World's Greatest Hobby Show Portland 2012 Report

World's Greatest Hobby Show in Portland 2012 Report

I have finally posted pictures of the show that SOZME and CZM attended in Portland, Oregon in February.
I think it was the best show I've attended and a lot of fun was had by all members who participated.

From my point of view.........I've tried to capture more of the interaction of the members and show attendees than showing running trains. After all, it is really all about sharing the hobby with as many folks as possible and making them aware of a great scale that many are unaware of.

So often, folks ask quite innocently, "what scale is this?" That is when the fun begins......telling them about 1/220 and the looks of amazement and positive comments makes the whole experience that much more fun for all. There are always a few 'old geezers' who model in some of those larger scales who give us the look as though we are nuts, and maybe we are, but we certainly aren't apologizing to anyone for our peculiar taste in scales. Matter of fact, I think Z is the greatest challenge and most rewarding when you have such small tolerances to work with and limited supplies and products to make our layouts.

Folks who attend shows merrily as observers have no idea of what goes on behind the scenes, of the long hours of construction, the techniques of achieving our little miniature worlds and certainly the challenge of doing so.

I may not have captured everyone in the two clubs who were present and maybe misspelled some names, but this report and link to the photos I have posted is an effort to share with all, the great time we had in Portland. Not to minimize the many fine folks in other Z groups across the country, but I must say that those who occupy the ranks of CZM and ZOSME are some of the finest, and a great pleasure to meet with and enjoy the hobby together with.

Enjoy

picasaweb.google.com/112763165831633455344/WGH2012Portland?authkey=Gv1sRgCP6z1djGz6DbGA

Loren

Thanks Loren for the fotos and often funny and interesting comments. Great to see our fellow Zers! And thanks for taking the time and effort, to post, in your hectic schedual. I will refer back many times to this section. The layouts are wonderful- What Z was really ment to be- from the small roundy roundy- to the vistas where trains go in and nobody knows where they will come out!.
Thanks Again.
Fred

Thanks for the showreport Loren, looks like fun was had by all present and I had a great time looking through the photos & reading the comments.

I loved that 'end to end' train as well, one z engine pulling all that sure looks impressive, it really shows people what those engines can do.
And yes, I counted them, 38 cars

So, no video? I couldn't help but notice from the photo info they were shot with a video cam

I did not have my tripod with me and have yet to learn how to post videos......but hey, the day is young. Just wish I were. It takes longer for old dogs to learn new tricks.

Now that I've posted some shots, others from CZM may post some video. Brad did shoot some video so maybe he'll post.

An improbable scenario, but at some future train show I'd like to spend a lot of time doing video like Dave Lancaster does for ZoCal. The trouble with SOZME is that Joe and I are the only members who attend shows so that leaves little time to take pictures unless others like Jerry and Mike help out and they are invaluable to the successful running of SOZME.

Strange as it seems, here in MTL country, there is a famine of Z scalers. Maybe they exist in their own homes, but they sure don't let it be known that they are. So, Joe and I carry on the best we can without help often. Hooray for Jerry and Mike.

I so very much admire the video work of David. He has taken Z video to a new level and when I grow up I want to be just David......but without the beard. :o)

Loren, it's such fun doing these shows (and most often taking the train to and from them to boot), I'm glad to participate - I'm sure Jerry is, too. You make it easy, bringing modules that draw oohs, ahhs and "how do you do that?"s. I just have to relax and accept the adulation. At some show soon, when some member of the public asks "Did you make these yourself?" about your modules, I'm going to *lie through my teeth* and say "Yup, every last one of them" (and then be struck by lightning for doing so).

As for video, when I grow up I want to be just like Dave...but with my own beard. You can all me "Graying Beard"

tealplanes wrote: I did not have my tripod with me and have yet to learn how to post videos......but hey, the day is young. Just wish I were. It takes longer for old dogs to learn new tricks.

[snip]

An improbable scenario, but at some future train show I'd like to spend a lot of time doing video like Dave Lancaster does for ZoCal. The trouble with SOZME is that Joe and I are the only members who attend shows so that leaves little time to take pictures unless others like Jerry and Mike help out and they are invaluable to the successful running of SOZME.

Strange as it seems, here in MTL country, there is a famine of Z scalers. Maybe they exist in their own homes, but they sure don't let it be known that they are. So, Joe and I carry on the best we can without help often. Hooray for Jerry and Mike.

I so very much admire the video work of David. He has taken Z video to a new level and when I grow up I want to be just David......but without the beard. :o)

Ok guys, get out the tomatoes and rotten squash and what ever else you remember from your youth......I did a bad faux pas when I posted. Faux pas......is that French for 'screw up'? What ever language it is, I failed to mention that Jim Glass, and Tom Gilchrist were official representatives from the NWPZS group. So in reality, there were three of the finest West coast groups present in Portland at the WGH train show.

That leaves the BAZ and ZoCal groups down California way. Hey, that's not too bad having 60% of the Best coast's groups at one show.
Can you imagine what would happen if we got all five groups together at one time? We might be such heavy hitters that we'd slide into the Pacific. )

Jim threatened me with 3 lashes with a wet noodle, but I reminded him I that I like Romin noodles, so I'd just scrape them off and have lunch on me.

You know, I'm tired of calling our Z scale groups just that....groups. We are clubs whether anyone likes to call it that or not. There are very specific rules to joining and the only one I can recite for sure without a doubt, is.....#1 Thou shalt love Z scale with all thine heart, soul and mite. Sounds fair to me.
.

Loren, Thanks for the pics. Looks like another great show and attention to Z scale. Nice to put faces to names as well. Jim