Hi all, Like the title says is Z scale for me? I have been an HO modeler for many years but have never had a layout to speak of. I have some HO equipment (6 locos and a dozen pieces of rolling stock) and have been considering making the plunge in N scale. I have been fairly active this past week making a track plan and decided to pop on over the the Z scale forum and was very impressed to say the least. The last time I saw anything Z scale the quality of the castings was mediocre and the locomotive started like a jackrabbit with no slow speed performance to speak of. With that said, I do have some questions that I hope folks can answer. Has Z scale really come that far in the past 6 years? I have over 45 feet of wall space that I can use for a layout and Z would be GREAT in that space. Is limited industrial switching a possibility in Z? Is Z scale, cost wise, fairly comparable to N, if you do not go overboard? And is DCC really viable considering the lower voltages of Z scale locomotives? After seeing the spread in MR recently I was really intrigued but do NOT want to spend a TON of money. I would not mind using Fast Tracks to make turnouts and would not mind handlaying track if I have to to keep costs down. If switching is not really up to par yet I can always make myself an N or HO switching layout on a deck below the Z scale layout. Thanks for any answers you can give me. Hope to talk to you again soon.
Hey John, welcome to Z (I hope). I can't answer all those questions as I'm a newbie too. Buying, buying, buying, but no layout yet. I find Z to be a bit more expensive but not radically. Paying near $20 for a boxcar is plenty, but I'm going to pick away and buy things a little at a time. The Micro-Track could be worse price-wise (in my opinion). The price for it seems reasonable. Others will be more qualified to answer than me. Charlie
John, I would say yes. As far as engines and other rolling stocks, we are getting a lot of new stuff. The current crop of engines from AZL and MTL are smooth and slow runners. They are dcc ready, and with MTL, there is a drop in decoder. I do a lot of switching with my MTLs. They are smooth, and controllable at low speed. Actually, my slowest engine is my Dash9, but I dont want to used it for switching. I have used the NCE Powercab for over a year, and haven,t had one burn engine yet. If you run at 70 scale miler per hour or little over, it shoun't be a problem. The only problem I see is that we dont have as much stuff as the other scales.
hi john, and welcome. yes to all your questions. if you can handlay track in HO (code 55 or better -- code 40) you are home free. some nice handlaying is being done by forum members using fast-track turnout jigs. if you use available rolling stock and locomotives you will do well. a lot of us kitbash and repaint, but decals are a problem. some people can make their own, but there are a lot of decals on N scale sets that can translate well enough to Z. if you decide to make the jump, post your road name preference under the "roadnames" topic at the top of this forum. that way people who may be in the same boat as you can pool advise and resources. dave f.
Welcome Charlie, If eye sight issues and trembling hands are not issues for you, then I don't think you can go wrong with Z scale. Folks here on this site could write volumes on the advantages and fun of Z scale, but just take the words of a few, myself included, there is nothing quite like Z scale. Once you really get involved, you will find no end to the enjoyment and avenues you can persue with Z. I think the most exciting aspect to Z lately is the tremendous stirdes made in DCC. You can do almost everything in Z with DCC as you can with the "other" scales. Can you tell, I'm a bit prejudiced? Can't help it, I love the stuff.........and so does everyone else that touches it. Z is a very addictive , so I warn you.......be prepared to have more fun than should be legally possible if you become involved in Z scale. This board, Z Central Station, and the Z scale Yahoo group are the keys to info, sharing, pictures, and it IS the center of the universe..........bar none. Go ahead, jump in........the water is fine! Loren Z Train Things
Thanks all for the replies so far and I am looking forward to many more I hope. It does sounds as if Z is for me after all. I agree that cost is an issue (isn't it always) but since I was starting fresh with N it will not seem so different. I think I need to show my wife a z scale video so she can see how small it really is since she has never seen anything Z. It will help her buy off on the idea. I took a look at the Z scale board on Yahoo and there is a lot of information there as well. I will continue looking for more information and will definitely be watching this thread to see what others think. It sounds as if most who try Z never go back to the larger scales.
Hi John, I think you will really enjoy Z scale. I have been a N scaler for some time and dabbled in Z a few years ago, then focused on N again. Now, I am back with Z and building a layout and buying rolling stock. Right now none of my locos are DCC, but I used DCC with N and have the system. I plan to convert locos as my budget allows. I like Z because you can run prototypical consists in spaces that you can't do that even in N. But most of all, I enjoy the people in Z scale. Not that folks in other scales aren't nice and helpful, but there is something a little special about the Z bunch. As you will hear, it is a disease that has no cure! John
First I would like to blatently say Z Scale is expensive. That said, I think careful spending will get you enough stuff that runs great and looks fantastic. I would recommend starting with MTL products at first. The price is the most resonable in the scale, and the quality is there. Start to collect a few AZL pieces too, as budget permits. They offer some really beautiful looking equipment. Every so often great deals can be had for Marklin stuff on ebay. Marklin stuff is very expensive due to the exchange rates. I don't really care for Marklin Crab Claw couplers.
I have been looking at prices this afternoon and you are right in that it is not cheap stuff. But it did get me thinking. If I were to build a nice HO layout, I would have little scenery and a lot of cheap rolling stock and locos. If I were to build an N scale layout I would have much more scenery and an average amount of locos and rolling stock. With Z I get a large proportion of scenery, and few locos and rolling stock. That is initially. In HO I can never get more scenery in the same space. In N I can get no more scenery in the same space but can get more locos and rolling stock as the budget allows. In Z, I have all the scenery I will ever need and can focus later modeling on the locos and rolling stock. I like building scenery, because more than anything it can make a layout look more realistic. And scenery is cheap comparatively speaking and most modeling funds can go towards equipment vs. scenery supplies.
I remember coming here and asking questions about Z. For some reason I didn't even think it could run very well. Probably took a year or more, but I went and bought some Z and now I'd like to think I'm a Z scaler. I still have N, but Z is smaller than N enough to count and you can put more in the same space. Here are some shots of N next to Z: http://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/ZScaleBerkshire/photo#5130023920628522514 http://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/ZScaleBerkshire/photo#5130023954988260898
Man that is a pretty substantial size difference. I like it a LOT!!!!! Photos like that can get me hooked QUICKLY. Does anyone have a preferred source for Z scale stuff? I looked at Walthers today and they were a bit pricey. There have got to be better places out there online to buy from. I do not believe my LHS (50 miles away) carries anything Z, but I am not sure.
http://www.zscalemonster.com/ http://ztrainstation.com/store/ And E-bay. Other shops carry it, but may be hard to find on their websites. Some things are pricey. You don't need to start off with brass locomotives though. What era/road would you like to model in Z?
John, most lhs dont carry z. Its the size thing, but with internet, you can get most of yous stuff in two or three days. Remember, in z scale there are no stuff like Bachman, most stuff is very good quality. Here is a link to where to get your z stuff. Where
For me one off the appealing aspect off Z-Scale is that there so far are so few people that model in it. Thereby making it more exclusive and rear and makes the few builders a tight group having lots off fun together. There are some nice scratch builders in Z-Scale that is more then willing to help you out and show you some off their tricks. And I also like that there is not so much "off the shelf" stuff available in the stores, and that forces me to scratch build more off what I want and need. And off course there is the possibility to get "big" scenery in a smaller space with lots off small scenes that blend in to the big picture. But as small as this scale is there are some drawbacks regarding super details that you perhaps easier would get in a lager scale like H0 or bigger. But I LIKE Z-SCALE and I don't think I will give it up. But I might build a diorama in a lager scale some time, just to try some super detailing.
Oooohhhhh! My boss just gave me some exciting news. Looks like I am off to Denver around the 1st week of December. That means a trip to Caboose Hobbies is in order. Might come home with a nice new Z scale Christmas present (or multiple) for myself and I will have a chance to run something and really get a feel for the scale. I was stationed at the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs and have only been there a couple times so it will be nice to go there again.
I think you will be hooked once you get started. I was into N scale and then I saw the Micro-trains mogul. Way to expensive, but I had to have it. I have two now and many other loco's but they are my favorite. I enjoy scratchbuilding and I enjoy trying to make things run and look better in Z it is a challenge. My advice would echo Robert's get some MT stuff that runs and looks well, and then go into the other areas. There is more and more every day in Z. If you like scenery then you have made the right choice as the ratio of trains to scenery is amazing. happy modleing, have fun!
Here is an another one in favor of Z, We were at a train museum a few days back and there was a shelf of model trains of different scales on display and the Z scale looked so nice like a Jewel it was a world apart compared to the other scales. I felt proud to model in Z. Kim
If you are interested in Z scale and would like a sample issue of Ztrack Magazine, please let me know. I would be happy to send you a copy. Each issue is a good overview of what is happening in Z scale, including products, manufacturers, retailers as well as a mix of articles. Please email me your name and street address off-list at: ztrack@aol.com Rob
John, take Rob up on this offer! Z-track is flat out a must! It really is a great resourse for what is available. Plus you'll be in on all the new AZL which is pretty darn good. I own an AZL Gp 7. I am a steam guy but boy that is a fine scaled loco! It is like christmas every 2 months when I get my issue.
