Hi Joe and Don, I am windy in more ways than one. I have been asked to leave other groups because I talk too much. Many visitors to my 'minimal' layout complain that Z is too expensive. I explain to them that the locomotive costs abour $150.00 depending on the paint scheme and they are made in Meford Oregon. If they give you trouble, all that you need to do is to drive over there and complain to Joe. No need to learn Korean or Chinese or German. The cars are $17 or $18 dollars and all of the track on my 2x4 layout costs about $40.00. The Controller is about $35.00 and if you buy all of it on the internet you can save a bunch more money. For less than the cost of one of those new plastic HO locomotives with sound and fantastic detail, you can have an operating layout that will take you only about 3 hours to get in to operation. With my little layout, no cost for wood or tools. Simply $4.25 for a 1 1/2 inch foam sheet from Home Depot. I do use a saber saw to do the cookie cutter method for lifting the track over the lower level. It could be done with a serrated knife but I couldn't keep the cut vertical. Under $400.00 and you have trains running. Not just around in circles but a Gore and Dapheted type layout. I may not win many converts but I try to answer every question.
Wow 5 pages! I just thought you guys would like to see a mostly Z scale video ; ) The guy at my local shop goes on when I say I'm into N scale... How can you see what you are doing? he says. I like small, I even have a small 15"x36" On30 layout.
I'm a 61 year old guy and live alone in my two bedroom very spacious doublewide in a retirement community. I have a huge N scale layout in my living room, along with a shelf point to point HO switching layout. In my workroom, I have 2 Z scale layouts, one of which is totally mine under construction, and one which I got from my club as a discard, but after cleanup, it is a terrific layout. That is great, because I go nuts when I see Z structures and vehicles and such, because they are so darn rare down here in SoFla. I said I was 61 because my eyes are not what they used to be, I don't wear glasses, but discovering I need a magna-visor to do close work even when I model HO. To me, I think Z is more forgiving to the eyes, because you do not have to achieve the level of detail that you might on HO or N, and to me, it is basically tracklaying, ballasting, scenicking, and installing structures. No kits, no kitbashing, and the onlyl real eye-challenge are repairs, maintenance (not much) and coupler change-outs. If you love the miniaturization that Z allows, I would suggest in a Magna-visor and it brings Z to "O" (just exaggerating). If only there were more locos and rolling stock available, but this is like N was in its infancy, but it is getting better. Another suggestion is to attend a NMRA convention, as there are always Z scalers attending and displaying, and their help and cammaderie is of incredible value and reward. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
