Hello all(or at least those not already here) :angel: , Bryan and Bret here again, your on-the-spot news team, this time posting with a REAL keyboard(in the hotel computer center)! The first day of the Train Show was a smashing success(and I'm not referring to the Norfolk Southern derailment which caused the subsequent derailment of the I.C.E excursion train; pictures at 11!). Two AZL NS SD70's were the workhorses of the day, pulling a 47 car coal train consisting of about half FR hoppers and half Pennzee hoppers(with a gray and black theme), mostly NS with some older Pennsy and B&O 2 bays bringing up the rear(Well, that's not really totally true, because Reddy-Kilowatt served as our spotter car/coal caboose). The SD70's pulled almost non-stop for nine straight hours, without any struggle or warming whatsoever. I just can't get over what solid locomotives these are. I'm overjoyed. Additionally, a reconditioned AZL NS C40-9 (thank you Glenn and Sandy) reliably pulled a slightly modified (thank you Sticky Tack) set of seven of Hobo Tim's awesome Triple Crown RoadRailers, a sight NEVER BEFORE SEEN IN Z SCALE!!! They ran pretty darn well, too, for most of the six hour afternoon portion of the show. Again, pictures forthcoming, though not from my camera, as I have yet to take ANY of my own pictures. I'm having WAY too much fun....... Make My Model has been one of the surprise hits of the show, sharing space with Rob Kluz at the Ztrack booth(sorry Rob, I'll fix the darn display :embarassed: ) , and they are soon (as in next month maybe?)to release most of their truck models with pre-installed fiber optics for headlights and taillights. YEAH! Overall, Z scale is very well represented here in Philly (as far as vendors selling Z), with at least five different booths carrying Z locos and rolling stock(balanced between MTL, Marklin, and Pennzee/Uncle Will, with some AZL SD70's at FURTHER DISCOUNTS), as well as Aztec, BLMA, GCLaser, Dietrich Enterprises and others displaying and selling Z accessories. That's all from us for today. It's been an exhausting day, but worth every minute. What a blast!! :w20z6q: More tomorrow, hopefully! :thumbs_up:
Thanks for the report Bryan. Sounds like you guys are having a lot of fun. Dont forget to take pictures, and tell the module coordinator to take a picture of every module. We want to see what we are missing, and hopefully we can make it next year.
MTL Turnouts!!!!! What about the Micro-Trains Turnouts? What is the word on those babies? Got to know! Have huge plans! Can anyone please ask Joe D' this question! PLEASE!!!!!! Thanks You Hobo Tim
It's been interesting to hear radio news reports of this event today. It's almost as if they are poking fun, "Remember that train set you have as a kid? Well grown men play with trains too..." and then they cut to some actuality of a guy talking about DCC (obviously) and how "WE'VE GONE DIGITAL!" but presented in a cheesy way. According to the ABC Radio Network (which I do not prefer) it's the "largest model train show ever." Charlie
That has always been one of my pet peeves...that somehow because you model trains you must be some wierdo wearing a train hat acting like an engineer playing choo choo. For what is worth, I like running trains (and I tinker to make all my trains run smooth and slow), but what I really enjoy is the creation of the layout and buildings and such. I am not trying to be all artsy but in a way the layouts are really little works of art. Its funny I am a high school football coach and ex wrestling coach, and you should see the looks of suprise when people see my layouts for the first time! They are taken back but then they really start to appreciate the detail. This hobby is no different than fishing, gardening, restoring autos or whatever. You get a satisfaction of accomplishment, and the escape with the relaxation. Ok, enough of my rant. I too am interesting in finding out about those turnouts from MT.
Great repost Bryan and Bret! Any news on the coalporters yet? I was hoping they would have showed up as they were announced at last year's NTS? Also, did any of the other manufacturers announce anything Z? Please make sure to visit all the booths and take a good look! We don't want to overlook any new products! -Robert
Its been two years since I got my last cellphone. My buddy tells me I am eligible to get one of those new phones with Wi-Fi. I am thinking those would be great for reporting on the spot in the convention. I want one, but I am not sure I need one. It would be useful for surfing in the car while the kids are in Tae-Kwan-do. Its awfully tempting. I can just imagine. Stay connected to the internet while I am in the road.
The problem with a wi-fi, EVO, or any data based phone is the rates !!! The mobile phone companies have found a great way to subsidize their consumer losses. Rates for just a mere handfull of web pages can be $10-$20 per month. Unlimiited rates start at $50-$90/month. If you have a Treo or other large format display, it's not too bad but only worth it if you travel often and really need a map, service, supply or updated schedule.
What a weekend...... First off, I'm exhausted. The whole weekend was great fun, but those concrete floors sure do take their toll after 10 hours of walking and standing and bending and kneeling. But it's worth EVERY ache and pain. I'd do it again tomorrow! Here's the news tidbits from Philly for now(maybe more tomorrow after I get some rest): GCLaser - Watch out for these guys. Future MAJOR players in the Z wood structure kit business. They had some BEAUTIFUL built and painted Z models on display, and said that just about everything we saw would soon be available in Z. Just wait until you see their Strasburg Tower in Z. A work of art. BLMA - They will still be releasing the diesel details and road crossings in Z, but no definite timetable was given. I told Craig that we Z scalers were chomping at the bit for their products, and he seemed to take it to heart. Look for Z news from them soon. Deitrich Enterprises - Still producing WONDERFUL circus car kits and built up cars, and now producing very nice details pieces for us. I bought a set of picnic benches for my future park, and also bought his new sheet copper load for gons and flats. MakeMy Model - These guys were the hit of the show, and are likely to be swamped for months to come just filling back-orders. MANY new products on the horizon, we just don't know what they are. Slight modifications are being made(from modeler suggestions) to some of their existing line to add even more detail and realism. Gas tanker trucks are available, though they had already run out when I got there.........on FRIDAY! Preinstalled fiber optics coming next month, with only a two to three dollar price increase over the non-fibered vehicles. AZL - More SD70 roadnames on the horizon, probably another three before the end of the year, though you didn't hear it from me... :angel: ....and it's NOT official(that's called covering my rear). Coalporters are somewhere in the country(?), but still not available at AZL headquarters. Geep is being pushed for HARD by the AZL contingent to be out before year's end, but don't hold your breath. New avenues of manufacturing are being explored for future releases, and many top secret meetings were held over the weekend. More brass steam coming too, but don't know when. Maybe Rob will give more info on all this, but I doubt it......:shade: Micro-Trains - Three more NEW Z body styles before the end of the year are likely(NOT including the FMC box and PS2). We modern haulers are going to be VERY pleased! Geep will probably not be available until second quarter '07. Turnouts are LIKELY to be available next month, but not guaranteed, as Joe is taking quality control VERY seriously. He's had to send a number of prototypes back for modification. That's the ONLY reason it's taking this long. Joe is looking out for us. Along with turnouts and 440mm radius companion tracks coming in August, Joe is looking into #8 turnouts, and has already designed and is cutting prototype metal bits for a RERAILER TRACK!!!! Not only that, but MTL is developing their own EXPANSION TRACK!!! I don't know if it will have roadbed or not, so don't ask. I was just so excited at the news that they were looking into it, that I forgot to ask Joe. Well, that's all I can think of for now. I've probably already spilled too much, and will now be banished from the Z inner circle forever, but it sure was fun for a bit. Perhaps Randy will come along and risk his standing with some further information as he remembers it.........or not. It sure was fun. I wish EVERYONE could have been there.... The preceding message is strictly the recollections and ramblings of Mr. Bryan Keyser himself, and in no way is to be taken as a guarantee that ANY of the above will happen. It may ALL be hogwash just to mess with me. Or it could all be true. Only time will tell. :zip:
looks like things will keep getting better and better. now if we can only have some more modern-era Amtrak equipment
Bryan, thank you for the report. It sounded like it was a lot of fun. It sounds like there are lot of new items coming. mmmm. Randy. I vaguely remember that name. Din't he used to post on the board years ago?
I'll post a very quick recap... I was only there Saturday and Sunday. Took the train from home at 7:15AM got to Philly at 9:30AM and was on the show floor around 10:10AM. On behalf of the Tri-State Z Scalers (NY, NJ, CT) I'd like to thank the DC Z Bend folks for hosting us nearby and helping us show. It was great meeting many of the people who were just names before on the Internet. Brian & Brett-great to meet you both. It was great to have a nice dinner and some libations of the barley, wheat and hops kind as well as some of the even stronger ones for others! I'm an old trade show veteran (part of my work at Nikon) so 2 days on a weekend is nothing-and of course I got to sleep a little-something that is a rare luxury with my nearly 1 year old!! The show was fun (even bought some Marklin gondolas I had been eyeing for a while). I will say it was much smaller than the Amherst show in Massachusetts-the NMRA could take a lesson from them. Not sure what the final attendance was for this one... We had more kids (and kids at heart) ask about Z and of course the "Z's too small..." Of course I always want to answer-too small for what? I got to meet Andy Shaw (and see his amazingly detailed suitcase layout), Rob Kluz, Randy, Mister Dave, Jim Manley, Joe D'Amato and a lot of folks from Marklin. Marklin hinted that Tuscan Red GG1's are on their way next year 2007 or 2008. Saw the Make My Models stuff as well as Sea Rails. All in all, it was a fun show and I was glad to spend the time... Jumped back on Amtrak an hour after the show closed and was back home to see my wife (and sleeping son) at about 8:45PM. That's a nice weekend! P.S. my apologies for all the folks I met but left out-it is still a blur and spent 4 hours in a meeting this afternoon at work....
Where are the Pics! I second the motion! Where are the Pics! You know, PICTURES! Yes, I agree Tim, photos are worth a million words. Once while on an expedition in Burma, our party came across a set of railroad tracks. A few minutes later a faint steam whistle could be heard. We all....................., well that's another story! Photos! Did someone say Photos? Yes, photos are great ways of expressing views and proving points. I believe we all would love to see photos from this years NTS show! Especially of the Z! Hobo Tim
Hey John, be nice. I've been averaging about 4 hours of sleep a night for the last week, all in the name of Z scale. ;-) I don't really have any additional scoops than Bryan did and he actually out-scooped me on a couple of them. Michael's R's comment on the tuscan GG-1 was heard by other folks as well, but I heard it wouldn't likely be until 2008 or 2009. I actually didn't get to take any photos since my zoom lense is broken right now and my wife was actually using her camera somewhere else. :-( Tom Gilcrest from Seattle will likely put together another CD of photos again and Rob Kluz says he got over 300 photos. More later, I've got to go make dinner and do some other honey-do's to pay my wife back for almost a week of having the kids by herself while I was off "working" on train stuff. Randy
Randy, I am just having a little fun. So, how were the purchases. Did you go over budget, and dont get a new zoom lens if it count against the train budget. Slip it in under the general budget. Be creative. Tell her something like, honey I need the new lens to take good pictures of the kids. Got to save the train budget for all those new released coming out.
Sounds like the show was a lot of fun. Great news on the horizon. Now if those Geep 9's are out before christmas, I think santa knows what I want in my sock!
