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Post by husafreak on Mar 3, 2019 11:25:46 GMT -5
I am interested in finding a Z scale club in my area. Livermore, CA is near San Fransisco and Sacramento. I am new to model trains and want to build a small Z scale layout.
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Post by markm on Mar 3, 2019 11:40:37 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum and welcome to Z.
Although it's a bit of a loose association these days there's the BAZBoys (Bay Area Z).
For starters may I suggest the Great Train Expo Mar 23-24 in Pleasanton at the Fair grounds, I680 take the Bernal exit east. The BAZBoys are planning to show up with a significant layout and I should be there.
Mark
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Post by husafreak on Mar 4, 2019 23:37:45 GMT -5
Perfect. I'll plan to be there.
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Post by BAZman on Mar 5, 2019 1:28:13 GMT -5
Jeff here. Matt and I will be at the Great Train Show in Pleasanton, 23-24. Setup is Friday afternoon. If you come on Saturday or Sunday, tell them you are with the Bay Area Z scale layout (you still have to pay for parking. We have 14 modules and run using DCC. You are welcome to run with us and talk about your plans.
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Post by husafreak on Mar 5, 2019 11:13:39 GMT -5
Thank you for the personal invitation. Pay for parking? I'll ride my bicycle! Don't they know I'm saving up for a train set? I've enjoyed watching the trains run at Pleasanton Fairgrounds before but this will be special.
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Post by husafreak on Mar 10, 2019 13:09:26 GMT -5
I ordered a train set so I can show up with something to run (with more than my hands in my pockets). It is a NOS Marklin Austrian Passenger/Freight Train Set 81417 and it runs fine in the video zscalehobo posted. My buddy with the O scale trains tried to explain DCC to me so hopefully that will work with this engine.
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Post by markm on Mar 10, 2019 14:38:42 GMT -5
The BAZ Boys run DCC, so you would have to upgrade your locomotive to DCC. I would suggest checking Velmo (https://velmo.de/html/-_cross_reference.html) as they have a wide of decoders for Märklin. You'd also need a DCC controller. People in Z tend to use the NCE power cab. I have one and like it.
I think this is a bit more than you were talking about, so just show up and enjoy the show.
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Post by husafreak on Mar 10, 2019 19:07:48 GMT -5
Roger that.
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Post by BAZman on Mar 11, 2019 11:56:40 GMT -5
Digitrax also makes one for 2 of the märklin diesels but that set # is not in the list. Find the loco model # within the set, then see if Digitrax has that one. www.digitrax.com/products/engine-matrix/decoder/Otherwise, I have a test layout oval than can be used on a table for roundy-rounds. I have an attaché set I can also bring, but if it is the long passengers, they look funny on the 145mm small curves.
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Post by husafreak on Mar 12, 2019 23:39:14 GMT -5
Oh I got a little Rokuhan test oval and controller too. So I've been happily watching my train going around in circles. It is pretty amazing to me. So small and detailed and it runs so smoothly. It is fascinating so I think I will really enjoy Z scale. But I guess my layout will not be DCC.
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Post by Commodore on Mar 13, 2019 21:12:29 GMT -5
Oh I got a little Rokuhan test oval and controller too. So I've been happily watching my train going around in circles. It is pretty amazing to me. So small and detailed and it runs so smoothly. It is fascinating so I think I will really enjoy Z scale. But I guess my layout will not be DCC. I'm making a permanent record of the last sentence in this quote. Check back in a year for a chuckle. (Actually, I'll give you 3 months) 😜
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Post by zscalehobo on Mar 13, 2019 21:40:45 GMT -5
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Post by Commodore on Mar 13, 2019 21:44:08 GMT -5
I'm betting on more engines ...and cars. 😊
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Post by markm on Mar 13, 2019 21:54:13 GMT -5
Something you might want to look at is the Rokuhan e-Train controller. It's a bit pricey, but it's really cool. You can control trains and accessories through your cell phone. It will run two tracks in DC mode and if or when you want to do DCC, it will do a couple of trains and Rokuhan accessories. There was a good article in ZTrack magazine about a year ago.
Mark
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Post by husafreak on Mar 15, 2019 12:28:12 GMT -5
Thanks Mark, I'll take a look. And hmm, maybe "this" layout will not be DCC? But at least I'm only out one engine if I went that route. I'm still in the dark pretty much on all this stuff. I'll post my questions for this morning on another, more appropriate thread.
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