The local Southern Oregon Z group, along with the Cascade Z Scale and BAZ BoyZ were invited to set up a layout at the 20th N-scale Collectors Convention in Medford this past few days. There were 2 simple N scale layouts, a long oval from T-Trak on bare substrate, unattended and an larger 4x8 size with 1/2 white layered 'winter' scene foam and 1/2 with simple scenery details on 3 level loop tracks. Essentially NO N-scale representation, like past Conventions. The combined 20 Z scale modules took up the bulk of the lower level, minimally attended room shared with the Contest and very low attended clinics, except for Joe D'Amato's weathering and David K Smith's modeling in miniature. As Mickie and I leave, we see a newspaper article. The picture is familiar. It is Jerry Craig's CP locos on the Z modules. The article states the BAZ BoyZ group (we had the sign over our modules) and the 220 times smaller than real life. Only ONE sentence about N-scale. Read the article: http://tinyurl.com/7fjblmv It was fun tho. .
Yes indeed, some of the finest BAZ boys and Jerry and Mike from CZM helped the SOZME group show Z off in a fine manner. Had a house full over on Thursday night for pizza and talk. What a fun time for all. I thank you all for bringing your modules to make up a very nice display that impressed the N scale folks quite a bit. Too bad the newspaper article that Jeff mentioned had some sloppy reporting. The RR Park mentioned is less than 15 acres, not the 40+ the reporter mentioned and the paper article failed to mention CZM and SOZME groups, but hey, let's give the cub reporter some slack.......she was new at it.
I don't think a single picture was taken by anyone. But honest........we were all there and had lots of fun. )
Actually, there are loads of pics right here: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?143688-N-Scale-Convention-Medford/page5 Worst part was the dinner: while the convention organizers were all busily patting each other on their backs during the dinner drivel, not one word of thanks was expressed for the tremendous job the BAZ group did setting up a huge, gorgeous modular Z scale layout. Did no one else find this the height of thoughtlessness? Are they so N-centric that other scales don't exist in their minds? Either way, I felt it was insulting to the extreme.
Yeah, the banquet speaker was rattling off lots of thanks to almost everyone... give a big round of applause to those people clearing dishes from the banquet tables, we are sorry you had to travel several miles to Train Mountain and Crater Lake, but next year we will have 5 N-Trak clubs and everything will be within 15 miles of the convention. No thanks or recognition at all for the T-Trak, N Scale or Z-Bend Track modules displayed, or those that drove the hundreds of miles to offer up some running trains for convention attendees to enjoy. While most of the attendees were happy to see Z Scale in a big way for their first time, there was an unusually large following of "I Can't See It's" and "It's Too Small" types expressing offense at the presence of Z at an N convention. I found this surprising because I would have thought N Scalers were tired of hearing the same thing from HO Scalers. Oh well, at least I can say I have been to an N Scale Convention... Been there, done that... Sticking to the NMRA and Z Conventions from here on out!
You said it all Robert. The banquet speaker really blew it in several areas. I guess you just have to feel some pity for some N scalers who are so blinded or biased that they can't give any recognition to the advances and contribution to the hobby overall that Z scale adds. Sometimes folks like that make you appreciate an occasional headache all the more. )
