For any NTS Convention updates, the main site News section: http://www.x2011west.org/news.html For the Train Show, use the RSS feeds (Really Simple Syndication - requires no software): http://www.x2011west.org/xml/rss-news.xml Facebook will have updates about individual events, sorta live, as people will post pix and text about certain elements of the clinics and show: (you do NOT have to register or download any software to view). http://www.facebook.com/x2011west Twitter will have active Comments, Updates from individual's activities. Again, you do NOT have to register or download any software to view). http://twitter.com/x2011west Twitter will likely be your best up-to-the-minute source. Most all PDA's and newer phones come with these Apps already installed. 4 more weeks ! Jeff SF Bay Area Z
Attention attendees. To get in for modular setup (Wednesday and Thursday), your name had to be submitted by June 14th. You get special preprinted name tags, I understand. This is separate from your normal show attendance (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) but can also be used for those days. I had a long list so you should be on it. However, there were a few last minite additions that I did submit, per their instructions, there is no guarantee that they will be added. If there are any issues, Debbie Draper is the primary contact but, please call me if there are any issues: Jeff Merrill 408-361-1230 .
There was a lot of new products for Z and Nn3 on display at the show. Since my interests are mostly the steam era, I neglected to take many pictures of new modern stuff. In addition to their extensive kit offerings and Aspen Model engines, RS Laser kits had two interesting new items in the works. One was a laser cut passenger car with full clerestory roof that is still in preproduction. I hoped that someone would try this as the Marklin duck bill cars are too old to represent the 1900s, and the current Nn3 offerings are too large for Z scale. The other thing was a Nn3 2-8-0 conversion kit for the Tenshodo mikado. The kit is based on the Westmodel RGS #74 kit, and is still in preproduction. Sea Rails had many new offerings on display that took advantage of the LG Brass Works mechanism. The most interesting is there new Nn3 GE 25ton diesel. They had several running loops pulling a reasonable amount of cars, and without stalling. Also the Rokuhan booth had one running loops on their R95 curved track. Its probably the only North American prototype available that can run on it. They also had rapid prototype samples for their new Nn3 railbus, Z scale interurban doodlebug, and their heavyweight passenger cars. Micro Trains has a good display or their usual monthly releases, but also had some preproduction samples of a new Z scale 40' reefer that they will be producing. The cars were very well detailed, and appeared to have body mount couplers. I'm sure these will become runner packs in the future and probably even have some Nn3 paint schemes. American Z Lines had several new items on display. They had preproduction samples of the heavyweight passenger cars on display. They were painted flat pulman green, and appeared to be very well detailed. They also had their GP30s out on display, and appeared to be equal in quality and performance as their GP7s
And this is for Joe: They also had prototype samples of their mikado on display. They looked great, and have a lot of free standing detail parts. Rob Ray and I had the privilege of watching one of them take a few loops around a test loop. They appear to have excellent power pick up, but Hans insisted that the mechanism had several more months of tweaking to get them just right, and to expect them around December. He also stated that the price point will be around $200 each.
Yeah, Rich has some incredible stuff in the works for Nn3, and all scales really. After visiting his booth, I officially started my budget for the Aspen K28!! One day... One day.
Well, $200 or so for the future Mike! Far less than I could imagine! If it's so it will really be a winner! Dom
I would like to see one of these MTL reefers with Coors print as I saw in Golden! Looking forward to the GP30, sweet!
Thanks! Well this is what I was waiting for! It looks fantatic. The price seems very good was well! Any front shots?
Curn, These are THE best new product information I've seen sent by anyone on any forum for Z scale new products at NTS! Thanks for posting these! John
That was my Number 1 Question for Rob and Hans!!! What about the AC4400/C44-9's????? Not much info was passed between us or any dates given. I was hoping to hear end of this year or by spring of next! Sorry!!! My second question was, when are the 53' container sets coming!!! Same/similar response. I am keeping my ears and eyes open for future announcements on these two items!!!! One thing that put a sparkle in Hans' eye was to personally see and touch the SD70ACe that Hien built and painted in the BNSF scheme. The word across the display case was, "and you can make the heritage paint schemes, you can make the heritage paint schemes!!!" We'll see how much steam this sparkle and the subliminal messages had in the future.!!! Crossing Fingers!! Hobo Tim
Some one left a green plastic bag with some expensive items in it, one a Lajos motor. If you can tell me what else is in the bag, I can mail it all too you. I have to thank not only the 52 Z heads that came to the show, including Mr. Dave George and the Houston area groups, quite a few midwest and easterly folks, Pacific Northwest, Cascade Z and Southern Oregon Z and one helluva a Zocal group. If it were not for them, we would not have had the Quad (thank you James) and the awesome yard that seriously started on the Monday week before, built many over the afternoons, evenenings, nights and weekend. Yes, in a week. Jeff Thompson was of great help throughout the show, a guy you can count on. Henri Seynaeve ran I think most every locomotive or train set Marklin has and his 3 piece modules are very creative and interesting, keeping many standing there to search out all the details. Heck of a fun guy too. Saturday night, 42 of us had a buffet at the Pyramid Brew house. Several manufacturers joined us including Tony and Joe Ichikawa from Rokuhan, Ben and Joe from MTL and Hans Riddervold from AZL. Rob of ZTrack, Stony (that sells thru Shapeways) and Svein-martin Holt from Norway also joined. It was great that Tim Beuhring also made the drive. Such great comradary for all. I know I forgot someone, someplace or something. I am learning from Bill Hoshiko so please forgive me if I did. See you all somewhere, sometime ! .
I am glad everyone had a great time and congratulations to everyone. I know there are a LOT of pictures that were uploaded (thanks Stony and the rest!!) My question is, is there any video out there?? I would love to see it.
AC4400 We will restart the AC4400 project soon. Since there have been a large backlog of locomotive releases we concentrated on getting other products out the door first. The GP30 should be out in a couple of weeks. After that, the GP38-2 will be released. We have no confirmed dates on the other locomotives (AC4400 included).
The more I stare at the photo of the Mike, the more I realize what a superb model AZL has produced. This is a thing of beauty and something well worth spending money on. Congratulation Hans on a job very well done.
***PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE*** Make the Mikado tender trucks available separately. I can then make all my Z steam run reliably and will be able to finally finish this: https://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/ZScale2102
