Have the REAL modelers deserted N for Z??

[3rdrail]

OK, I'm gonna stir up a hornet's nest here. But I notice things have died down on the Weathering Scratchbuilding and Kitbashing forum here. I also note that Robert Ray (Pray59), Chris Schmuck (Chris333), Tom Mann (Tom Mann ;D) and others appear to have ceased scratchbuilding in N and are working more and more in Z scale. Then I saw the casting work being done by Tim Luehring in Z scale on Trainboard...

Have all the craftsman left us? I'll admit that there is now a decent Diesel or two in Z, and finally, a turnout that does not look toylike, but IMHO Z has not yet reached the critical mass of supporting material like decals to support any but the most intrepid scratchbuilder who does not mind winding his own motor armatures and the like. 

If Randy Gustafson (Randgust) starts selling a Z scale Class A Climax, I guess those of us left in N can cry Et tu, Brutus? 

[Mark5]

Unequivocally NO! :

Z scale would be a nightmare for me, I'd have to scratchbuild most everything.

[FrankCampagna]

I believe both of you have made exactly the point. N scale is becoming too tame, with too much ready-to-run, pre-built buildings, etc. Kind of like the early pioneers. When an area becomes too settled, they tended to move out to wilder territory. S scale used to attract scratch builders for the same reason. Because you have to scratchbuild, and you can. Frank

[coaster]

If the definition we're going to adopt for "REAL modeler" or "craftsmanship" is limited to scratchbuilding alone, there might be some validity to your question.  On the other hand, even with the amount of ready-to-run (which has always been the norm in N) and pre-built buildings, etc., there's still more than enough area for anyone to stretch himself (or herself) in this scale. 

Even when Gilbert, Revell and Lionel led the charge into ready-to-run HO -- much to the chagrin of the old-time "blacksmiths," who claimed they were ruining the scale -- there were still more than a few craftsmen who managed to find abundant challenge in modeling what you wouldn't find on everybody else's pike.  (Pike?  Did I really say that?  Haven't heard that term in a long time!)

-- Paul

[Mark5]

Maybe one of the savants should write a book along the lines of:

Real Modeler's don't eat Quiche

[Iain]

Why not try TT. Then you really WOULD have to scratchbuild.

[Mark5]

And here I thought we were "model railroaders". I guess we can break out into several camps - model railroaders vs builders of railroad models.

I'm more obsessive about building a model of a railroad (albeit a specific one) than I am obsessed about any particular model on my roster.

Does this make me a lesser craftsman?

[sillystringtheory]

I would say no. They went to HO as I am considering because of failing eyesight although a trip to the dentist's today gave me this idea:
http://www.binoculite.com/

[tom mann]

Well, for now at least, I dabble in Z - so I consider Z scale a side job.  There are a number of events coming up that may push me over the edge and model Z full time.  But Z isn't really much smaller than N to justify space savings, Z doesn't have nearly as much product availability as N, and; well, we can all think of drawbacks.

I'm dabbling in Z because I'm inspired by the challenge of weathering the MT boxcars.  And being inspired to weather creates amazing work (sometimes).  I have a photo that I'm saving for an upcoming article in a zscale mag that hopefully will blow you away... ;D

[Chris333]

Hey cool I'm a REAL modeler 

I can't see me ever selling off my N scale, but I haven't messed with it for a while. If Bachmann would finally do a 2-10-0 that might get me going again though.

Tim is the guy who showed step by step how to etch brass, I went right out and bought my own kit and he has answered a ton of my questions. I have some of his cast Z scale tractors too:


Robert and a few other Z scalers have lasers. Tim can cast and etch, plus he says he has an injection molding machine, but no dies yet. Both of them have ALPs printers. Give me all this and a CNC milling machine and Z would be much better.

When I think of all the time it took to make my camelbacks cab by hand, now I could just draw it up and etch it in about 2 hours. So when I get back to N it should be for the better. Just like if a N scaler goes to HO, everything seems so big and you want to fill that space with more detail.

I'm working on a Z scale caboose that is way better than what I ever did in N scale, maybe when I'm done I will super size it up to N.

[Chris333]

Far from done, but a preview:

 ;D

[nscalesteve]

Hey cool I'm a REAL modeler 

Chris, people who do etch their own roofwalks and handrails or switchtowers are REAL modeler... 

Tim is the guy who showed step by step how to etch brass...

...link ?

[Ian MacMillan]

I blame Chris......hes good.

And that caboose is looking good! Much better than the trial runs with the CNC machine!

[Chris333]

Tim is the guy who showed step by step how to etch brass...

...link ?

Well it was here:
http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=79979&highlight=etching
But it looks like Tim removed all the photos... sorry.

Now I just need to learn how to make decal artwork (hint, hint) 

[Mark5]

With all due respect to my esteemed colleagues, some of these "techniques" require a certain amount of "capital".

Thus I hope that "real modelers" won't be confined to "well off" modelers.


Aint I a stinker?

(I just bought a factory in China ...)