What a BOGUS poll ![:o)][:o)]
Z scale is about as popular as unicycles on the Tour de France, or Ford Pintos on an Indy track.[xx(][xx(].
But, on a sort of serious note, the best scale you ever modeled is likely to be your NEXT one…one you never tried before.
I know if I wasn’t too old and " funds-challenged ", I would drop H0 after 46 years, and switch to something new to me, like O, On30, or even a large scale based on G gauge track.
I think it would put a lot of long-gone fun back in the hobby, at least it would for me.
regards \ Mike
Meaford ,Ontario
Z is the best scale that I have modeled in. As a kid I had a lionel set, when I got older I started a layout in HO. 5 years ago I started in N. N is good for shows but in my 10 X 16 train room that has my work bench and all of the other crap, it doesn’t fit. That is why there is NTRAK. My Z layout is 5’ wide and 10’ long. In it I can model scenes that would take me 50’ of modules to do in NTRAK. The ability to model a scene where the trains run through, not over top of gives it a more realistic apperance. If you can’t see the forest from the tree it probably isn’t for you. Mike eh makes a good point though eh. If I had a ton of money eh and lots of time eh I could really go for some 7.5" live steam.
Brent Moore
Richmond ZTRAKZ
Richmond area NTRAK
I prefer HO because of the quality of detail, the availability of quality items and the ease of painting, decaling and detailing cars and locos of this size. Smaller scales lack these qualities and larger ones don’t have the same degree of precision. I can’t believe why O scale engines don’t have see-through grilles all-around and still have a pilot that rotates with the trucks !
Brent Moore;
What’s with your snide usage of the grammatically non-existent term “eh”?
Is it supposed to be funny, or just a general put-down of Canadians ?[V]
I don’t use the term myself.
I’m glad for anyone who likes Z scale, but it isn’t popular, and “loading up” a poll to pretend it is, is not going to make it popular. The poll result is bogus. [xx(]
Z is too small and too expensive to appeal to most modelers, so try to live with that.
Z does have, and may well expand somewhat, in what will continue to be a "niche"market. ( That “niche” word is actually French, Brent, so try not to let it upset you…some of us up here know some French, eh ?)[8D]
Well, I’ve primarily modeled in N Scale, at least from a scenery standpoint. Have tried making some z-trees and some landscaping. I have found Z to be very challenging on keeping things in scale. My eyes aren’t as good as they used to be.[:(] Would like to try my hand at HO just because of the scenicing opportunities. There’s just so much more stuff available. Maybe someday…
Before I moved I had a live steam layout in the backyard albeit radio controlled. It was great fun to be out in most weather (snow - yes but rain - no).
Brian
My personal case: I’m french, but I don’t think I’m at the center of the world. But I should like seeing here people not laughing at others with their home country…About Z scale, that’s true that it for the time a “marginal” scale. But I don’t agree with the idea it’s not popular. It’s only quite unknown. Most people think it’s only good for desktop or briefcase layouts, ie unserious things…But keep in mind you won’t expense more when purchasing Z scale Micro-Trains stuff than N or HO stuff from most manufacturers…So it’s not our fault to us Z-scalers if we look at polls with a greater assuduity than others scales buffs…
Cheers
Dominique
While reading these posts I see that the majority favor Z.
Here is my question. I am new to thee hobby and just getting ready to start designing my 1st layout. But my 1st step is to decide what gauge. I am looking at either HO or O.
I like HO for the detail of the scenery and the fact that i can replicate a larger area on my layout.
But I feel the trains are a bit small. Also they do not have the same quality of sound.
I really like the size of the O trains, as well as the sounds. But I will need a larger space for the same area to be modeled. But of all the O layouts I have seen, the scenery has not been too nice. They all look like cheap plastic toys.
I would appreciate some feedback on the advantages of each.
John, you should check out Bachmanns On30 lineup. O gauge gear running on HO gauge track, its the best of both worlds. You couldnt do “Mainline” railroading but shortline Colorado or Maine narrow guage is also a lot of fun. You can use HO gauge track which is cheap and plentiful, and O gauge buildings and running gear which can be loaded with detail. If I could start over I would look hard at On30.
The people who loaded this poll should remember that some people who are new to the hobby may see it and make a scale selection based on your misinformation. That’s really sad.
I think some people are “funning us” with their Z scale responses. I’ve been in forums for five years and the most posts I’ve seen on Z scale in my entire five years is on this thread. The last thread date at www.trainboard.com in the Z scale forum is 29th April.
My favourite scale is HO however I model in N as that is the scale which works best in the room I have available. Of course, if I did the same area in Z scale it would be the equivelant of three full basements in HO.
S scale is the one you want, it has the size advantages of O for detail, running well, model building and the space advantages of HO for fitting a layout in a reasonable area. size . Check out this web site for more info. http://www.trainweb.org/crocon/sscale.html
I settled on S after HO and O.
Enjoy
Paul
I started out with Lionel “Super O” when I was a kid. I then got into HO scale. After that I started modeling in On3. I loved that size but I never bought a locomotive because they were (and still are) extremely expensive. When Bachmann came out with On3 I immediately jumped into that scale. I think On30 is the best of both worlds - the convenience of HO and the heft of O. The Bachmann locos run great and they are very affordable. I also love to scratchbuild using wood. On30 is a perfect size for scratchbuilding. If I had the space I’d like to try G scale
Yeah Vic, be careful what you say. A couple of months ago I said a few things about Z out of ignorance, and suddenly I felt like Gulliver. Those Z scalers really stick together, and every once in a while they come pouring out of the woodwork, especially if provoked.[swg]
wow, lotta Z responses… seems a lil skewed, but what ever. i have gone through a number of scales over my 19 years. have had seveal O gadge trains, 2 G gadges and now a ton of HO stuff. ever since i decided i wanted to build a model railroad i knew i wanted to do it in HO. and thats what i’ve done. and honestly i dont think i would ever change. i dont know what it is about HO that i like but its just like the perfect scale for me. i someday may want to try a little bit of narrow gadge G stuff for an outside thing but my main focus would always remain my HO stuff.
but each person is entitled to their own oppinion, and whats perfect for others my not be for me, and vise-a-versa. but yeah… to me Z is jsut way too small. i can work with small stuff but i love to open up my engines and work on them (even when they dont need it). and Z scale stuff woudl jsut be too had for me on this. N is nice for shows and what not, but i still find it too small. to me its acceptable, but jsut not what i like. S scale is ok, but this and O scale all i usualy think of is the tin plate stuff that i really dont care for. (a freinds dad has an extensive AF collections and i have some Lionell. they are both nice, but cheesy looking to me). G and other large scalse are cool for outdoors stuff, but seem way outa place once you bring them inside. so yeah… i ono HO is just like the perfect thing for me i guess =P but thats all a personal thing…
Started with Lionel O as a kid, switched to HO when I was fourteen, been with it ever since. Built a G-scale backyard railroad about five years ago, use it to transport drinks to the pool and condiments to the barbecue. Company gets a real kick out of it, so do I. However my main scale is still HO. But I’ve seen layouts in almost every scale and have been mighty impressed with them. As to the best–well, whatever turns you on, go with! Even if that Z-scale GS-4 you just paid the National Debt for looks like a cute meal for the cat.
What impresses (maybe even scares) me the most about this is that “on30francisco” reached back OVER A YEAR to resurrect this topic. My question is did you read through ALL the topics back to that point in order to get to this one??? [xx(] [;)]
No offense, but this is not even a good question. Best for what? Best for detail is probably one of the larger scales, best for selection of equipment is probably HO, best for amount of layout in a give space is most likely Z, etc. I was once talking to a man with no real electrical knowledge about electricity. We got onto the differences between AC and DC. He actually asked me “is DC worse?” What the heck does that mean?worse than what, worse for what purpose, etc. Ask a real (as in specific) question to get a more meaningful answer.
