebrush armatures, for the do-it-yourselfer. Visit Sweetwatwater Scenery

October 1 , 2007
Micron Art releases a very limited edition all brass kit of a 2-stall engine house. Visit Micron Art

October 14 , 2007
Gateway NMRA OF St. Louis, Mo. provide some great low cost tips to improve your railroad modeling. Visit Gateway NMRA

November 11 , 2007
Here are some in-progress photos and descriptions of a client's Z scale diorama buld by the Ztrains Store. Visit This Diorama

November 19 , 2007
Free online airbrushing lessons from "How To Airbrush", read through the lessons and see if airbrushing is for you. Visit How To Airbrush

November 25 , 2007
Ztrack Magazine has opened their new online store featuring many unique import items, and yes, they carry Ztrains Store pieces as well!. Visit Ztrack Center

December 18 , 2007
Through a volunteer network armed with scanners, you can listen in on live radio communications from major US railroads. Listen Now

Monday, August 9, 2010

Elevated or “EL” Model Railroading

I received an email from a reader who attended the recent train show in Milwaukee, WI., and they told me about a new company called:
Imagine That, Laser Art Productions.

This new company is producing laser cut “EL”, or elevated train kits and components for several scales. I wrote to them and asked about the possibility of working in Z scale and was told that this may be in the future works for Z. Check out their site and maybe drop them an email if you'd be interested in this decidedly cool idea.

Coffee Break Archives