National Z Scale Convention in Medford

Hi all! I am still trying to catch up form the convention. I had a wonderful time and it was great seeing so many of you as well as making new friends. Our Z community never disappoints. What a fun few days!

I am working on a report for an upcoming issue of Ztrack. I really could use photos! As always, I never had enough time to photograph as much as I would like. If you have photos that you would like share, please send them my way. I am also looking for comments to include with report. Please email your images and comments directly at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thanks!
Rob

Same problem. Busy schedule, trying to talk with everybody, doing some tune-ups on the module, not much time left for photography. And it's too late. I'm sure there will be more photos available as the participants life return to normal. I'm still behind on everything, but it's OK. The convention, the surrounding events, to meet with all the great Z-scalers made a huge impact on me. Even after the convention, I couldn't stop. My car got bored just running south on 5. It turned into 505, then ended up at Robert Ray's house in Fremont. To talk with Robert is always very inspirational. A couple of cup of great coffee and a Cohiba robusto just added some spice to it. Then Friday evening the convention saga got to another phase. Torsja and Svein-Martin stopped by my home, then Bill Hoshiko joined to this unforgettable evening. I'm still tired, but feel blessed and honored to be a participant of the events of this convention and all the aftermaths. I have a lot to share, my impressions will be posted.

Lajos

First report, the First Couple.
No, not the Obamas, but Karin and Loren. The work load they took to make this convention a success is beyond imagination. Beside being part of planning the logistics, Karin completed her dream layout, got StoneBridge Designs ready to participate, while Loren ran around to help Joe and MTL, get Z-Train Things ready, beside getting his monster modules to the show, and work with others to assemble the module displays. AmaZing work, and special thanks for it. I was one of the lucky Z-scalers, who had the chance to see their home empire in person on Sunday. Wonderful shop, two lasers, and many different work areas filled with tools and hundreds of small containers full of eye candies. After the visit, we had a great dinner at Olive Garden. I think, when we talk about good eaters, the big names are left in the dust, when I eat. Karin, Loren, thanks for the wonderful day and for your hard work to make the Convention an unforgettable experience.

Lajos

Lajos,

Thank you for the kind words, but honestly folks, Karin and I only did our part and nothing more. True, we were beyond busy for several weeks prior to the convention and we were beyond tired the last couple of days prior to the show and during, but the kudos must go to everyone who had any part at all, no matter how small, in bringing this event off as well as it went.

A very special public 'thank you' to Tom and Gayle Cepelli (forgive me for likely misspelling your last name) who helped us in our StoneBridgeDesigns and Z Train Things vendor booths. They were a great help to us and did a wonderful job of helping us pack up after the show.

I know one thing, I don't ever want to exhibit AND do a vendor booth again. I can only stretch so much. I did not even get to run trains once on our SOZME layout because of all the things needing attention. Thank you to Mike and Jerry for doing so much of the layout running during public visitation day.

The BAZ boys had their hands full too with their DCC trains running constantly. Some great trains were hauling freight all day long.

And Bill Mock, what can I say?.......you were everywhere, showing your layout, taking pictures, and being a part of all of it. It was great to meet Bill finally and again, Bill helped us out at the last for which we are grateful.

Well, the garage is still full of train items that need to be put away, but life as usual is taking up much time so the trains are resting comfortably until I can attend to them.

I have been thinking of making a new thread called 'Z Convention Reflections' where all those who participated could have an opportunity to share their thoughts on the weekend's events.

Looks like this is a good a place to leave comments as any, so I invite all who attended to put some thoughts and reflections down and share with the Z community.

I'll likely share on several occasions as I think of new things, and maybe some of you will too.

First of many thoughts.......it was so nice to have some of the Z scalers drop by our home and not only visit a bit, but actually lend us a hand in some of our on going projects. Lajos tuned several Marklin locos for me, (I did pay attention Lajos to what you were doing) and now I am a better loco 'tweaker' for your efforts on my behalf.

Robert Ray also was generous with his time and 'refined' some files on the Fannocreek chip car kit which Karin and I have purchased the files for and will soon be once again offering the kits. We'll have new road names eventually, so be patient.

Robert, Karin, Richard, and others have discovered the wonderful qualities of laser board in kit building and the future of Z kits promises to be bright as we find time and energy to create yet more rolling stock and structures.

I think MTL did a wonderful job of organizing the convention and the banquet Saturday night was a lot of fun and personally I loved the menu we enjoyed.

Karin was one lucky gal and won one of the raffle prizes, a SP F7 A&B unit along with four passenger cars. I am only allowed to admire it from a distance I am told.

For those who attended the BBQ Friday night and enjoyed the train rides, you will appreciate this.............today we ran trains again for Mother's day. We couldn't seem to get organized very well and had long lines all day long with delay's because of one thing or another. The last 45 minutes was a nightmare as the skies opened up and the rain came down in buckets. Have you ever seen a live steam train do the side stroke?

We ran for cover and parked the locos under what cover we could find. Everyone agreed it was time to put them to bed and go home. Hope we don't catch pneumonia.....

One fascinating feature of the convention was the unending list of AZL surprises that Rob Kluz unleased on the convention attendees during Saturday. The new release announcements kept coming and coming and it became the highlight of the day I think.

For those of you who have not heard yet......AZL is releasing more than you will ever be able to afford, so you better go out and get that second and third job or sell the kids and dog or something, because the new items are heading our way.

I know that MTL is also working hard behind the scenes to release some very nice goodies in the future. Let's all hope the economy gets better so we can all be spending our money on the truly important things in life..........more Z !!!

Well, that is enough for now, but I'll more than likely have more to share as I continue to debrief as the days go by.

Still glowing from the great times in Medford last weekend.

OBTW, plans are already in the works for the next convention. Don't know more than that, but it would be my guess that this event will likely turn into a bi annual event.

Ok, someone elses turn to share.....

Loren

tealplanes wrote:

[huge snip]

...

I know one thing, I don't ever want to exhibit AND do a vendor booth again. I can only stretch so much. I did not even get to run trains once on our SOZME layout because of all the things needing attention. Thank you to Mike and Jerry for doing so much of the layout running during public visitation day.
...

OBTW, plans are already in the works for the next convention. Don't know more than that, but it would be my guess that this event will likely turn into a bi annual event.

Ok, someone elses turn to share.....

Loren

Loren,

I can't speak for Jerry, but layout running is hardly an unwelcome chore for me. (As in: "Ah, gee, mom! Do I *have* to eat another piece of your blackberry pie?" ) Plus, I was certainly happy to lend my trains to the cause!

As for the next convention, unless it takes a slow steamship, a 50-mile trek by mule, and then a dogsled to get to the site, count me in!

Mike

tealplanes wrote:

Ben, I have word that a lady will be filming most of Friday's goings on so we have some of the events covered. Others will be taking pictures and video too so we hope to compile it all into some sort of format that can be shared by all if they want.
Loren

Any words on a video available on the clinics given at the show? Or the famous lady taping everything, any news from her?

Ben

Ben,
No one knows what ever became of the lady doing the filming. Since I was the first clinician, I have a sneaking suspicion that filming my clinic ruined her camera for good and she had to exit stage left early :o) I guess that idea just kind of vanished.....:o(

Thanks for the info Loren!

Ben