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[quote]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. [/quote] 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
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