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Tuesday, October 14, 2025

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Welcome to Z Central Station

Welcome to the Z Central Station!  A model railroad site dedicated to 1:220 scale model trains. Z Central Station was created to provide Z Scalers a full featured online community.  Members can share their Z Scale experiences via our discussion forum, photo gallery, classifieds, videos, chat room and more!  Membership to Z Central Station is free!  Have an idea, comment, or concern? Z Central Station has a Contact us link under "My ZCS" menu option.  24 x 7 Active Chat for up to 20 members. Regular scheduled times are Sundays 1PM EST and Wednesdays 9:00PM EST.  Chat is open to any member. Stop in and say Hi!  10,000+ Z scaled image gallery open for all to enjoy.   Home Page Shout Box.13,000+ Forums Postings.  More than 200 free downloads in our Library containing Instructionals, decals, paper/cardstock models, paintchip charts, modeler pad, and more!  Ever wanted to create your own Blog?  Here is your chance to create a Blog on your Z scale layout, modeling project, or even contest entry!  You can add photos, videos, and links to show in your blog.  This is one of the latest modules, I wanted to be sure to re-introduce this powerful  tool for our members use.  It is simple to join Z Central Station with a Free membership!

Free Community Banners Free Z scale community banners are provided for individuals or groups looking to expand their current Z scale modeling group, starting a Z scale modeling group, or just to create a Z scale awareness in their area.  Community banners are displayed on every Z Central Station page.  For more information use the 'Contact us' form.  Z Central Station Private Messaging  ZCS always had the ability to allow private messaging between members but now it is functional for you to use.  When you log in you will notice a PM Notifier just under the search box on every ZCS web page.  When you go to your profile page you will notice several new PM modules.  Here is where you can have ZCS email you when you receive a new PM, compose a PM to another ZCS member by using their screen name.  You can also review sent, received, and deleted private messages.

Free Online Magazines  Here are some online sources for free magazines from various railroad related historical societies.  If you information of other sources let us know and we would be glad to create a link to help other model railroaders.     Keystone Modeler     AC&Y Modeler          Nickel Plate Road Modeler

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Wanted!  Z Central Station is looking to add more photos, articles, and kit instructions.  Z Central Station has 270+ documents in our library with 45+ kit instruction documents.  We want to add more for future references.  We would also like to add any articles from a simple kit build, train car repaint, anything to do with Z scale modeling.  For more information or if you need help uploading images and files to ZCS, click on the 'Contact Us' Page.

Latest Member Z Scale Photos

TTZ End Module #1
  • TTZ End Module #1
  • Author: rvn2001
  • Hits: 129
  • Upload date:
    08 October 2025
Thom at the Layout<br />at the NTS
  • Thom at the Layout
    at the NTS
  • Author: rvn2001
  • Hits: 1336
  • Upload date:
    26 July 2025
TTZ City Module
  • TTZ City Module
  • Author: rvn2001
  • Hits: 1938
  • Upload date:
    16 June 2025
Wooden Trestle<br />Bridge
  • Wooden Trestle
    Bridge
  • Author: Burgruine
  • Hits: 2043
  • Upload date:
    03 June 2025
Old Sawmill and<br />Wooden Trestle<br />Bridge
  • Old Sawmill and
    Wooden Trestle
    Bridge
  • Author: Burgruine
  • Hits: 2068
  • Upload date:
    03 June 2025
Auto part quad<br />double door Southern<br />86ft Railroad Car
  • Auto part quad
    double door Southern
    86ft Railroad Car
  • Author: southernnscale
  • Hits: 2623
  • Upload date:
    16 April 2025
Southern Bay Window<br />Caboose
  • Southern Bay Window
    Caboose
  • Author: southernnscale
  • Hits: 2812
  • Upload date:
    16 April 2025
T-Track-Z and<br />T-rail-Z modular<br />layout
  • T-Track-Z and
    T-rail-Z modular
    layout
  • Author: rvn2001
  • Hits: 2677
  • Upload date:
    09 April 2025
T-Track-Z and<br />T-rail-Z modular<br />layout
  • T-Track-Z and
    T-rail-Z modular
    layout
  • Author: rvn2001
  • Hits: 2665
  • Upload date:
    09 April 2025
Outland Models<br />Western Town Module
  • Outland Models
    Western Town Module
  • Author: soccrdad30
  • Hits: 3225
  • Upload date:
    26 March 2025
Outland Models<br />Western Town Module
  • Outland Models
    Western Town Module
  • Author: soccrdad30
  • Hits: 3183
  • Upload date:
    26 March 2025
Outland Models<br />Western Town Module
  • Outland Models
    Western Town Module
  • Author: soccrdad30
  • Hits: 3169
  • Upload date:
    26 March 2025

Easy Blog Showcase

Roadbed Begins!

Roadbed Begins!

ZRailFan EasyBlog 15 April 2016
  With my basic table completed, it was time to start laying out some roadbed in preparation for track. Since the table is 24” across, and I wanted my mainline curve radius to be as large as possible,...
Read more
Hand-Crafting a Curved Turnout

Hand-Crafting a Curved Turnout

ZRailFan EasyBlog 24 April 2016
  After having completed this, I’m not entirely sure if I was brave to try it or foolhardy. But I’ve always been amazed by hand-laid turnouts (and hand-laid track in general), so for this small Z layo...
Read more
Kitbashing a Micron Arts 1083 Pratt Truss Dual Mainline Bridge

Kitbashing a Micron Arts 1083 Pratt Truss Dual Mainline Bridge

ZRailFan EasyBlog 23 May 2016
It’s not that I’m so old. It’s just that there are traditions that are important. And one tradition, at least to me, is to fabricate as much as possible. I don’t like buying ready-to-run models. I pre...
Read more
Avoiding the Slinky Effect

Avoiding the Slinky Effect

ZRailFan EasyBlog 08 April 2016
I love Kadee couplers. They are the only couplers you can (generally) reliably uncouple without sticking your fingers on the cars. They appear more realistic to my eye as well. But I’ve read where Z f...
Read more
It's Started!

It's Started!

ZRailFan EasyBlog 05 April 2016
    I hate to start out by apologizing, but I feel I must. This blog isn't about me but about things I come across while modeling. However, this first entry is actually a little about m...
Read more
Hand-Laid Turnouts the Easy Way

Hand-Laid Turnouts the Easy Way

ZRailFan EasyBlog 29 April 2016
  I’m not afraid of hard work. Never have been. But if I can work smarter, I’d rather do that. In this case, it’s long been a…dream, I suppose, to learn to build hand-laid turnouts. It always seemed l...
Read more

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ZCS Shoutbox

rvn2001 - Sun 10 Aug - 13:00

JOE! Join us in chat!!

HawaiiTim - Wed 9 Jul - 15:53

Aloha. Thanks for letting me "in"! :)

rvn2001 - Sun 4 May - 12:49

May the 4th be with you...

rvn2001 - Wed 1 Jan - 02:11

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Welcome to 2025. I hope you get all the trains you want.

rvn2001 - Wed 25 Dec - 05:04

MERRY CHRISTMAS !! and Happy Holidays to everyone!

southernnscale - Sat 21 Sep - 23:09

Looks like it been dead here for a while! it was once pretty busy! Sad almost like Micro Trains doing less in Z scale!!!!!!! :D

rvn2001 - Mon 6 May - 20:20

John, The bridge looks GREAT!

rvn2001 - Mon 1 Jan - 09:41

Welcome ! to the year 2024 !!

rvn2001 - Mon 25 Dec - 06:45

Merry Christmas! & Happy Holidays!

rvn2001 - Thu 23 Nov - 12:44

Happy Thanksgiving !!

soccrdad30 - Sun 18 Jun - 13:01

Happy Father's Day!

Kez - Thu 1 Dec - 13:51

Anyone home?

stonysmith - Mon 6 Sep - 17:00

From Keri Denler:At 2:20 pm on 9/6/2021 Thomas Cipelle, my Papa, passed from this world surrounded by his family. https://www.facebook.com/groups/85660774918/permalink/10159652119844919/

rvn2001 - Sun 6 Jun - 06:42

That's a Dining-Parlor car, not a Dinind-Parlor car....

rvn2001 - Fri 16 Apr - 02:43

REMEMBER The World's Greatest Hobby Online Virtual Train show is Saturday 04-17-2021!!!

rvn2001 - Sun 4 Apr - 05:16

Hoppy Easter everybody !!

Vern1952 - Thu 25 Mar - 16:36

Thanks Thom!

rvn2001 - Wed 17 Mar - 13:10

Vern, I like your switchers!

rvn2001 - Wed 17 Mar - 13:09

Yes, Mike.

GNFan - Sun 14 Mar - 08:01

rvn2001 (Thom): blueberry, or perhaps Northwest wild blackberry? ;-)

rvn2001 - Sun 14 Mar - 05:14

Happy PI Day

rvn2001 - Thu 31 Dec - 19:46

...and...HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

rvn2001 - Fri 25 Dec - 00:14

HO! HO! HO! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Jarnett13 - Wed 23 Dec - 15:39

Question about Rokuhan over and under track planhttps://www.rokuhan.com/layout/#What grade do you think this is and will my AZL have any problems?These will be very short trainsThanksJim

stonysmith - Thu 26 Nov - 16:57

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Enhance Locomotive details
30 Jun 2019 14:27 - John Kellett

An easy way to enhance the look of any diesel locomotive is to blacken the grills and vents to provide more depth.  You can use a black wash to bring out the grill or vent details.  Weathering powders are extremely effective bringing out locomotive vent and grill details.

Weathering

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