I remember back when Z first came out. I was in an N scale club, and one of the guys was tinkering with it so that he could do Nn3. That was also when I first saw hand laid track that small. He was doing a small section of dual gauge on the club layout. That was about 24 years ago.[:)]
DCC has come a long way too, I remember when you had to cut up the boards just to get
Yup, Big_Boy, glue or solder to printed circuit board ties, available ready made. And there are at least 4 sources of track, both sectional and fixed, used for both Z and Nn3 scales. At least 3 sources of turnouts, although the word is that Micro-Trains now has them in the works too. And http://www.handlaidtrack.com has lay-your-own-turnout templates for all scales including Z. An avid Z scaler has recently shown how to scratch-build turnouts starting with MT flex track.
Maybe we should hang out on this list more and represent Z scale a little better. Otherwise when folks ask about Z there are not many around to answer with the progress Z has made, and then older impressions stay retained.
As for eyesight, many of us (myself too) use a magnifying glass to do the fine work, but not when actually running the trains.[:)]
Like any scale, track does need to be reasonably clean. We manage nicely. Especially with multiple wheel pickup now. There are Z scale track cleaning cars available, rubbing alcohol, and the venerable trick of a VERY light dab of Wahl Oil works wonders.
Anyway, if you like what you see come join a Z list and ask more questions. Many of us got into Z this way from starting out in larger scales and continue to model in multiple scales. Multiplies the fun!
Big Boy makes a good point about the lack of Z scale articles in MR. Other than an occasional bone they throw out, there’s simply not much coverage.[:(]
Again another N gauge convert----no more room at either the apartment or the club so I sitched Christmas to zee & adapted an HO layout from a Model Railroad article that allows me to run dash 9’s in 72 inches by 30 inches pulling coal drags as well as my Kato’s. Gotta save up (brass dash 9’s) to do the DCC trick…I’m excited about zee as much as I was earlier about the interest in N scale----the web keeps us zee folks talking all the time
Fred Griffin
Just had to add my $1.50 worth (I’m a consultant, so I get paid more 
)
I’ve owned Z since “the early days” of about 1976 and then, yes, it was a novelty. In the last 5 years or so there has been tremendous growth in all aspects of Z. Rolling stock. Brass & cardstock buildings. Accessories. Steam. Diesel, Electric. All eras. Varying road #'s. Truer profile rails. DCC…it’s jst been mind boggling to watch it happen. Each month finds new surprises, new vendors. The excitement is incredible to be a part of! And of the many hobbies I participate in, both online and off, I have found the Z-scale community to be THE friendliest and THE most helpful across the board, across the country, and around the world.
So, Joe (and Big Boy), take advantage of the free Z-Track magazine (and subscribe!), view all the wonderful layouts, big and small, that are online to see, chat in the forums, and decide if its for you. Z has its own challenges, but at least variety, reliability, and availabilty aren’t among them anymore!
John Duino
No question about it, the people in the Yahoo Z group are super![:)]
That’s an awsome layout, nothing like being able to take your train set on an airplace with you.
That would sure kills some time during those trans-atlantic flights. [:D][8D]
Hi All, I admit I joined just today to reply just to this topic. I started with N gauge and HO and in 1978 fell in love with the miniature world of Z. Z is so much more than a novelty today as has already been stated. To Mr. Big Boy, did you know someone has actually made a scratchbuilt Z gauge Big Boy, pic in the latest issue of Z Track magazine. I loved Z as much 15 years ago as today, that I scratch built a J3 shrouded Hudson and custom decaled 4 passenger cars to match for the 1938 NYC 20th Century Limited, my favorite. I’d be happy to send pics to anyone on request of the detail that can be obtained in Z. The J3 is a rare site in any scale. I’m proud to be able to say I made the first in Z that rivals any larger scale, like I said, I’ll be happy to send pics to anyone upon request to prove my point, anything is now possible in Z as any other scale. I’m currently working on making a castable J3 and smoothsided passenger cars to match.
I’ve seen so many incredible acomplishments in Z lately that is not at all novel. Not by just me but the Z comunity at large. I recently (in the past 6 months) was chalenged to light a AZL SD40-2 with working head/tail lights, and Ditch lights!!! Z scale now has it’s first modern Loco with working ditchlights, photos also available upon request, or via a visit to the Yahoo Z_Scale group photo section.
Z gauge is definitly an emerging scale to rival the bigger ones, and I’m glad to be apart of it. As for cost as some have mentioned, I’m not rich, but with the same skills as other scalers posses and maybe a jewelers loupe, It is possible to model any railroad your heart desires in the fraction of the space as the “Big Boys”, at a affordable cost.
Sincerly, Michael Hilliard, Wilton, CT USA
Big_Boy and other intereZted partieZ,
I’m probably as much of a multi-scaler as anyone in or out of Z. I started in O-27 when I was given my uncle’s WW-II era Lionel equipment, but over time, we moved to smaller houses, so my Dad and I built an HO layout, and by the time I got to college to earn an engineering degree (and what real engineer wasn’t a model railroad engineer, first? [;)]) there was no room/time for little (or not-so-big, compared to the prototypes, for G! [:)]) trains. Moving over a dozen times all over the world during a Navy career resulted in starting again in N gauge, but this time via modules, so I could always “take it with me” without destroying it. Now that I’m living in a tiny home on a very expensive postage stamp-sized lot in SillyCon Valley (a Z gauge shotgun house? [:)]) where there are virtually no basementZ, siZe REALLY matters, and since my family and Navy friendZ live all over the country, I need to travel a lot. Not only is it a hoot to be able to run trainZ on an airline tray table (talk about getting the undivided attending-to from the flight attendantZ and
Mmmhhh…The famous complex of superiority coming for “serious” modellers…
Dominique, “unserious” modeller
I’m interested in the reliability and quality of Z locomotives. What’s the difference between Marklin and Micro Trains, the pros and cons?
Check latest february’s issue.
You’re right, it was true 13 YEARS AGO. But not anymore.
That was MR’s idea until not a long time ago. But stay tuned, things could change. Myself I’m working on a Z-scale walkaround style layout, that will fit in a 6.5 x 4 meter room. My purpose, operating LOONNGG trains (ie 80 cars) on a layout showing chosen parts of the Tehachapi Pass. Impossible with all other scales, even N. For this reason I’ve been collecting for 7 years F-units, GP38-2s, Dash9s, SD45s, SD40s, an F45, + an E8, a PA1 and a GS4 steamer for my corporate / railfan passenger train, + 400 freightcars, 50 turnouts, 70 meter of Micro-Trains flextrack, and I’m currently working on the first section of my layout.
Cheers,
Dominique
No idea about Marklin. But about Micro-Trains F7 (for the time, only available F7s, but we should soon have other stuff):
-one of the cheapest Z loco (about $100)
-shell detailing a little bit light: only one mold for shell + handrails + horn
-low speed operation VERY VERY reliable (about 5 scale MPH, even on turnouts)
-pulls like a mule (more than 50 freightcars on straight track).
Dominique
Does MT make a B unit for their F-7’s? I only see A units on eBay and elsewhere.
Joe,
Here are the Micro-Trains A units:
http://www.micro-trains.com/locomotives%20z%20scale.htm
and here are the B units:
http://www.micro-trains.com/b%20unit.htm
John
Briefcase Z layouts don’t interest me. What would really be incredible is to have a 40X35 foot basement filled with a Z layout. Imagine the track, length of trains and scenery you could place in there.
Realistically, however, N isn’t all that much bigger and besides is a whole lot cheaper. Still makes more sense to go with N unless you can afford Z.
dav
Well, I am one of those guilty of doing that… Beside the briefcase, I also have a coffe table and a cake tin…
http://www.heinepedersen.com/miniclub
http://www.heinepedersen.com/christmas
But this is only for fun. [:D] My “real” z-layout is under costruction in this shelf:
80-90 meters of track, 60 turnouts and room for long trains.
Dummy B-units only.
Really gang, thanks, this has been a real eye opening topic for me. And given the number of years I’ve been in this hobby, that doesn’t happen too often anymore.
Part of my problem is that about 20 years ago I made the decision to pick one size of model train and stick to it. Having been true to my promise to myself, I have misssed a lot of things going on in other scales in the hobby. I still enjoy seeing and hearing about all sizes of trains.
The truth is that I am an advocate for trains of all sizes, from Z up to FULL SIZE, even though my scale of choice happens to be 3 rail O. That’s why my signature says, "I
Thank you Big Boy, and congratulations for your open mind! And if one of these days you get Z scale addict, remember, you are the welcome on Yahoo-groups Z scale!
Cheers,
Dominique
