Yes, I bought some Intermountain cars for a CP Rail train and they are super. But I didn't replace the trucks.
Intermountian probably mis-judged the Z Scale market, flooded way too many cylindricals, then when they didn't sell enough, they had to cancel their 70' reefer project. Z Scale is a longer term investment, because the scale needs to be grown first. Convert HO and N Scale modelers into Z Scalers.
I *really* would love for them to eventually reverse course and give Z another chance. That reefer would be an awesome addition to the fleet of modern-ish freight cars from AZL, MTL, FT, and their own cylindricals. I respectfully ask them about it every time I see them at a show. I'd say it's gotten better....when I first got into Z 4 years ago it was "He## NO!!!...Z-scale is DEAD to us..." and the guy seemed genuinely angry. I didn't really know the whole story then so...rookie mistake...lol. Last year at the NTS, they were at least cordial about it and seemed like they could entertain the idea in the way far future. So, baby steps. ;-) I think IMRC tried to cookie cutter their path to success they followed in N and HO with the cylindricals. My opinion is that the reason those cars were massively succesful in N was that (at the time) there weren't really any other grain cars available so it filled a void. In Z, AZL already had ACF's and PS2's and there wasn't the dearth of product that existed in the other scales. (oddly enough) I thought that since Atlas got in the game, Z-scale might have a little more street cred and maybe some momentum can be created....who knows. Another manufacturer that I wonder might be talked into Z is Trainworx....I think their quad hoppers could be good sellers in Z. (and honestly I wish someone else would make bethgons in Z since AZL's are few and far between.)
I think things for them have been a little more complicated. In 2013 the St. Vrain river flooded them out: taking out there warehouse. Afterwards, I noticed they cancelled a number of projects in all scales.
I think Intermountain jumped in too quickly with too little research into Z. The FOMO principal, fear of missing out after hearing everyone talking about Z Scale being the last new frontier in model railroading. The N Scale forum has over 27,500 discussions and Z Scale has only 4,000 so that would say that on Trainboard there are 7 times as many N Scalers as Z. Next you need to look at how many forums there are out there for N Scale vs how many for Z. I think I heard someone who had actually done lots of research into the scale discovered that it's closer to 20:1 ratio of N Scalers to Z Scalers. Day 1 Intermountian dropped like 12 paintschemes, and soon after dropped 12 more schemes. And they had 6 packs available for all of them. Every modern modeler I knew had either 12 or 24 of them, but most Z Scalers are lone wolf small home layout guys who will want 3 or 4 select cars tops. Intermountian filled an N Scale sized pipeline with Z, and it's going to take 20 years to dump it all.
It is important to recognize that this thread was started over a decade ago, well before many of the longer, taller rolling stock that has become available. Back in 2012, I was looking at NMRA practices that didn't include Z scale and in particular, the minimum weight practice: https://www.nmra.org/sites/default/files/standards/sandrp/pdf/rp-20.1.pdf At that time I concluded that there wasn't a reasonable way to extend RP20.1 to Z. First the concept of "well running" is poorly defined as is the test methodology. Also the practice fails to consider the center of gravity of different car types which is significant in Z. It seems more oriented toward older scales, particularly O and S, where the majority of the car weight is in the metal wheels, trucks and undercarriage. Since then I've been weighing each body style from each manufacturer that I purchase. Unfortunately I haven't found where I put that database, so I'll have to shoot from the hip for the moment. As far as it goes, I agree with Robert's weights ± 1 gram (because of the weight of Z rolling stock, I find it more significant to make the measurement in grams). Most of the rolling stock produced since 2007 is in this weight range. It would be great to know what the manufacturers' criteria are, but I would hazard a guess that they weigh down a prototype sample until they like the result. Lowering the center of gravity is the solution for well running cars, either by lowering the cars or adding weight. Talk of using tungsten seems to be a bit severe. Manufactured cars are already near or at optimum weight so all one may need is a couple of grams. For enclosed cars that can be B-Bs or (my method) a cut down finishing nail. I find converting from plastic to metal wheels seems to do the trick almost all the time. One should also note that cars can to too heavy for reliable operation. For example, I find the AZL heavyweight cars do not perform well in 195mm 180° + curves. Too much lateral force due to their weight. Mark
The same for me. Furthermore where I had here and there from time to time derailments on turnouts with some of my cars, especially an old MTL RailBox and a couple FR woodchip gondolas, I've no more of these now that I swapped their wheels with metal sets. Dom
Does anybody have a recent update about metal wheels becoming available again? Especially the "33 ones. They have not been available for a long time. Thanks, Jim
I have been asking that question around for a while now. What I heard at the NTS in Salt Lake (not from FVM) was they are not currently on a production schedule, and that I should use the 36" ones. One guy told me the 33" ones tend to allow the trucks to drag the rail tops at turnouts and rail joints and that I should use the 36" wheels going forward. He said especially on passenger cars to use the 36" wheels, and I would not see the difference in that they raise the plastic truck sideframes exactly 6 thousandths of an inch higher off the rails, so I don't need to sand the bottom of my truck sideframes any longer to get all my cars reliable on Z Bend Track modules.
Thanks, Robert. I knew you would have some news. I have converted a dozen Marklin tank cars using Jon Pope's method. They just need the wheels swapped with the MTL ones. "36 going forward. Jim
I purchased mine at Zscalemonsters in latest july. Four 48-sample packs. Looks like 24-sample packs are still available. http://www.zscalemonster.com/full_throttle/600/ Dom
I took the advice of a wise Z-scale modeler ("If you see it, get it, for tomorrow it will be gone"). For a couple of years, every time I ordered something from Anthony I would get another 100 pack of FVM's. I quit at 500 axels.
Don't underestimate the extent that 36" wheelsets will look out of place on MTL's undersized freight car trucks... Passenger cars should have 36" wheelsets, so no issue with the passenger car trucks.
