If theres one thing you would add or change in the Z empire what would it be and why?

MrCONRAIL&BNSF Mar 12, 2010

  1. docker2524

    docker2524 TrainBoard Member

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    I had one of my wishes filled when AZL made a modern tank car. I'm still hoping for a MP/SW1500. It would be very nice if PECO started making Z scale switches.
     
  2. Cleantex

    Cleantex TrainBoard Member

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    I think that a new logo for trainboard.........
    Just a moment....

    I just see something....YES IT IS NEW... and not bad at all :thumbs_up:

    ;)
     
  3. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    Last night I went to the TCSME clubhouse, (Niles Depot) and helped with the layout plans. Since the layouts will not be started in time for the first open house (scheduled by the City of Fremont), they asked us to bring down our Z Scale modules and setup in the N Scale layout room. Yes, Jeff Merrill also joined.

    The Grand Opening is May 1st & 2nd, and conflicts with the Z Scale convention, so We will setup the modules that are not going to Medford the week before, and another one of the BAZ BoyZ in the Niles club, Nick Larusso, will run it for the Grand Opening.

    The best part of this is that Z Scale will be running at a club that is HO and N Scale! Now even though we are in an N Scale club, we have secured another venue to run our Z Scale modules and further represent the cause!
     
  4. Z_thek

    Z_thek TrainBoard Member

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    I'm afraid the only "revolutionary" product with real impact would be a small, inexpensive steam starter set with an oval track and a controller. It's doable, but a very difficult task, requires lots of smart engineering, cooperation with major Z players and lots of money. The other (and - my humble opinion - only) way is to develop, manufacture and market products you like the most. But before jumping on any product development, you need to have people with proven record to work with you, otherwise just waste your time and money. When you try to make your decision based on the opinion of people of various forums, the results going to be disappointing at least. There are a lot more verbal demand for products than real buyers with real money to support a business.
     
  5. zmon

    zmon TrainBoard Member

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    Lajos makes a very good point about investment dollars versus the number of purchasing folks out there in Z.... Some of you may recall the company i started with Doc G a few years ago...North American Scale Models... We had plans of creating a Mikado in Z and took it all the way to the point were we got tooling and development cost from Sanda Kan in Hong Kong.... We were forced to drop the project due to the very high cost of developing a new steam loco in Z.... Our tooling and development cost was set by Sanda Kan at $150K, and this did not include production cost for salable models to the public. When we ran a cost spread sheet to determine the retail cost of the new loco, and set a sales volume figure, we found that the amerized cost of tooling and development on top of production cost put the locos at over $350 bucks each, with the need to sell at least 2500 units to make back our investment dollars before realizing any profit...

    The reality of the matter is that there are not enough z scalers in the world to purchase enough of these locos to re-coup our development cost and realize a profit... so not worth the investment for a small upstart company like ours was.... I think it will take a bigger player like Kato to bring affordable steam to the market, but given the limited amount of purchasers i doubt even they will jump into this market until it expands further to justify the amerized cost requiered to develop these new items.

    Just my 2 cents.....

    Tony B....
    Wasatch Z Club
     
  6. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    Most of the stuff I long hoped until these last years is now available: diesel hood units, modern tank cars, grain and chemical hoppers, autoracks, various structures, bridges, various turnout brands including power routing, etc.

    In my opinion there are still a few gaps to be filled:

    -30, 60 or 90° crossings,

    -"low" priced US steamers sampling a true model and running like Tenshodo D51s...

    -as the available diesels are mostly EMDs, we now should need some GEs and Alcos.:tb-wink:

    But I'm already very happy with the present roster, as I remember when I joined the scale 13 years ago there were only F-Units and 3 or 4 car brands, and only Marklin turnouts to be linked to only Marklin and Peco track...

    Dom
     
  7. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    .. Or Tenshodo, why not?.

    Personnally I don't expect anything from Kato or any other major player for the moment nor for a close future. They're already rather busy with N and HO scales, and about Kato, when asked on the question a few years ago, they replied that they had no plan to jump into Z scale. OK, things have changed since then as every day Z scale grows up a little bit more, but I guess that Z scale market is till very narrow compared to N scale. That's why, in my opinion, evolution will only come from actors such as those who already invested widely into Z-scale: Micro-Trains, AZL, Tenshodo, or even Marklin, why not? If one of these days they invest into an USRA Mike instead of a NYC streamlined 4-6-4 produced to less than 10 samples in the prototype, I guess they'll be able to have a return on investment...

    Dom
     
  8. Z_thek

    Z_thek TrainBoard Member

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    GuyZ, there are so many products that don't exist in Z... The biggest of the non existent is the pool of buyers. If there is real demand, all the big players start to compete for your money. Is that simple.
     
  9. TetsuUma

    TetsuUma TrainBoard Member

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    There are a lot of great ideas posted here already and mine would be more styles of RTR cabooses (cabeese?).
     
  10. MANDONY

    MANDONY TrainBoard Member

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    I would like some 'Convertible Bodies'.
    Using basic carriages with coupling, etc, for loco's, passenger, and other rolling stock, just change the tops.
    This would be a major cost saving for motorized stock, and more fun to change themes.

    Wonder if they have such a kit to convert my Ford body to a Mercedes :)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 13, 2010
  11. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    Oh... I could add more availability of Z scale decals for repaint projects...

    Dom
     

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