I figured it out but *dang* sometimes I wonder about choosing Z scale. The short rail on the turnout (call it "trouble track") was a fraction of a millimeter too far inward. This'll work but I need to figure out a tool to fit between the tracks and hold them the exact distance apart b/c "next time".

I guess the farther you get into model railroading the subtler the problems get. The new track seems smooth, looks straight, the cars don't make a sound or bump going over it, the EF66 goes smoothly over in both directions, but in one direction "Dr. Yellow Jr." there derails (but not in the other).

Came across this site that has very nice custom Z scale model railroad signals. customsignalsystems.com/z-scale-sign...

Now that was some rough looking track. At one point it had "solderless solder" on it and I'm not even sure why I was using two pieces of beat-up old track when I had this new piece the exact same length. That's a lot better now.

For the smaller scales in model railroading, the Macro button on your phone camera is really, really helpful for seeing where you need work (top rail of the bottom track) and where you will need work soon (bottom rail of the bottom track).

If you're a Stargate SG-1 fan, there's a full image of the front page of The Ascended Times worth reading. #scifi stargate.fandom.com/wiki/The_Asc...

Another fun ops session although I'm pretty sure the locomotves & track need more cleaning. I'm going to scope the track but I bet all the running of locomotives during construction has gummed them up. Keep up speed and it's fine, starting from a full stop works mostly but sometimes they need a tap.

I don't normally do self-help books, but "Don't Believe Everything You Think" is an amazing read. "Although pain is inevitable, suffering is optional."

It's been too long reclaiming this beat-up track, redoing tamiya connectors put together the wrong way, and reshaping bent terminal sliders but every section is working so well it's time for some inglenook-style shunting puzzles. Make a consist with the two gondolas at the back? #modelTrains

Good Evening & Happy Saturday all! Enjoy the pics from today's Ops session at Orlando N Trak where I made an abomination of a train with the Reading T1, UP Turbine, & FEC ES44 all pulling a long freight train. Enjoy the pics! #modeltrain #nscale #orlandontrak #bli #kato #scaletrains #club #hobby

#hobbystreak 6. Brought the coal cars to the Railway Modellers’ Meet of B.C. #modelrailway #modelrailroad

#NScale #NTrak #ModelTrains #ModelRailroad #ModelRailway

Steam or Diesel? #modeltrains

Model Railroading Hot Take: manufacturers should sell Inglnook switching puzzle starter sets. Include 8 cars that are the same size, the loco, track required and a transformer. It would be a great way to introduce the operations side of the hobby to newbies. #modeltrains #modelrailroad #puzzlegame

The Extraboard is back and tonight we’re switching things up! 8pm CDT/6pm PDT #twitch #modeltrains #railroad m.twitch.tv/approachdive...

#hobbystreak 5. Got the coal cars on their feet at last! We’re in the home stretch. #modelrailway #modelrailroad

#NScale #NTrak #ModelTrains #ModelRailroad #ModelRailway

If you are a model Railroader and looking for a place to just post model trains and meet other model Railroaders i got a neat app that was recently brought to my attention! This is Model Train media! It's all #modeltrains and other #modelrailroaders I just joined to try it out, but I'll continue 1/2

‪Last step before the last step before final gluing of the model railroad track other than running wiring for lights and signals (you can help me figure out where the signals go later)... a test run after a thorough cleaning (reposted since the 1st was edited for length into incomprehensibility)

#SciFiFri ]1/4] Even Za’dut was not immune to Vai’zei’a’parn’s unpretentious charm. One day when I happened to be with the old Sage, Za’dut turned up, shedding drying mud from a jaunt with the Foragers and carrying a piece of fungus in its claw.

–Hooley dooley! What on Earth is that blaring sound?! –That, Cadwell, is the fire alarm. –Yeh yeh I know, Aldrich, but why am I hearing it in my headphones?! –So that you can hear it even when you're busy listening, prank calling and whatever else you do? [1/9] #SciFiFri

* not mine, copied from twitter: #SCIFIFRI 05-22-26 Optional Theme: #BOLD Or choose your own scifi-ish topic OK Let's dazzle them ~!~ #scifiart Original Images & Artwork welcomed #writersofbluesky #vss365 #scifi #WritingCommmunity #Writers Links encouraged, no spam 🎨NASA building a Moon Base!

It's not that there was nothing out there but it was close. Thousands of years still to go when suddenly something was there, so big the ship realized it was being passed through by atoms larger than solar systems, tied together by forces so far from ours they were well-nigh unseeable. #scififri

Tonight's model railroad operations are easy befitting it being the first time trying this: First we'll use the blue EF66 to deliver a load of snacks to the convenience store. Then with the yellow DE10 we're taking two box cars from the waterside to pre-service inspect them on the slalom track.

#hobbystreak 3. Figuring out how to install the door chains. #modelrailway #modelrailroad

Thursday Thunder at JonCinville Railroad and Trolley Lines North 🚂🚋🙂 Peace and Love ✌🏼😘 #toytrains #modelrailroading #gscaletrains

It has taken me all day to try and get the details right on the main steam engine of the GER C53. Because of the wooden frame, the boiler is hidden away in most pictures. And as far as I know, only ONE picture exists of it in any detail, so its a lot of guess work. #modelrailway #blender #3Ddesign

Switching to this account for a while. I don't need 30+ notifications when I log on. How do you keep track of all that?

And a video to go with it. #modelrailroading

I would call it better than good enough to be photgraphed.

After cleaning locomotives and track with a lot of magnifier and tweezer work pulling out tiny, tiny pieces of ballast it's working... it's actually working. Hooking up 3 cars and taking them out to the mainline *and back*. Z scale model train shunting is possible, if not easy.

@gandydancer1961.bsky.social mentioned that he'd heard "HO Scale" stood for "Half O Scale" and it seems like that is where the name came from. Then I found that maybe it meant "Half Zero", that the O was a 0, but I don't get that unless it was originally "Zero Scale"🤔 www.athearn.com/by-scale/ho-...

You don't *have* to be thinking of anything if you don't feel like it.

I think half of people who say "put a pin it in" think "it" is a corkboard and the other half think it's a balloon.

Some details from my layout! #modelrailroad #h0scale

History and Legends on this week's podcast. Check it out! youtu.be/NMP3wN6QdJU?... #railroad #trains #train #railway #railways #rail #trainspotting #railfan #photography #railfans #instagram #locomotiven #railfanning #modelrailroad #modeltrains #trainspotter #travel #modelrailway

Bugs would slap on a bald cap and a British accent and turn him into Pepé Le Q.

At the end of it all, will you be a well-used library book after it all? #writing #wordplay

Is that you Tachyon Eddy? This is me. Appologies, reposting another myself so I notice any replies.

Nice work, @arlostrains.bsky.social !

Who is at the Amherst Show? #ModelRailroading

I'm reminded how tough it must be to design unique uniforms for #scifi series when I see how the uniforms in Stargate Atlantis look like they tried to sew the top of a cocktail dress onto a pair of overalls.

7UP GOLD was a cinnamon ginger soda that was rushed through test markets in 1987. Its national release saw a significant marketing push that confused consumers, since its caffeine content directly clashed with 7Up’s “Never Had It, Never Will” campaign.

Have a great breakfast with New Haven with my Railroad placemats. Customtrains.org

No way am I typing all those alt-texts again but I thought this was a decent model railroad post for those interested in Z scale who may want to start with N instead. N-stead?😅

The br212 is deep cleaned For 35€ and a decent amount of cleaning, and some cheap replacements its running beautifully #nscale #modeltrain #1zu160 #train #deutschebahn #repair

Port Arend, 1959 The late afternoon light today lends a sort of beauty to even the back alley, the junk behind D.B.McNooch's little machine shop, that sumac that survives in spite of all we do. Murray Skynard's VW van, the latest thing. #ModelRailroad #Oscale #GoldenHour #photography #diorama

What do you think about exaggerated shading? It does lend visual impact without looking weird but only when it's done this well but takes a lot of skill and a good eye to know when it's enough.

Realistic model railroad or plastic model diorama (or just diorama builders) what is your preferred technique for texturing and painting asphalt roads or parking lots and concrete as well?