Ztrains: 2009 Coffee Break Topics

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2009 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 4, 2009
Here are some guidelines for producing and uploading your own Z scale videos to YouTube: YouTube Video Guide

January 11, 2009
Soundslides, a program for Windows and Mac that makes it easy for you to present your images and sync them seamlessly with any audio: Visit Soundslides

January 19, 2009
JTT Microscale offers a tree solution with their line of pre-made trees and tree building kits. Many of these trees feature wire armatures and are available in heights starting at 1-1/2" tall: JTT Microscale

February 10, 2009
A very brief slideshow (about 14 images) from a train show in the Netherlands in 2008. Simple, but nicely done: Train Show Slideshow

February 22, 2009
This intermodal container site does a dandy job of showing you just how many shapes and sizes of intermodal containers exist: Intermodal Container Digest

March 8, 2009
Here are some switching layouts from the good folks over at carendt.com. The more I see these, the more I'm tempted to build one in Z: Small Switching Layouts

March 15, 2009
Here is a free desktop wallpaper showing the kind of scene we'll soon be able to model in Z scale with the forthcoming Budd cars: Model Railroader Wallpaper

March 29, 2009
Here's a down and dirty way to give your flex track a little bit of color and character, paint your track: Quick Track Painting

April 5, 2009
A new Cyanoacrylate (CA) glue from Loctite has a rubberized formula to help resist shock and vibration: Loctite Rubberized CA

April 19, 2009
This is a project by Chris Schmuck where he makes a Berkshire loco from a Marklin Mikado. Amazing!: Berkshire In Z Scale

May 3, 2009
From well know Z scale enthusiast Jürg Rüedi of Switzerland comes a new Z scale website: Z Scale Gallery

May 10, 2009
Have a look at how some people are visually modifying their KATO Unitrack system: KATO Unitrack Images

May 24, 2009
Here's a great tool from Micro-Mark for adding that all important weathered look to your models: The Distresser

June 1, 2009
Here's a great collection of boxcab locomotive photos, makes you want to scratchbuild something: Boxcab Locomotives

June 8, 2009
When working with styrene the Touch-N-Flow applicator lets you add precise amounts of solvent exactly where you need it in very small amounts: Touch-N-Flow Applicator

June 14, 2009
Here's another little tool you can easily build using a dowel and a needle for applying small amounts of glue: DIY Glue Applicator

June 21, 2009
See what David K. Smith has to say about adding track to your layout that will never be used... sort of: Abandoned Track

June 28, 2009
Here are some tips to getting "unstuck" when your creativity is all jammed up (technical term there): Zen Habits

July 12, 2009
This Coffee Break featured a neat Z scale layout built by Will Vale of Wellington, New Zealand. Will built this micro-layout for his Dad's 60th Birthday in a second-hand guitar case: Guitar Case Layout

July 20, 2009
Micro-Trains® Line has now begun to offer Z scale weathered rolling stock... nicely done!: MTL Weathered Cars

August 9, 2009
Here's a bit of a fantasy loco in N scale... I'd like to see this more of this kind of work in Z scale: Shortie Loco

August 16, 2009
I like looking at work in other scales to give me ideas and inspiration. It's not the scale that's important, it's the work: Logging In The UK

August 23, 2009
Let's look at one interesting way to make your own shrubs and see if this tutorial can work for Z scale: Shrubs And Bushes

September 14, 2009
Let's get creative this week and build our own stone walls from real stone impressions: Build Your Own Stone Walls

September 27, 2009
Make your own pavement in Z scale with this excellent tutorial by David K. Smith: D.I.Y. Pavement

September 27, 2009
Bullfrog Snot... need I say more? Ok, maybe I do... now you can make your own traction tires quickly and easily: Bullfrog Snot

October 11, 2009
Meet "Herbie", the prototype Missouri Pacific box car that the October 2009 MTL release is based on: Meet "Herbie"

October 18, 2009
Micron Art is considering adding a new Z scale coaling tower to the mix. Read about it here: Z Scale Coaling Tower

November 1, 2009
Model Trains Weathered is one of the best forums online for the serious model railroader looking to improve their weathering skills. This is a subscription based site... and I believe it's a good investment in your skills: Model Trains Weathered

November 8, 2009
This week we took another trip to the site of David K. Smith and his wonderful work in Z scale: James River Branch

December 6, 2009
BLMA Models sells a set of etched freight car stirrups that may work for your AZL autorack cars: BLMA

December 21, 2009
Play with your trains like the famous folks do: Blog Entry And Video

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