What does Z scale have to do to lure you to it?

[Mark5]

1.) Decals, 2.) Decent steam with working valve gear, 3.) Detail parts,

Hey! that's my list for N scale!

[Nato]

  Z (Zed) is actually  N (nen) turned on it's side. What would I want, well in Just Passenger trains alone a Cal Zeph, a Pioneer Zeph,an M10000,how bout a 1955 Empire (umpire) Builder, and oh yes the entire 1955 City of LA Domeliner with three E-8 / 9 diesels. My list just goes on and on. On the otherhand I would really like to see kits (Resin?) For N n 2 locomotives and rolling stock from New England Area, this has always interested me, and some Fine Scale (Bullhead?) rail to lay the track.                                 Nate Goodman (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah.

[Pomperaugrr]

I am impressed by the improvements I've seen made in Z scale over the past few years.  With improved track and locomotive mechanisms, Z scale has a lot of potential.  It can provide an outlet for folks with limited space and a desire to run long trains and an operations oriented layout.  Anything that keeps the hobby going is alright in my book.  Z scale is just not for me though.

Eric

[Chris333]

Z scale narrow gauge:
http://www.bronx-terminal.com/wp-content/uploads/270607.jpg

[ednadolski]

To me Z is intriguing,  but not (yet) economical -- how much nowadays for a diesel like say a GP or SD?   Also aren't all the cars "high riders" with "pizza cutter" wheels? (No surprise there, if they come from MT)  Seems Z cars would be trickier to lower than N.

The Code 40 rail seems oversized for Z, but I have heard of folks who hand-lay 0.030" tall strip metal on PC ties, they say it is so small that you don't notice that it has no rail profile.

I've actually gone the other direction & dabbled in Proto:48, tho I never built anything worth mentioning.   Yes it is more costly than Z but you don't need nearly as much stuff, and the detailing you can do is incredible.  However for me, weathering a $25+ N-scale car is scary enough, but the thought of touching a $70+ car in O scale gives me even more gray hair 

In both scales the selections are considerably more limited than N.

[ednadolski]

Z Scale Tehachapi Loop:

http://www.platelayer.com/mj/tehachapi/index.asp

(Don't know if he ever built this, but the plans are really cool!) 

[SecretWeapon]

GROW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sokramiketes]

Z Scale Tehachapi Loop:

http://www.platelayer.com/mj/tehachapi/index.asp

(Don't know if he ever built this, but the plans are really cool!) 

That's neat!

[up1950s]

Z scale narrow gauge:
http://www.bronx-terminal.com/wp-content/uploads/270607.jpg

Gee Chris , if somebody could come up with N scale mine cars to actually run on that Zn whatever , that might sell .

[ednadolski]

Z Scale Tehachapi Loop:

http://www.platelayer.com/mj/tehachapi/index.asp

(Don't know if he ever built this, but the plans are really cool!) 

That's neat!

I liked it so much that it inspired my own Loop layout, tho as you can see mine isn't as complete and I am in dire need of a backdrop....

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o153/ednadolski/100B1171_small.jpg

I always thought it would be cool to make something like this that could travel to shows & maybe somehow hook into an N-Track setup, but even a very small Loop is too big to transport in N scale -- that's a case where Z could be interesting tho....

[Chris333]

ednadolski,
Great layout and models!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Wow Ed, that layout IS great!

[Kisatchie]

"What does Z scale have to do to lure you to it?"

Nothing personal, but it's just too small for me.

[Pray59]

Haha! You guys sound just like the HO guys did 10 years ago in the NMRA, when talking about N Scale! ;D

Z Scale is for the hard core, those that extract pleasure out of their hand crafted labor, and not yet for the RTR crowd. Ohh! Did that hit home? 

5 years ago I was just like most of you, but... yawn... over the past few years I grew weary of my N Scale collection. Now I am tasked and challenged, and enjoying modeling more than ever.

It takes cash or the desire to develop skills to get into Z, but Z is still growing, so maybe in 5-10 years it will appeal to more of you.

-Robert

PS: If you like Metal, here is our latest Z Scale video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MSO95vu18A

[up1950s]

Haha! You guys sound just like the HO guys did 10 years ago in the NMRA, when talking about N Scale! ;D

Z Scale is for the hard core, those that extract pleasure out of their hand crafted labor, and not yet for the RTR crowd. Ohh! Did that hit home? 

5 years ago I was just like most of you, but... yawn... over the past few years I grew weary of my N Scale collection. Now I am tasked and challenged, and enjoying modeling more than ever.

It takes cash or the desire to develop skills to get into Z, but Z is still growing, so maybe in 5-10 years it will appeal to more of you.

-Robert

Thats the biggest Z layout I saw so far . Thanks for sharing .

PS: If you like Metal, here is our latest Z Scale video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MSO95vu18A