Z scale!!! How come I never see anything in MR about this??

[alco_fan]

This is a very small turnout, #6 in Zn3, the same as Nn30.  Track gauge of a little less than 3/16" 

Huh? Zn3 gauge would be about .163", 1/220 scale on 36". Nn30 gauge is .1875", 1/160 scale on 30" (3/16"). Pretty significant difference.

[FastTracks]

Z scale?  Its a little large. 

 How about Zn3?

This is a very small turnout, #6 in Zn3, the same as Nn30.  Track gauge of a little less than 3/16" 

That is a set of HO scale wheels straddling the turnout. 

More here.... 

[Blue Flamer]

I never expected to go this long without getting caught.

Forum Idol or not, plagiarism is plagiarism. The classy thing to do would have been to identify up front who had the original idea and did the work.

Forum Idol?

It would have ruined the joke to have explained what was going on. I didn't expect it to go as far as it did without someone pointing the finger at John Allen.

But plagiarism is copying someone's work and claiming it to be their own. If anything, I violated copyright laws if John Allen's heirs have maintained the copyright. But plagiarism requires intent and I did not have intent to claim that John Allen's joke was mine. I just wanted his joke to succeed as long as it could. What do you think Allen would have wanted? Would he want credit with a ruined joke? Or would he want belated credit with joke having run its course?

Space Mouse. 

John Allen    is probably up there in MRR Heaven having one great big belly laugh with you for pulling off one of his great jokes. He would be the first one to give you a great big pat on the back. I have no doubt that you would have let us all in on the joke had it gone on very much longer.

Good on ya lad. 

Blue Flamer.

[tstage]

Cool, indeed.  But I don't envy the person who has to lay down, ballast, clean and maintain all that track.

Tom 

[Anonymous]

Yep Z track Magazine in the hobby shop is were I saw the stuff that is is being made...

For a while Z scale was a as rare as G gauge in getting stuff and now Z track has tons of stuff..

The Modulars meets look very nice...The nice thing about z gauge is being able model MILES of track in scale..Imagine putting the entire East Side of Chicago in Z scale in your barn

[SpaceMouse]

And is that photo an attempt to promtoe 1:600 scale modeling, or 7:1 scale pencil modeling?

He may have not been as prototypical as some would have like, but he sure could model what he had in mind.

[Jetrock]

Forum Idol?" border="0" width="19" height="15" />

Better "idol" than idle...

 

Of course Z is a small niche market--a Z scale layout fits perfectly into whatever small niche you might have!

 

And is that photo an attempt to promtoe 1:600 scale modeling, or 7:1 scale pencil modeling?

[SpaceMouse]

I never expected to go this long without getting caught.

Forum Idol or not, plagiarism is plagiarism. The classy thing to do would have been to identify up front who had the original idea and did the work.

Forum Idol?

It would have ruined the joke to have explained what was going on. I didn't expect it to go as far as it did without someone pointing the finger at John Allen.

But plagiarism is copying someone's work and claiming it to be their own. If anything, I violated copyright laws if John Allen's heirs have maintained the copyright. But plagiarism requires intent and I did not have intent to claim that John Allen's joke was mine. I just wanted his joke to succeed as long as it could. What do you think Allen would have wanted? Would he want credit with a ruined joke? Or would he want belated credit with joke having run its course?

[Tom Curtin]

As a current resident of a New York city apartment who is not modeling anything, I can readily imagine the beauty of Z.  Last year I visited the NMRA national train show in Philly, where there were a couple of display layouts in Z.  I was utterly amazed to see what can be done in Z today.  Hmmmmmmm. . . . I could build a hell of a pike that could be stored under the bed.  And, as 
I think of it, if we were to trade up to a king-size, there would be almost no limit.

[on30francisco]

I don't understand all these somewhat negative comments towards Z.

As a confirmed rubber gauger, I see the following benefits to Z:

- easier to sneak the latest purchase I shouldn't have made home due to the size

- can run 2 scales on the same track (Nn3 and Z) means double the number of locos and cars needed.  A true rubber gauger always favors track that can run numerous scales.  Harold Minkwitz is my hero - On30, Sn3.5, OO, and HO all on the same beautiful 4x8 layout and track at one time or another.

- an excuse to try a different era and prototype that will still fit in my space

- an excuse to own even more locomotives and rolling stock.  And they take less storage space than any other scale.

- finally a scale that will actually run full scale equipment on a smaller curve radius than my Lionel 027.  I can fit a loop of Z inside my Lionel track. 

just my thoughts and dreams, my wallet is more limited

Fred W

Harold Minkwitz is also one of my heroes (Malcolm Furlow is my other). I am also a dyed-in-the-wool rubber gauger. I model Gn15 on HO track which allows me to have all the advantages of Large Scale in the space of HO. I can also run On30 and HO due to the gauge of the track being identical. I'm always on the lookout for articles about modeling different scales on one gauge of track. I've read that some people are actually modeling Gn9 - Large Scale on N scale track!

[alco_fan]

I never expected to go this long without getting caught.

Forum Idol or not, plagiarism is plagiarism. The classy thing to do would have been to identify up front who had the original idea and did the work.

[John Busby]

hi railroadpostoffice

I am not surprised at the lack of writings on this scale.

"Z" scale is the MRR equivalent to applied practical insanity.

You have to be insane to do it or have far better than 20 20 vision just to be able to see it.

regards John

[fwright]

I don't understand all these somewhat negative comments towards Z.

As a confirmed rubber gauger, I see the following benefits to Z:

- easier to sneak the latest purchase I shouldn't have made home due to the size

- can run 2 scales on the same track (Nn3 and Z) means double the number of locos and cars needed.  A true rubber gauger always favors track that can run numerous scales.  Harold Minkwitz is my hero - On30, Sn3.5, OO, and HO all on the same beautiful 4x8 layout and track at one time or another.

- an excuse to try a different era and prototype that will still fit in my space

- an excuse to own even more locomotives and rolling stock.  And they take less storage space than any other scale.

- finally a scale that will actually run full scale equipment on a smaller curve radius than my Lionel 027.  I can fit a loop of Z inside my Lionel track. 

just my thoughts and dreams, my wallet is more limited

Fred W

[MAbruce]

It seems to me that N-scale used to endure the same attitudes in its early years.  Now it's the second most modeled scale.

I'm not sure what future Z scale has, but they have been around a while and seem to be growing - albeit slowly.  I suspect as technology advances (gets smaller), Z scale will benefit and continue to expand their selection. 

Joke as you will, but you have to admire those who have the dexterity to work with that size.     

[simon1966]

There is no doubt that in the US Z is a niche market.  However, there is often a MicroTrains Z scale ad in each months MRR.  Almost all the train shows I have been to recently in the Mid West have Z scale display layouts.  There was a huge one at the NMRA in Cincy.  As has been pointed out the scale has its own magazine, web sites and a some very high quality manufacturers.  If you have never had the pleasure of unpacking a Marklin Z scale set you have really missed out on something special.  The whole thing, down to the box and other packaging exudes quality.

Now if only someone would come out with Z scale sound decoders!

[1shado1]

3 or 4 years ago, there was an article in MR about a business man who built a Z-scale layout in an attache case.  It worked so well for him that he built 2 more and "attache"d them together.

 

Someone (Marklin?) also sells a ready made z-scale briefcase layout.  Quite pricy.  European prototype, if memory serves.

 

EDIT:  Yup, Marklin.  ONLY $1200.  http://www.marklin.com/scales/z/

 

Jeff

[brothaslide]

The November 2003 issue has an article about a Z scale layout.

[SpaceMouse]

Yep, congrats Alco. I never expected to go this long without getting caught. There are just too many John Allen Fans out there.

[loathar]

T, that's gigantic. What about 1/600 scale.

If you you don't have your own clever idea and crib from John Allen by presenting his photo, it would be classy to at least provide a credit for his work.

These were regular-sized models and an oversized photo blow up of a pencil and scale to make the models look small.

I thought there was a bit too much detail on that box car for it to be THAT small.

[ereimer]

T, that's gigantic. What about 1/600 scale.

If you you don't have your own clever idea and crib from John Allen by presenting his photo, it would be classy to at least provide a credit for his work.

These were regular-sized models and an oversized photo blow up of a pencil and scale to make the models look small.

 

i suspect Chip was pulling our legs and expecting someone to call him on it by recognizing the photo . if that's the case then congratz alco_fan !

my opinion of Z scale is that it is a tiny niche market , very tiny ! (pun intended) 

[alco_fan]

T, that's gigantic. What about 1/600 scale.

If you you don't have your own clever idea and crib from John Allen by presenting his photo, it would be classy to at least provide a credit for his work.

These were regular-sized models and an oversized photo blow up of a pencil and scale to make the models look small.

[galaxy]

  Z scale is the up and coming gauge with working street lights and even animation...

  I have yet to see a artical on this scale in the past 15 years...Its time that MR look at this again..

 

MR may not have many articals on modeling in Z scale so much, but if you look at their new products section in front, and even test products in back, at least in the last year, you will find some Z scale products listed.

Z scale as "up and coming" is probably in that there is more things available for it, and its also got more US trains available, not just european.

Walthers has the HO catalog and a catalog for N &Z scales. Most hobby shops don't carry Z scale, but you can always order. I am hoping for Xmas $$$to get a Z scale set to add to my HO and old N scales to run around a wood/foam base of the table top tree!

 *** listen, dear old Santa Claus, lean your ear this way.........***** (gee I have'nt heard that song in some time.....)

[IRONROOSTER]

I would guess there's not a lot being done and most of what is, gets covered in the Ztrack magazine http://www.ztrack.com/.

Enjoy

Paul 

[loathar]

Rich Inehorn(SP?) did a few segments on Z scale when his show was on the air. He interviewed a guy with one of those brief case layouts at a show.

[SpaceMouse]

T, that's gigantic. What about 1/600 scale.

<Dr Evil>Now, Mister Chip - Really. Can you prove that is a working locomotive, and not a static prop for 1/600 Ship modeling dioramas (ala the docks)?  For Mister Bigglesworth here informs me that Plastruct offers packs of static model of 1/1200 scale, including trucks, buses, cars, and motor boats, at quite reasonable prices.  For if that locomotive is indeed powered, then I will be forced to create ONE MILLIONTH SCALE!</Dr Evil>

Prove it, no. Is it possible? Sure. Is it marketable? Doubt it.  

[tomikawaTT]

The reason you don't see Z-scale, or HOj, or Qn30, or whatever... in Model Railroader is that no one has submitted an article of a quality fit to publish, with photos.

The MR staff is an EDITORIAL staff - only a rare few articles are written in-house (and most of them are probably not written on company time if they aren't about company projects.)  The largest percentage of everything in the magazine is written, drawn and photographed by freelance hobbyists.

So, if you would like to see more (fillintheblank) in MR, and would also like to make a few bucks, build something photogenic (if you don't have it already,) take a bunch of GOOD photos, draw or CAD up a detailed track plan or construction drawings and send it in a large, flat envelope to the address in the magazine's masthead.  No guarantee you'll have your work accepted, but the desired coverage of (fillintheblank) certainly WON'T appear unless somebody submits it.

Chuck (mediocre science fiction author who models Central Japan in September, 1964)

[chutton01]

T, that's gigantic. What about 1/600 scale.

<Dr Evil>Now, Mister Chip - Really. Can you prove that is a working locomotive, and not a static prop for 1/600 Ship modeling dioramas (ala the docks)?  For Mister Bigglesworth here informs me that Plastruct offers packs of static model of 1/1200 scale, including trucks, buses, cars, and motor boats, at quite reasonable prices.  For if that locomotive is indeed powered, then I will be forced to create ONE MILLIONTH SCALE!</Dr Evil>

[SteamFreak]

Z Scale - Up and Coming?!?!!1LOL!

Get on the page, bro! - T scale be where all the Kool Kids hangin'!

(Still waiting for a small enough scale so I can have a working model Garden railroad on my HO scale layout)

More T(three) 1:450 Baby!!!

T, that's gigantic. What about 1/600 scale.

They have to keep coming up with smaller scales to fit in those Japanese apartments.

[WCfan]

Z Scale - Up and Coming?!?!!1LOL!

Get on the page, bro! - T scale be where all the Kool Kids hangin'!

(Still waiting for a small enough scale so I can have a working model Garden railroad on my HO scale layout)

More T(three) 1:450 Baby!!!

T, that's gigantic. What about 1/600 scale.

Oh come on guys! Really! How about 1/25000 scale. So small you can't even see it. Just think, there might be trains running any where at any time!.........wait, that's 1:1 scale.