Z Scale model railroaders (or even wannabee Z Scalers), check in and let us know what is going on. Any Z Scale projects under development (or consideration)? What kind of new products are out there?
It looks like you are trying to find some Z scale railroaders. I am one but I am also an N scaler as well and the N scale guys are winning the message board race right now for just about all catagories. We Zed heads are very few, but we have been quietly developing new products and expanding the scale. The trouble is that our major manufacturers have just about thrown in the towel. Very few new locomotives and no new improvements in turnouts. This may change. There are always rumblings of new products being testing in the back rooms. But cars, planes and computer games are eating up the model railroad hobby. This is deliterious to all scales. Oh well, where there's gropin' there's hopin'. Reynard
Hi Reynard; Thanks for the post. I have been hoping that Z would grow in popularity - not just the forum but the availability of products as well. I am interested in getting into it but until the items rival N Scale in being available it will be tough. For some reason, I am most interested in getting into Z and G. It would be nice to have a large layout in one place and a small one in another. Like you I am mostly N right now but I have no layout at present Charlie ------------------ Ship It On The FRISCO! | IAMOKA.com
I need to get back going on this project. I was going to cast resin roofs to convert Marklin European passenger cars to more North American looking ones. Here is a shot of my prototype.
Ohh! Thats fantastic Russell! I want to do some heavyweights myself. I am still looking for drawings. Last month I made 6 NYC 19000 series cabooses in Z Scale. Here is one of them on my Z Bend Track module: It's kind of hard to see, but I got full brake gear underneath. In this photo you can see the Air Reservoir, and Triple Valve hanging down between the needle beams: I have a bunch or Reynard Wellman's etched brass old timer cars and trucks I need to build to finish this side of my module. He produces simply fantastic etched brass stuff for Z! -Robert
Robert, that looks fantastic! But those trucks need some dirt, or anythign to tone them down a notch... Maybe soon I'll start that second GN X1-X30 series caboose you sent me sides for... And maybe I'll get a few turnouts for my wife's layout, and get that one rolling!
Actually that is the prototype. I never took photos of the finished model with painted trucks. I'll try and get that done this weekend. -Robert
I am intending producing an Z scale version of my cast pewter 48ft spine cars. Hope locomotives are available to haul 'em [ 09. January 2005, 09:32: Message edited by: Alan ]
Not for me....however I do model Nn3 and "have" to hang out with a bunch of Z scale folks so I can run my trains until I build my home layout in Nn3. They let me run on their Z Bend layout if I make things for them. It is fun running N scale stuff through a Lilliputian land of tiny buildings, autos and people.
Well, Russell, I asked Bill to keep hammering on you from the Texas end, and I'll keep hammering on you from this end until we have you convinced that you need to at least build a Z Bend module. You could put down some metal plate under the scenery, and just change out a few buildings so that it can integrate into your Nn3 layout at home. Would'nt that be fun? I have an N Scale layout, some Nn3 equipment, and a couple Z Bend modules, and they all play well together. The plan is to run my Z Scale stuff on the Z Bend modules at the GATS, and walk across the isle to run my Nn3 stuff on Tom Knapp's Nn3 oNe Trak modules. Tom had even suggested we could build an interface module to connect his club's Nn3 modules with our Z Bend modules. Sounds like fun, so we will probably do it down the road. -Robert
And I have already recieved the first blows. I need to send a heavyweight passenger train with him to National and maybe he will let up.
Does "Checking Out" qualify as checking in? I've run Z sporadically for about 10 years, but I've decided to let go of my collection to free up funds and space for N scale, which is my primary pursuit. I love Z, and I'm pleased with the continuing development with releases like 5 pole motors and increasing DCC friendliness. However, I ultimately I can't afford to fully pursue two scales (maybe someday...), and I want to free up the split resources to concentrate on N. So that's why I listed my collection in the Yellow Pages forum (thanks Pray!) In general, for folks who are staying firmly in Z, does it feel like the scale is still growing? If so, is it growing more or less rapidly now than it has, say, over the last decade? - Doc
Well, I would have to say I understand what it is like to split between two scales. It isn't easy. Lately though Z is pretty much becoming my focus. Is it growing? Yes, and it will continue to grow as fast as companies can produce North American products at reasonable prices. I think it didn't grow as quickly as N simply because there was not as may quality North American loco's. This year could be a boon for Z scalers if everything comes to pass that is being talked about. AZL is going to release plastic SD70's under 200 dollars, Micro-trains is going to release a GP35 and a line of track other than thier flex. It is this area, in particualr, that I am most interested in. I really believe if micro-trains produces a line of track like Kato unitrack, but with a more relalistic roadbed, Z might just swipe quite a few of the N and HO guys out there. I think model trains are kinda like cell-phones and computors, if smaller is better or just as reliable as big, people will go small!
I think Z Scale is just starting to take off. At our local NMRA meets, several people are now talking about N and Z Scale because of lack of space. Living in the SF Bay Area is one of the factors here, because layout space is so expensive, coming in at over $400 a square foot now! Most of the talk is just concern about the demise of their favorite scales, and we are actually seeing a stagnation of HO and O scales out here, in favor of G Scale where people are building outdoor layouts in their "Patio Sized Backyards" and into N and Z where they can still build a small layout. Yes the trend here seems to be towards small bedroom layouts, and more towards shelf or switching layouts. So how does that relate to Z scale itself? Well, in our startup Z Bend Track club, we have grown from 3 members last year to 8 so far this year. 3 of those guys are converts from N Scale, and 1 from HO. I still model in N myself, and am just building modules in Z, for setup at shows. Product wise, Z is also growing. We seen 7 new locomotives last year. We got a GG1, a Mogul that is more Nn3 sized than Z but is American Style, and an F59PHI in plastic. Also in Brass, which is still to be considered, we got an SD45, an SD40 Tunnel, an F40PH, and an SP 4-8-4 steamer. All of these are currently available releases. We also added several new Z Scale manufacurers last year, providing new etched brass rolling stock, laser cut structures and rolling stock, and cast metal rolling stock. All this activity reminds me of the early days on N Scale where small garage operations started popping up everywhere, and after a decade, many became major players in N today. It has not hit critical mass yet, but that just happened in N Scale about 15 years ago with the advent of the split frame flywheel equipt locomotives. I think it will happen to Z within 5 years. I'm doing my part to contribute, although I will never venture into the mainstream, because I like to model more than manufacture, but to help keep the ball rolling, I'll give it a push now and again. -Robert
