N or Z

[Anonymous]

Most people know, like me, how tough making a good n scale layout would be, and also the rarity of finding decent models, but i have found that its almost impossible to find any scencery models or model trains for z scale, For anyone who is in Z scale? where do u get you products and does anyone have pictures of their z scale layouts?[?]

[DSchmitt]

Look at these web sites[:)]

www.ztrack.com

www.ztrains.com

[AggroJones]

Welcome!

I'd still recommend you go into N scale. Z isn't that much smaller, so your space saving is minimal. N scale has vast sea of products now, and recently several steamers have came out. Plus, N preportions are closer to scale than Z.

[Wdlgln005]

A good Nscale layout should be easy to build. Take the John Allen approach. Start with a simple trackplan, add someindustries, then pack it with details. Make a provision to add track and extend the layout to the next world.

Operating with modern equipment would mean that you can be gererous with minimum radius curves, allowing more space for scenery and more details rather than more track.

[Anonymous]

I model in both N and Z-Scale. After I began with Z-Scale I enjoy that the most.
But it is not so meny trains avalible at this time but I'm sure it will be better in the future.
ebay is a good plase to find trains in Z-Scale.

You can look at my layout on my home page http://194.143.113.189/tjm/

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

Welcome!

I'd still recommend you go into N scale. Z isn't that much smaller, so your space saving is minimal. N scale has vast sea of products now, and recently several steamers have came out. Plus, N preportions are closer to scale than Z.

GreetingZ nscaleboy! Your journey haZ ended.

For AggroJones: Z scale (1:220) is a _lot_ smaller than N scale (1:160), or ((220 - 160) / 160) = 37.5% smaller in linear dimensions, to be exact. Or, to look at it another way, it allows you 37.5% squared = 14 _times_ the scale area of N scale in the same physical space. This means you can get 14 times the amount of railroading in the same layout area, which results in _more_ prototypical layouts, not less. Instead of having to force curves to have reduced radii, you can actually create layouts that reflect reality much more accurately. You can build switching yards that actually look like and operate like real switching yards, and modular layouts are a lot easier to build and move around than in any other scale (the Z-Bend Track standard default size is 2 x 4 feet with double mainlines along each edge, but modules can be any size).

All of the major roads are now represented in Z scale, with the two major suppliers of North American equipment being Marklin in Germany and Micro Trains Lines in Oregon (the same MTL that makes N scale equipment). If you're only interested in North American modeling, these companies have primarily produced Mikado and Pacific steamers, and F-7 diesel locos, so far. American Z Lines makes a number of diesel hood units, PA and PB diesel units, GS-3/4 steamers, and are about to introduce an F59PHI loco used by many modern passenger roads. Freudenreich Feinwerktechnik in Germany will be introducing an FP40H passenger loco at NTS Seattle in July, and a Gunderson Husky stack car with containers has just started shipping from MTL. Boxcars, flat cars, tank cars, centerbeam cars, all in multiple lengths, and passenger cars and cabooses are available, most in ready-to-run, and some in kit and/or RTR forms. Custom decals are available for road names or numbers not already available, and MTL boxcars are available in unpainted versions for customizing.

MTL makes NA flex track, and Marklin makes European sectional and flex track, along with manual and remote-control turnouts, overhead catenary wiring, etc. MTL is planning on making NA turnouts, but AspenModels offers manual versions now, and the same switch machine motors sold for N scale will work fine with Z scale. If you want to lay your own track, turnouts and wyes, forms for holding ties and rails (code 40 - 55 is typically used) for assembly are available from FastTracks at www.handlaidtrack.com.

Join our Z Scale Yahoo! group at :

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/z_scale

and then you can access the plethora of photos of layouts, locos, rolling stock, structures, and scenery at:

http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/z_scale/lst

There are also many documents available in the Databases section, and an EnZyclopedia available from the home page that will likely have the answers to any questions you may initially have. The Calendar section lists events where Z scale has been and will be shown. Once you've looked at all of that, post any questions you still have to the 1142 members there, and you will get answers from probably several of us within hours, if not minutes (I'm on there until the wee hours Pacific time pretty much every night).

Lots of both new and used equipment is available on eBay in the Toys & Hobbies > Model RR, Trains > Z Scale area, and is a good way to see what's available, get bargains on common items, and even find rare items (sometimes at bargain prices if no one is paying attention!).

I could keep going on and on (and will, if you want), but I think you get the idea. Z is really taking off, big time (pun fully intended), with new items showing up just about weekly now.

Check uZ out, and All Z BeZt,
Jim

[MAbruce]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

Welcome!

I'd still recommend you go into N scale. Z isn't that much smaller, so your space saving is minimal. N scale has vast sea of products now, and recently several steamers have came out.

I agree. Besides, if you went to Z-scale, you would have to change your name to "zscaleboy"...[;)]

[Fergmiester]

I've only seen two "Z" scale layouts, both show up at the local hobby show each year.

One is set up with full scenery including a burning house in a standard size brief case.
The other runs around the brim of a hat.
I'm not kidding!

[ddechamp71]

Myself I'm involved in Z scale (Hi Jim, what's up with your PPL, and with your Z scale DDA40X scaratchbuilding?).

-For me this scale reduction of 37.5 % / N scale will allow more prototypical curves and longer trains in the same space.

Two stages:

-first: a small diorama (1.30 x 0.26 meters - sorry guys I give up with inches, 1/8, 1/16, etc...!) showing a location in the Mojave desert on BNSF Needles sub.), which fits in my parisian appartment.

-second: a walk-around modular layout (whom I'm just beginning the first module) which will fit in a 6.5 x 4-meter room (see above!), that will show chosen parts of the UP Tehachapi Pass. My goals, why I have chosen Z scale versus N:

*almost prototypical curves: minimum radius 50 cm (20 inches, in this fairly simple number I can translate in inches!), that are 110m / 360ft radius, or just a lil' less than 16° curves (some actual main lines, very few I admit, have 14° curves).

*longer trains: I plan to operate 80-car trains (the same lenght in N should be 57 cars), which is important to my eyes: one of the most apealing feature in NA trains is their length (and weigth), as here in Europe freight trains seldom are more than 20 to 25-car long (and furthermore, they are mostly powered by f#&in' electrics, but that's another problem!).

You should argue about the problem of choice: true, but less and less:

-locos: for a long time you had the choice only for F7s, but for 4 years there has been a lot of new engineZ: Dash9-44CWs, SD45s, F45s, SD40s, GS3/4 2-8-2s (all these brass), F40PH, and soon F59PHI (these two last with plastic shells = ie cheaper).

-freight cars: more and more choice. Virtually what we miss is modern era heavy tank cars, covered hoppers (but a guy is working to release kits for them) and covered autoracks (but Micro-Trains will soon release uncovered-sixties era tri-level autoracks, and it should be easy to kitba***hem).

-structures: a lot af new designs / manufacturers for the last 4 years.

-track and turnouts: also a lot of new brands that allow to completely avoid Marklin's track, that matches European prototype (tie spacing), and Marklin's turnouts which are still toylike (curved track beyond frog which don't match with prototype, and mechanism beeing linked to the turnout, but very easy to remove to be replaced by undertable drive).

You should argue about the problem of price: true, but less and less:
-locos: Micro-Trains F7s are cheap (around $110), they pull like a mule (60 or so freight cars on straight and level track), they have very good low speed features (about 5 scale MPH); AZL brass locos are expensive ($550) I agree; but it's very important to notice than AZL will soon release its first loco (EMD F59PHI) with injected plastic shell, that will allow to dramatically reduce the price. Please wait about one month, all this will be official at Seattle NMRA convention.

-freight cars: about the same price than N (Micro-Trains)

-structures: idem

-track and turnouts: idem.

To conclude, Z scale will allow you to carry out an empire without purchasing an aviation hangar for the same in HO, or a castle for the same in N! And this will allow you to save A LOT of money!

Just my two cents,

Dominique from the stinkin' cheese eaters country

[ddechamp71]

Myself I'm involved in Z scale (Hi Jim, what's up with your PPL, and with your Z scale DDA40X scaratchbuilding?).

-For me this scale reduction of 37.5 % / N scale will allow more prototypical curves and longer trains in the same space.

Two stages:

-first: a small diorama (1.30 x 0.26 meters - sorry guys I give up with inches, 1/8, 1/16, etc...!) showing a location in the Mojave desert on BNSF Needles sub.), which fits in my parisian appartment.

-second: a walk-around modular layout (whom I'm just beginning the first module) which will fit in a 6.5 x 4-meter room (see above!), that will show chosen parts of the UP Tehachapi Pass. My goals, why I have chosen Z scale versus N:

*almost prototypical curves: minimum radius 50 cm (20 inches, in this fairly simple number I can translate in inches!), that are 110m / 360ft radius, or just a lil' less than 16° curves (some actual main lines, very few I admit, have 14° curves).

*longer trains: I plan to operate 80-car trains (the same lenght in N should be 57 cars), which is important to my eyes: one of the most apealing feature in NA trains is their length (and weigth), as here in Europe freight trains seldom are more than 20 to 25-car long (and furthermore, they are mostly powered by f#&in' electrics, but that's another problem!).

You should argue about the problem of choice: true, but less and less:

-locos: for a long time you had the choice only for F7s, but for 4 years there has been a lot of new engineZ: Dash9-44CWs, SD45s, F45s, SD40s, GS3/4 2-8-2s (all these brass), F40PH, and soon F59PHI (these two last with plastic shells = ie cheaper).

-freight cars: more and more choice. Virtually what we miss is modern era heavy tank cars, covered hoppers (but a guy is working to release kits for them) and covered autoracks (but Micro-Trains will soon release uncovered-sixties era tri-level autoracks, and it should be easy to kitba***hem).

-structures: a lot af new designs / manufacturers for the last 4 years.

-track and turnouts: also a lot of new brands that allow to completely avoid Marklin's track, that matches European prototype (tie spacing), and Marklin's turnouts which are still toylike (curved track beyond frog which don't match with prototype, and mechanism beeing linked to the turnout, but very easy to remove to be replaced by undertable drive).

You should argue about the problem of price: true, but less and less:
-locos: Micro-Trains F7s are cheap (around $110), they pull like a mule (60 or so freight cars on straight and level track), they have very good low speed features (about 5 scale MPH); AZL brass locos are expensive ($550) I agree; but it's very important to notice than AZL will soon release its first loco (EMD F59PHI) with injected plastic shell, that will allow to dramatically reduce the price. Please wait about one month, all this will be official at Seattle NMRA convention.

-freight cars: about the same price than N (Micro-Trains)

-structures: idem

-track and turnouts: idem.

To conclude, Z scale will allow you to carry out an empire without purchasing an aviation hangar for the same in HO, or a castle for the same in N! And this will allow you to save A LOT of money!

Just my two cents,

Dominique from the stinkin' cheese eaters country

[krump]

HOld it, O I C that Z can B, 2 small 4 me, N then can U pleZ go 2 G, so I can C

have a great day all. Think I'll stick with HO (I'm not that talented for the micro stuff), and On30. You folks that model N or Z amaze me with your art.
cheers

[Eriediamond]

LOL krump. I'm with you on staying with HO. I say that because of being in my 60's now, the eye sight and steady hands are slowly beginning to show their age. Having said that, I would like to build an N scale layout in a coffee table covered with glass and would like to try my hand at a garden G scale layout some day when time and MONEY permitts. Right now bills from the N scale track plans put on my belly from two different surgeons the past six months with two different ideas of what a layout should look like, have left me with little or no funds for train purchases for awhile. Let me clarify: There are two point to point diagrams and a turntable on the left side with no connecting tracks to make it useful. [(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][sigh][sigh]

[krump]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Eriediamond

LOL krump. I'm with you on staying with HO. I say that because of being in my 60's now, the eye sight and steady hands are slowly beginning to show their age. Having said that, I would like to build an N scale layout in a coffee table covered with glass and would like to try my hand at a garden G scale layout some day when time and MONEY permitts. Right now bills from the N scale track plans put on my belly from two different surgeons the past six months with two different ideas of what a layout should look like, have left me with little or no funds for train purchases for awhile. Let me clarify: There are two point to point diagrams and a turntable on the left side with no connecting tracks to make it useful. [(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][sigh][sigh]

sounds painful ...appendix ??? do the "rails" line up in a straight fashion at least? hopefully you're feeling better and the hobby savings are growing.
cheers

[Anonymous]

It depends to if you are always busy and like trains you can model Z in a case or if you have time u can go with n but larger scales are better i am 11 and me eyesight is going just with HO really bad right i need to eat some more carrots

[Anonymous]

It depends to if you are always busy and like trains you can model Z in a case or if you have time u can go with n but larger scales are better i am 11 and me eyesight is going just with HO really bad right i need to eat some more carrots