tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78707328535984033212012-01-23T09:07:22.894-05:00Adventures in the Z axisDavid K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.comBlogger551100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-51077776584886289442012-01-19T16:00:00.003-05:002012-01-20T15:03:17.211-05:00

Originally published on 7 February 2011, this FAQ has been updated countless times (with thanks to Garth Hamilton for providing much of the "insider" information). The most recent update includes a substantial expansion on future product releases, which now includes non-track products, as well as the introduction of several highly-detailed clinics on working with Rokuhan products. Please feel

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-11234071575609923552011-12-30T08:12:00.002-05:002011-12-30T08:13:31.082-05:00

There used to me so much more to this blog. Sadly, this happened.

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-26311359054003863302011-09-24T11:53:00.002-04:002011-09-24T11:56:00.683-04:00

Here's something you don't see every day: super-accurate 55-gallon drums in Z Scale.They'll be available soon—along with an assortment of other goodies—from NZT Products. Find out more on the Company Blog.

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-13664909275503518942011-08-08T08:40:00.010-04:002011-08-08T22:31:04.872-04:00

Ever since Stony Smith posted his Z Scale GE 25 ton switcher shell, there's been rampant speculation on how to power it—or if indeed it could be powered. Unlike the Z Scale speeder from norm24, which I'm 99% convinced cannot be self-powered using conventional (or even unconventional) technology, the 25 ton switcher was a different story; I was reasonably confident I could give it a heartbeat.

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-51878174144196382412011-07-24T14:11:00.000-04:002011-07-30T19:00:32.673-04:00

Why would a beginning model railroader want to start with the most challenging scale? It's a good bet that they have no clue what they're getting into. Let's say you're looking to jump into Z scale model railroading and are asked why; if your answer is something along the lines of, "it looks interesting" or, even worse, "it's cute," you're in for a rude awakening.Beginners starting out in Z scale

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-80516830463816402102011-07-12T15:13:00.037-04:002011-08-13T17:34:42.145-04:00

I've been asked why there's been so little progress on my modeling projects in the last few months. After all, I don't have a nine-to-five any more (really a six-to-six, if you count the commute) as a time-sucking monster. Well, as it happens, I really do have a job, NZT Products, and as other entrepreneurs will tell you, self-employment is usually more than a full-time job. Consequently, I've

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-61789621637333988872011-05-09T08:59:00.049-04:002011-05-26T14:21:04.799-04:00

Recently, as I was finishing up a post on my Gorre & Daphetid blog, I noticed something interesting about one of the images. I'm using the new Rokuhan track on this project, and while people are starting to discover how well-designed and robust the product is, there have also been complaints about tie spacing.Yet, as I gazed at the image in the new post (above), it dawned on me: the tie spacing

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-26703693426004667102011-04-25T17:32:00.051-04:002011-05-26T13:05:09.201-04:00

What are the tools and supplies I use most in my modeling? I've been hit with this question more than a few times from beginner modelers. Given some downtime due to a health issue, I decided to take my mind off of impending surgery by finally fulfilling the request for this information. Please enjoy my new clinic on Tools and Supplies for the Modeler's Workshop.Incidentally, there used to be a

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-65621840130229719392011-04-05T20:46:00.017-04:002011-08-13T21:28:22.864-04:00

They're remarkable. Rokuhan's Z Scale roadbed track switches are little marvels of engineering. Consider: there's a switch machine built in. Totally internal, completely hidden. How did they do it? Having just received several switches, I naturally took one of them apart to unearth its mysteries. It's a fascinating device. The machine's single coil moves past a pair of rare earth magnets,

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-82402798152577647202011-03-05T20:49:00.001-05:002011-03-08T22:32:18.049-05:00

Subsequent to yesterday's post about Rokuhan, I was asked if Rokuhan and Micro-Trains roadbed track would play nice together. The answer is, not really. The geometry of the two products is quite different, as you can see:The roadbed height is different, the size of the joiners is different, even the rail height is different. You can force them together if you remove the plastic track joiners from

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-33796436437187808172011-02-27T07:05:00.013-05:002011-03-02T15:43:23.483-05:00

...I'll take the time to learn how to make realistic trees. I've been meaning to do it since forever. I figure, if someone else can model them really well, why can't I? After all, they're just twisted wire... The first time I saw the work of this artist, I gasped. All of his trees are stunning, but some of them are utterly mind-blowing in their intricacy, detail and realism. You may want to

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-69827230851409719752011-01-31T12:25:00.035-05:002011-02-01T10:29:19.138-05:00

I've got my mitts on some of the new Rokuhan track. I must say, it's an impressive product that clearly shows a high degree of quality in both its design and manufacturing. The tooling is very clean, and the parts fit together with awesome precision.Indeed, the single most amazing aspect of this track is the way the pieces fit together: the joiners are cleverly designed in a way that virtually

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-916753738901664832010-12-11T16:40:00.016-05:002010-12-11T17:03:54.598-05:00

It's not an easy thing to do. Try making track plans using only Micro-Trains Micro-Track roadbed track sometime—it's quite a challenge to be creative with only a handful of track pieces. Fortunately I've been getting quite a lot of practice lately, thanks to AnyRail, and I decided to share the fruits of my labor.Z scalers who only wish to use Micro-Trains roadbed track now have a resource of

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-56000359702885006252010-12-03T14:31:00.033-05:002011-02-08T13:02:47.936-05:00

A new name is about to be added to the Z Scale lexicon: Rokuhan. Get used to this name; I'm probably going to be making references to it with greater frequency. And I have a feeling a lot of other Z scalers will also.Who is Rokuhan? They're a Japanese model manufacturing company, and the reason I predict they'll become a (Z scaler's) household name is because, among other things, they're

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-82101320266858714992010-11-24T08:16:00.013-05:002010-12-06T12:39:15.128-05:00

The James River Branch is very nearly done. Oh, I have maybe two or three months of work yet to do, but I'm down to the fine strokes; I'm close enough to the endpoint that I'm looking past the layout to the next challenge. What will I do in the following act?Without going into too much detail, I'm on the cusp of a major change in my personal life. Unquestionably this will influence my modeling

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-10576142333647736632010-10-02T20:27:00.007-04:002010-10-04T14:54:17.196-04:00

Is it really early October, and not late June? The original temporal setting for the James River Branch was late spring (of 1975, but the year is not important in this case). One reason I chose late spring is that it's my favorite time of the year; the other is that the trees I purchased from SAMTrees were all a brilliant spring green—actually a bit too brilliant, and I later toned it down a few

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-36235994769186338552010-09-26T11:45:00.015-04:002010-10-03T12:34:42.185-04:00

A milestone has been reached on the layout: the Stephen A. Greene Building Supply Company is completed. To celebrate, I decided to compile a little history of the business—which, like real ones, grew and changed over time. It was literally years in the making, and ended up looking nothing like what was originally envisioned. Indeed, it wasn't envisioned at all; back when this version of the

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-50383077339767299812010-08-29T21:35:00.012-04:002010-08-29T21:47:05.235-04:00

It's been a long, often twisting road. It began in the fall of 2006—with a false start. It was rebooted the following July. And so this version has been in the works for over three years.At times I've felt as if I may have been making one big mistake after another. To be truthful, it may not have been a series of big mistakes, but there have certainly been countless little ones along the way.

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-70194782071747164162010-08-25T21:40:00.027-04:002010-09-05T21:41:50.793-04:00

It is, undeniably, a painfully over-used phrase. But I cannot conjure one that more aptly describes a means to expand one's modeling options—especially in Z scale, where raw materials are scarcer than they are in larger scales. It's certainly brought success to quite a few of my projects, and since I'm often asked by modelers how I accomplish things, I thought readers might like to have a peek at

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-12174515136609174882010-08-08T14:49:00.040-04:002010-08-28T13:00:49.636-04:00

It's a well-known fact of life: the only constant is change. As I was finishing up the latest building for the James River Branch, I was struck by the fact that the Micro Engineering Gilmor Hotel kit is one of the few structures on the layout that retained its original purpose, and the only one to keep its original name (only because of the neon sign installed on the roof).In real life, buildings

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-4477972225732928542010-08-03T08:47:00.016-04:002010-08-04T07:29:15.220-04:00

Here's a new take on an old trick. Making stone walls from pieces of linoleum is not new, although not many modelers have the patience for it, since you're literally assembling walls from individual stones. At one time, there was a scenery supplier that used to sell bags of linoleum blocks to save folks the trouble of cutting their own stone. Of course, you pay for the convenience: typically a

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-62540372924282868422010-07-17T13:27:00.024-04:002010-07-22T22:29:38.717-04:00

...'till it's over. In this case, I'm referring to the town of Naughtright on the James River Branch, which has endured yet another substantial series of revisions. (I can hear some of my regulars chuckling; others may be rolling their eyes.)As often happens, it came about by accident. I was about to dust off a partially-finished structure so that I could reassure anyone who might have thought

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-79229113546886449482010-04-19T21:22:00.003-04:002010-04-20T17:49:31.715-04:00

It's about time, too! Did you know that Full Throttle has released over a hundred Z scale products? I didn't know, and I've been following "Uncle Will" since he throttled his way into the scale almost a decade ago. Now that everything he's made can be found in one place, it makes for a mighty impressive lineup!Honestly, there are too many Z scalers out there who don't even know Full Throttle

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-23682958547899252132009-11-23T09:22:00.005-05:002009-11-25T09:52:59.068-05:00

It was Open House Weekend. Not for me, per se—it would be rather silly to open up my basement for people to crowd around a layout the size of two large coffee table books. But plenty of folks did get a chance to see the Z scale James River Branch at its first official public showing. It "tagged along" at the open house for Rick Spano's N scale Sceniced and Undecided, which was open the weekend of

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-52453326256060973242009-11-17T16:41:00.021-05:002009-11-17T17:39:20.271-05:00

History is in the process of repeating itself. My last layout, the fourth incarnation of the N Scale White River and Northern, had a highly scenic canyon with multiple waterfalls that was nearly impossible to see from normal viewing angles; one had to lean way over the edge of the layout and peer up the valley in order to enjoy the full effect. I swore it would never happen again.But it's

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-18789911988022823942009-10-19T09:23:00.031-04:002009-10-21T16:13:58.202-04:00

As I finally set about paving River Road this past weekend, I took stock of all the real-life influences that shaped it, and was surprised to realize just how many elements are represented in a slim strip of layout space less than twelve inches in length. It's worth noting, too, that its current form is quite different from its original design—and, to be honest, much improved as well; it has

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-54102872348845097912009-10-15T07:55:00.007-04:002009-10-15T10:30:10.654-04:00

I'm a pretty hardcore DIY kind of guy. In the 1:1 world I do plumbing, electrical wiring, carpentry, framing and sheetrock, ceramic tile, you name it. I've gutted and rebuilt a few houses and have a dream of building my own home one day. In the modeling world I'll tackle trackplans, control systems, throttles, benchwork, scenery, animation and lighting effects, you name it; I'll even hand-lay

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-75182631625470483482009-10-13T20:19:00.044-04:002009-10-19T10:39:55.140-04:00

Quite often an idea I'll have is due to a collision of a few others. And, usually, most or all of them are more of "why didn't I think of it sooner" than classic "ah-ha" brainstorms. These exercises often take place during my long commute to and from work, which consumes two and a half hours of my day. If I'm coherent and focused enough, sometimes one of these trips can be quite productive,

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-3282515484053845112009-09-29T10:41:00.033-04:002010-01-13T14:11:44.100-05:00

To be sure, a sense of humor is a highly individual thing. Some modelers choose to express theirs with cute business names. Myself, I tend to find this sort of thing rather too obvious; it also detracts from the model's realism. A building bearing the sign Lew Skroo's Hardware, for instance, is hard to take seriously, no matter how good the modeling may be. (Sorry, Robert, but that's just the way

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-3084218902930919242009-09-27T10:00:00.018-04:002009-09-29T20:03:48.469-04:00

I don't consider myself a perfectionist. Indeed, I've often insisted that I'm not a "rivet counter." But I do strive to model as best I can. Recent case in point: I had just finished a little detailing project, a relay box with a battery box. After installing it on the layout, I fired off one last quickie photo. "No, this won't do."My dissatisfaction hit me when I saw it next to the crossing

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-75654212471665317732009-09-08T11:35:00.017-04:002009-09-15T16:06:50.141-04:00

Recently my layout "suffered" another spate of changes. I'd been away from modeling for a couple of weeks (one to help with a wedding, and one away on vacation), and after that "rest" I was suddenly and inexplicably inspired to uproot and rearrange several businesses... yet again. I've sometimes wondered when this process would cease; at one time I theorized that the stopping point would be when

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-25638328425575753182009-07-18T19:52:00.050-04:002009-07-20T20:19:14.161-04:00

A photo of a recent project got me thinking. I'd just finished upgrading a boxcar with new trucks and couplers, and was quite pleased with the results, especially considering some aspects had exceeded my expectations. Specifically, I wound up with couplers that could be mounted in a way that allowed me to fill in the coupler pocket notches without affecting the coupler height. The new coupler

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-24789053969068238742009-04-06T10:41:00.159-04:002009-05-04T08:47:53.260-04:00

Last time I provided a brief introduction to kitbashing. This time I'll delve into the world of scratchbuilding, using my latest achievement—a functional cantilever crossing signal—as the guinea pig. It's a good little guinea pig, too, because this project has had more than the usual number of ups and downs.Beginners often complain that experienced modelers make things look easy. Well, one reason

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-43493548136201640862009-03-24T08:35:00.020-04:002009-03-24T11:23:07.305-04:00

Sounds like a strange set of options for some obscure sport. The question actually pertains to layout structures: build straight kits, bash kits, or scratchbuild? My preference has always been scratchbuilding. It provides considerable satisfaction; but it also consumes considerable amounts of time—which, presently, I do not have in abundance.When I originally embarked on the James River Branch

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-66636342210161240992009-03-10T17:37:00.040-04:002009-11-11T14:26:27.186-05:00

It's a safe bet that many readers of this blog have been aware for some time of just how invaluable the Internet has become in modeling. Some, however, may not be taking full advantage of its usefulness. Here's an introduction to just some of the many things that modelers can accomplish online today.Searching. This perhaps all-too-obvious starting point should not be underestimated in its value,

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-14812510573788195492009-02-20T09:28:00.023-05:002009-09-24T08:27:21.782-04:00

Rob Kluz of Ztrack magazine has declared 20 February to be the "International Day of Z." I must say that I like this idea. During these times of global economic crisis and other troubling events, we can certainly use a distraction, and what better way might there be to improve our mood than to pay some attention to a possibly neglected hobby?I confess that my modeling has suffered from the

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-39008281864185540292008-12-31T16:50:00.004-05:002008-12-31T16:59:09.691-05:00

With creativity on the wane, and competing interests on the rise, this is a dangerous time for the James River Branch. It's at risk of coming to an end. This is not to say that I'm ready to heave the layout into the recycling bin. Not just yet. But this is one of those times when there is a remote possibility.Some may rightfully ask if I've ever finished a layout. The answer is no. But the goal

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-65647642361899549002008-12-23T10:56:00.003-05:002008-12-23T11:08:51.524-05:00

It's a lot like writer's block. You're filled with ideas, with no end of things to do, and yet nothing's happening.It's not for lack of free time. I'm on holiday vacation right now—two whole weeks off. There are of course the usual familial holiday responsibilities, activities and rituals to perform, not to mention a list of home improvements longer than my arm. But there's still far more time

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-87617272213010017902008-11-20T12:06:00.004-05:002009-01-12T08:42:20.352-05:00

Amazing what a different point of view can do. Many modelers, I'm sure, are familiar with the effect of turning their portable layouts around to enjoy fresh perspectives of their work. It can be a real eye-opening experience, like exploring a strangely different layout, at once familiar and new.I find it odd—and a little embarrassing—that I hadn't deliberately thought of doing it before; after

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-3953638781973813512008-11-15T22:16:00.004-05:002009-01-12T08:42:33.158-05:00

Some days I wonder why I bother trying to model. It seems even when I'm successful at making something that I think is really nice, I'll eventually do something stupid to ruin it. Like my scratch-bashed brass passenger station: one of the rare times I was truly proud of something I'd made.And then I go and drop it. Not on the area rug, where it might have just bounced a little, or at most lost

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-60112788884553474822008-09-19T21:10:00.016-04:002009-01-12T08:43:08.903-05:00

As work progresses on the foreground structures of the James River Branch, I've been pausing once in a while to do impromptu photographic studies. I've already found that the passenger station suffers for the awkwardly-positioned coal trestle, as seen below. Had I imagined that it would pose a problem for photography, I might have done something about it.But there's no knowing every nuance of a

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-39833748776385211652008-09-13T10:59:00.007-04:002009-01-12T08:43:21.706-05:00

It happens to the best of us. At least I hope so, otherwise I'll feel like an even bigger idiot out here all by my lonesome.With unbridled excitement at seeing structures and greenery, and also at finding there was enough space for a crossing shanty at the very edge of the layout after all, I gleefully completed and installed the Railroad Avenue Crossing Shanty.Still riding that high, I forged

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-86304509510270335982008-09-01T09:14:00.033-04:002009-09-24T07:51:42.486-04:00

The James River Branch website is growing. Part of this growth spurt is the result of a failed effort to become a regular magazine contributor. The failure had nothing to do with the magazine itself; it was my inability to keep up with a schedule of regular submissions.Back in February, Rob Kluz of Ztrack magazine invited me to join his cadre of writers. While flattered, to be sure, I really

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-72677255153265372082008-08-15T14:55:00.014-04:002009-01-12T08:43:42.976-05:00

It may be stating the obvious, but modeling projects are rarely straightforward. As the James River Branch layout progresses—albeit in erratic spurts—the old adage about "three steps forward, two steps back" is so dead-on that it isn't funny. But over time it's becoming clear that some seemingly counterproductive steps were actually necessary in order to advance to the next stage.Take the town of

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-59081924266166192122008-06-09T21:46:00.008-04:002009-01-12T08:44:05.510-05:00

Having just completed my passenger station but lacking a realistic setting in which to photograph it, I decided to make a little photo prop base. I had a foot-long section of handlaid Code 25 track sitting around from my tracklaying proof-of-concept experiment, and it seemed like the ideal starting point.Within a few minutes I'd tossed together a foamcore base for the track. Now for some scenery.

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-5933079518561326522008-05-30T12:25:00.013-04:002009-01-12T08:44:14.426-05:00

I don't exactly like this "getting older" crap. While at one time I was looking forward to retirement as an opportunity to model, model, model, I'm now beginning to fear that many of my grand plans will be melting away much like the polar ice cap.Eyesight being an issue was a foregone conclusion; I'm dealing with it as best I can with magnification, although I'll confess I don't much care for it.

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-64340178340438461922008-02-09T10:45:00.005-05:002009-01-12T08:47:01.358-05:00

Shortly after publishing my blog entry on Gizmoszone and Mikroantriebe, a couple of nice things happened.First, I was contacted via email by the owner of Gizmoszone. He thanked me for promoting his service, and asked if I could recommend more products that would appeal to modelers like me. I indicated that my initial purchase was for evaluation purposes, and that I'd be placing additional orders

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-34558078508940941552008-01-17T17:49:00.001-05:002009-01-12T08:47:17.714-05:00

Looking for tiny motors and gears? I mean, really tiny? Here are two web resources I've stumbled upon recently that offer up some very tasty little morsels.Located in Hong Kong, Gizmoszone sells micromotors and gears, including pager motors with planetary gearheads as small as 6 millimeters in diameter. Ordering is easy and payment is accepted via PayPal. Based on personal experience, their goods

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-56001737956082315132008-01-13T12:09:00.004-05:002009-01-12T08:47:36.567-05:00

Quite often when I am shopping in a home improvement store or craft shop, I will make little "field trips" to virtually every area of the store, in addition to the ones I needed to visit. I like gathering as much information as possible on materials and supplies about which I was previously unaware. For example, it was a tour through the lumber section of a Home Depot many years ago where I found

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-77182778010543418822007-11-12T15:46:00.002-05:002009-01-12T08:48:31.462-05:00

Just as it was for N scale in its early days, Z scale places special challenges on modelers, particularly those driven to attain a high level of realism. Arguably one of Z scale's greatest cosmetic weaknesses is track. The limitations of production practicalities imposed on manufacturers more or less force them to produce massively bulky track.Märklin chose Code 60 for their Z scale sectional

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-15980214584733737462007-10-14T13:45:00.001-04:002009-01-12T08:48:39.347-05:00

I'll admit it: I'm easily amused. At the risk of repeating myself, I'm not at all into operation—at least not the timetable and car-cards variety. I'm not opposed to a little switching once in a while, but when I do it, it's to enjoy a visual effect, not to simulate the pick-up or delivery of goods or passengers. So, according to some, I suppose I'm a "roundy-roundy" guy. Yes, I'm perfectly

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-6017312130830126592007-10-09T18:38:00.001-04:002009-01-12T08:48:48.213-05:00

It may be a long time until I have a big permanent home layout. Not to sound gloomy, but it's possible I may never have one, if circumstances do not favor it. There was a time years ago when I was able to enjoy a "basement empire," but like a falling star, it was a brief pleasure. Life deals its cards, and we must make the best of our hands; so I try to find my modeling satisfaction in bits and

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-7843097331830637782007-09-25T14:40:00.001-04:002008-03-06T18:18:06.107-05:00

It may come as a shock to a few regulars: I trashed my Z Scale James River Branch layout and started a new Z Scale James River Branch layout. Others will be nodding in complete understanding that sometimes you just have to start over.The layout was flawed from the outset. In some respects it was flawed in its planning. And in some respects it was flawed in its execution. After a while, it had

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-88381983369794984032007-09-13T12:42:00.001-04:002008-03-06T18:19:00.314-05:00

Finding information on Z Scale is hard enough as it is. If you're interested in American-prototype Z Scale, it's even worse, since you must sift through all of the European stuff. And so American Z Scale was born. Actually, the legwork was already done; I'd previously amassed a comprehensive set of links for my James River Branch website. But it seemed as if this resource was lost in the noise of

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870732853598403321.post-39548820990857353832007-08-30T22:53:00.002-04:002010-05-05T09:18:35.252-04:00

Z scale is not for everyone—certainly not for a person with fewer years ahead than behind and steadily increasing physiological limitations. What's that in plain English, Professor?Well, for starters, my eyesight is going. Having "enjoyed" the advantages of nearsightedness since the age of ten, I've been able to model in N scale for nearly forty years without the need for corrective lenses or

David K. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06136023340720612580noreply@blogger.com0