I decided some time ago that I want to produce a lot more for Z scale. The steelmaking industry and 1:1 railway industry had other plans for me, however. One of the perils of making oneself useful!
My thinking on Z scale diesels is that I will make scale products with only those compromises that the technology requires, ergo scale width hoods, correct truck centres etc. The MT GP35 has a wheelbase that is suitable for one other locomotive: the GP30. I have contemplated a GP30 with a near-scale-width hood (by using etched parts) with cast resin for the bulk of the shell. Pilots, handrails etc would be etched. With talk of AZL producing a GP30 and near total lack of time on my part it isn't going to happen. If AZL or MT were to produce any of the EMDs with 34 foot truck centers the chassis would open up the possibility of GP39s, GP39-2s, GP40s, GP40-2s, GP49s and GP50s. We already have a lot of the basic 3D CAD such as long and short hoods and cabs done in N or TT scale (although we would have to convert some to etch artwork). I am aware that there are Z scalers out there who have stretched locomotive frames but I don't believe that is an acceptable approach for more than just a few buyers.
MT's forthcoming SD40-2 opens up some possibilities but the best chance of getting new Z scale models from Mark 4 Design would be if the recession hits my day, night and/or weekend jobs.
