I swear I'm not a dealer, but I would like to know how important this scale is to others. How much money have you spend so far on Z-Scale products.
I like to do a dollar count on the locomotives whenever I see a layout. If you get a AZL you are half way to a grand,
I got into z a couple of years ago, and the first loco I purchased was a micro-trains mogul for about 500. To this day it is still my favorite loco for looks and really it runs quite well. I have learned to keep it properly cleaned and lubed and it is a fine piece. I don't know if my wife will let me spend that much again But the best part is this.......after starting off spending 500, now 200 for a loco doesn't phase her hardly at all! So the moral of the story is go big once, and then anything less than that is a bargan!
I spent thousands too, however I have been able to offset the costs by trades and making kits. Welcome to Trainboard John! -Robert
i'm a cheapskate, because i'm paying college tuition for child #3, so funds are limited. i've purchased 2 gp-35's and just got those in the budget. i look forward to buying another in the future (undec, i hope). my layout in Z is 2'X4' (in progress) but i have an Nn3 line on my larger N scale layout that will allow me more running possibilities. i'm a rio grande modeler, so i'm keeping close to prototype engines and rolling stock. i found five Z cars (2 boxs, a tank, a gondola and marklin caboose shell) at a train show that i picked up for about $10 a year or so ago. couplers were all broken and the gon and caboose needed trucks and underframes. i purchased the last 3 pennzee coal gons at Caboose a month ago when they were still marked down. ... and that's my rolling stock. i'm building 6 more general service gons and having fun doing it. so i'll have a decent (typical rio grande) consist for my small branchline layout. total is under $400 (with track). but ... every now an then some spare cash will emerge and i'll take advange of it. 2 more years of college and then who knows! dave f.
Not to be funny but I guess I can say that I have _not_ purchased at least $2000. I don't have any Z scale but I really came pixel close when I saw the GG 1. If I get a new job even close to my old sallery you can figure I'll break down and buy at least: An oval of track Tthe GG1 (if still available) Passenger cars for the GG1 GP XX A few freight cars Power supply ********* That about $2000?
Doing some quick math in my head, you can get all of the following for less than $1,000. The Marklin GG1 can be found for about $250.00. MTL offers a GP35 starter set. It comes with a GP35, oval of track, 4 freight cars and a caboose. These sets sell for less than $300.00. You will need a transformer so lets say $50.00. The only one is the passenger cars for the GG1 There is a rumor of heavy weights coming out next year. If true, I will say $25.00 a piece, so lets say 5 for $125.00. These prices are all based on dealers who discount. Total (not including shipping, etc): $725.00. Rob Kluz
Rob, what is the estimated worth of your collection. i know you have a soft spot for FR, and then you probably have every AZL and SZl engine. Then you have a good excuse. you can always tell your wife that you need it for review, or she is not falling for that one anymore. John,
John, That is a very good question. I have been in the hobby since 1985. I primary collect Marklin Z, but have since branched out to include a large MTL collection, AZL, SZL, FR, Railex, Pennzee, Father Nature and many other small Z manufacturers. I even have samples of the original Rogue GP38-2s and other very rare pieces. Surprising, I don't have a large AZL collection, though I have a few pieces including the prototype PA1 (Rio Grande). I do have a sample from each AZL release. During shows, I typically run C44s and SD40-2s (NS, CSX, Conrail). You can see in the image below, this is my European layout. The cases on the wall are all Marklin equipment. I have more cases on the other wall. The yard on the layout also holds about 100 cars. I do own and operate US modules, though I store the US collection. So long story short, I am not sure, and I am frankly afraid to find out. Much of collection will eventually be turned over to the Ztrack Magazine archives for historical purposes. I would like to eventually display these treasures is the Ztrack offices. Rob Kluz
I understand what you mean. I was half way through calculating how much I was spending on my reef tank, and I decided to stop. Sometimes, not knowing is better. john
Hey Rob, Aren't the ZTrack offices just upstairs? "I would like to eventually display these treasures is the Ztrack offices. " I know of one collector who has been in Z scale for over ten years and probably has more than $10,000 of locomotives alone. Of course he bought most of them used in estates and off of ebay so he didn't actually pay $10,000 for them. Myself, I general have to save my lunch money (literally) for about 18 months to be able to buy an AZL. At least with the SD70M I'll only have to save for 9 months. Gosh, I might start putting on more weight if I can actually eat lunch. Randy
Randy, nutricion is over rated. Why eat a big lunch, when you can have a SD70. Since the SD70 is not going to make it for this holiday, I am thinking of using this holiday to order either a CSX SD40 or the Burlington SW1. John
First I want to introduce myself, and say hello to all members A good question I'm trying to hide from myself, and from my GF in particular at all cost All in all, after switching to Z from my HO scale i used to have as a teen, I decided to discard my own car and invest in my hobby, so I probably spent about 10k on it. Although, giving the rising Swiss Franc and the dropping Euro/Dollar, it starts to become cheaper and cheaper for me (hehe). All the best, Bruno
Dear shammoo7373, I gladly would like to do so, tho its under construction yet. Can I upload the images directly or do I need to find a server for storage, and post the links to it on the forum?
layout of my z.scale project (08/2011) Well then, here it comes: Don't be afraid, most of the tracks in the rear part of the layout are covered by mountains, so I don't consider the scenery to be much overloaded. As I only have 280x120cm and as I a don't want to skip the option to run longer trains, I finally ended with this track-loaded scenery/layout. I hope i am able to post a sketch of the planned layout; - comments are welcome. facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2282770472558&set=a.2282770072548.135111.1347738888&type=1&theater Have a nice eve, Bruno P.S. Dear Administrator, please forgive me that i have bypassed your 3-days linking ban
Live the dream: the Marklin 88491 GG1 is now on sale for $169.99 at euromodeltrains: http://www.euromodeltrains.com/Z-SALE.pdf -James
lets just say '5 figures'. I can only estimate and I do have insurance which does state it but, I have that total spot in 'white' font so I do not see it .