I first fell in love with Z around 1976 when my father bought a small set for my mother. Now many years later I love it even more. What always fascinated me was the detail considering it’s small size. I have been actively collecting for the last 3 years and have been amaZed at the ever increasing number of manufacturers, and just how beautiful and creative everybody is. The ability to fit large open runs into a small extra bedroom or even in (several) briefcases is a huge plus: full regions can be modeled rather than having 3 farm houses filling the board. Some are intimidated by the small pieces; I thrive on it!
My name is Jim, and I am a Z-GAUGE-aholic (Z GAUGE is 1:220 SCALE, HO GAUGE is 1:87 SCALE, N GAUGE is 1:160 SCALE, etc. - c’mon all you “engineers”, let’s use the right terminology! 
I started out as a tyke with my uncle’s WW-II era Lionel O-27’s, and it was great (especially melting paper clips across the track with that 20 pound dual-throttle AC power supply! After we moved to a smaller house so my siblings and I could get into a better school system, I moved to HO as a teen, and my Dad got me started with some more accurate and realistic-looking lokes and rolling stock (except for those darned brass-colored rails! and we built some realistic-looking scenery to go with the better-looking lokes and stock. While I was away at college and a career in the Navy, all of that was given to the next generation of model railroading kiddies, but once I had settled down in a house for more than a couple of years (the good and bad news about a military career is that you get to move every few years, from/to good and bad jobs! :), the space available mandated nothing larger than N GAUGE equipment, which I found just as enjoyable as any of the previous GAUGEs, and even moreso with respect to the longer perspective and lower density of trackage possible mentioned in previous posts. Now that I’ve retired from the Navy and started a second career in SillyCon Valley, the condo which I can’t really afford to own (but the bank is willing to hold the pink slip on until I can - how nice of them! and the nursery/office nook off the “master bedroom” therein authorized by COMNAVHOME (the spousal unit) mean that Z GAUGE is the only option now. However, I’m doing my layouts in modules that literally fit into airline rollaboard and checked luggage (with LOTS of inflated ZipLoc bags to protect everything! and so I can take them to shows anywhere, as well as visits to friends and family, some of whom are also building modules in Z that we can link together, which I could never do with any GAUGE larger than Z. <
It’s the only gauge I’ve ever taken seriously (I had a simple HO as a kid but that fizzled) I saw z when I was a teenager and really wanted it. But I waited a long time before I could have it. About a year after we were married I came out of the train closet to my husband. I don’t know why I thought he’d think less of me anyway, that was 4 years ago.
I love the flexability to do just about anything with z. I don’t have a great big layout, (but if I ever get a DRY basement look out!). I have a number of very small layouts. I have one in a 35mm filmcan, one I’m working on in a cosmetics case, then a coffee table with an American scene on a pull out drawer underneath the table and on top I’m working on the Hogwart’s Express.
No the Hogwart’s Express is not available in z so I’ll have to modify another train but that’s all part of the fun!
It’s a challenge and I find it extremely rewarding.
I have been modeling in Z Scale since Marklin first produced American prototype in about 1985. I have one 3 x 12 ft layout with one track 5 scale miles long with a 2% grade. I am able to consistently pull 50 car trains. I am about to add a modular yard to the basic layout. I also have a number of other layouts–in a suitcase, in an end table in my living room and two more smaller layouts (3 x 5 and 2 x 3 1/2 ft.). I have the appropriate amount of rolling stock consistent with 18 years of collecting. I am 74 years old and continue modeling z scale as my primary scale. Z is Great. A number of us get together on a regular basis in our homes to compare notes and run trains. If you are ever in Columbus Ohio let me know and we can get together. Jim
WOW! I’d no idea so many people modeled Z.
Yes I do model Z scale
I am Juan Carlos Lopez from Mexico City and a N scale American and European style modeler, but I have a year collecting Z stuff for some strong reasons:
- It is really amazing detailed tiny scale
- Real operations can be performed better than any other scale because of its size.
- Anything that can be performed or created in any other scale can be reproduced in Z with the same level of detail (ie. Take a look at www.ztrains.com, www.ztrack.com, www.meine-modellbahn.de pages or any others).
- Quaity and level of detail have been dramaticaly improved during the recent years up to now by introducing products with new tooling.
- DCC compliant.
It is true that there are no a large varity of items in Z but as Rob Kluz (ztrack) said, this is a fast growing scale in terms of fans and we hope in the near future to see prices decreasing and varity growing.
I live in Mexico and the creator of the first modular Z club here, and as you may think, I used to be probably the only guy formaly interested in this scale here. The good news are that people and interest are growing.
I am widely conviced of this great scale and in my plans are to model a modular layout containing the Anhalter Berlin Station as the main bulding.
Take a look into the Z Scale group to see what Z scalers are doing now. Actualy they are very nice and helpfull persons.
Best Regards
Juan Carlos
Club Z Mexico
Gauge is the distance between the rails; scale is the proportion of the model to prototype. It is theoretically possible to have O scale models that operate on Z gauge track. (Perhaps representing a live steam model railroad.) Nn3 is N scale models operating on Z gauge track, representing 36" gauge prototypes. So unless we are talking about the distance between rails, we ought to be talking about Z scale, N scale, etc.
Yes, let’s use the right terminology.
Pedantry rules!
Yup. I’ve been modeling in Z scale since the 70s., minus a few years when I was moving around and it was in storage. Now that Ihave my own home, the basement is present but storing a bunch of stuff. So, I had to limit my layout size, which is PERFECT for Z scale. I have some HO, and a really, really, really old wind-up Lionel, but they are still in storage.
Feel free to visit my site at http://harrison.neonexus.com/Trains.htm
Z is certainly a challenge, and I am re-learing the art of patience. I find it a bit pricey, but ebay has some good deals, and I have met some good folks on some of the Yahoo Marklin and Z-scale Yahoo-groups, whcih I have purchased stuff for a reasonable price.
I have a briefcase layout finished, so I can easily bring that layout with me to various places when people say “No Way. HOW small?!?!”. My main layout, Marksburg, is in track-testing mode and electrical work. I’m taking my time. I also want to make a little space somewhere and set up some long, long, long simple loops with no scenery, no switched, etc so I can run some long passenger and freight lines. I love watching them go round and round. So peaceful!
Well, back to work…and waiting to go home and play with my trains!
- Mark
I moved from HO to N to Z scale and now have the room needed to model various layouts and participate in a club with Z-Bend modules that can run any length trains I want. Include Nn3 Gauge and the choices are there for most every road. There are more accessories available now than the budget can afford
Jim Glass
Pacific NW Z Scalers
Seattle, WA
I model Z–I have a 1:12 Farm and I wanted to give it a garden train. I found my husband’s N gauge too big–so I went with Z. I now have a wonderful train that goes around the barn and through the garden–past the wedding and around the pond. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I also love that I have room for 3 trains on a door used as a shelf
Ellen
Indianapolis, In
I think Z scale is neat, but I find N scale to be small enough, plus there is not enough
equipment in Z scale. I dont think theres even enough in N scale sometimes!
About the lack of north american equipment in Z scale, you’re right, but stay tuned: there has been more new products for the 5 last years than in the 25 preceding years, and things are improving: 7 new designs of locomotives (new tooling) are expected in 2004, and that’s the same for rolling stock, structures, etc…Three years ago Z-scalers were believed to be only 0.3% of the modelrailroaders in the US market, as it seems that now they are about 2%…
Cheers
Dominique
Yes, I model in Z scale (have been on and off since the 70s), although my preferred scale is N. You can read about my latest Z scale project at http://jamesriverbranch.net. My N scale home is http://whiteriverandnorthern.net.
–David