I have a question. Does anybody here do Z scale? It is pretty tiny and was just curious. Also, does anybody know what the Z in Z scale stands for? [?][8]
I don’t use Z scale at all, but I believe that it was labeled Z scale because the original inventors believed that nothing would ever be smaller than it, so it picked the very last letter in the alphabet.
Although if I’m wrong, I’m sure someone more knowledgable will quickly correct me.
i have a small Z scale set, but am not really trying to model in that scale. The workmanship in the Marklin locos is amazing. Check out the following link if you want more info on Z
http://www.ztrains.com/pages/beginning/introduction/introduction.html
I have heard this too. Marklin felt this would be the smallest scale possible when they started making it. Of course that’s what people believed about O scale when it first came. Existing scales were numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4. O was actually zero and was believed to be the smallest scale possible.
Enjoy
Paul
I would have a Z scale set as a novelty someday, when I have the money to spend on it. I have enough trouble with how small n scale is! The products are neat to look at, especially the ones faithfully based on American prototypes, but the lack of products and diminutive size dont make it anything I could seriously see modeling. Also, most Z scale models seem to be based on foreign prototypes.
Dont know where the Z comes from, but I do recall a couple of friends of mine thinking that the G in G scale must stand for gigantic! (I believe it stands for garden).
I have some Z - bought one of the Marklin battery-powered sets and then the add-on kit. It’s very cute, but doesn’t take up that much less space than N, and doesn’t run as well as N in my experience.
I think the “G” stands for Groß - German for large or big. This would fit, given LGB were the first to produce it. The acronym is of “Lehmann Groß Bahn” or in English “Lehmann’s Big Train”.
i doubt we will ever have anything smaller than z
if someone needs an even smaller layout, they will turn to computer simulators
Myself I’m modelling Z scale: I currently work on a 6.5 x 4 meter (roughly 21 x 13 feet) walk-in style layout that will show chosen locations of the Tehachapi Pass, CA.
My goal is having broad curves (50cm / 20" mini radius) and to operate long prototypical trains (up to 80 cars) that amaze me as here in Europe the rare freight trains that still run are very shorter (seldom more than 20/25 cars).
Indeed I recall my former HO layout when I was a kid, with very tight curves that showed long passenger cars (euro prototype) under an very unprototypical look.
And when reading ModelRailroader (very good magazine BTW) I oftenly feel upset when seeing a superb HO scale articulated steam loco for rivet counters running on streetcar like tight curve…
For this reason Z scale was the obvious choice, even more than N.
When I began collecting stuff for this purpose in 1997 it’s true the choice was scarce.
But for the last 5 years we’ ve been having more choice than in the previous 25 years…New motive power (AZL’s Dash9s, SD40-2s, SD45s, F59PHIs, GS3 and 4s, Alco PAs, EMD Es, soon coming SD70/75s and Cab Forward, Micro-Trains soon coming GP35, etc…), new rolling stock, new structures and accessories, new track systems and turnouts, etc…
Most new brand of locos come DCC ready.
Z scale is now entering it’s adult age.
Dominique
Actually, I saw a layout at the Great American Train Show once that was 1/900 scale. The layout was about 6" by 4". Pretty neat to watch.[8D]
(Sorry for the previous mistake) Yes, but this system is not “true” modelrailroading, in that sense that there are not true trains running on true tracks. Actally the “trains” are static models that run on an undertable continuous rubber strap via a girder that crosses the basement…All you can do with it is running on a loop. No turnouts, no coupling or uncoupling, no wye, no switching, etc…
At the opposite of Z scale, which is a true part of modelrailroading whatever say its detractors.
Dominique