Z-scale trainsets?

[bsoplinger]

OK, let's just say for the sake of argument that the Z-scale bug bit me.

What's my best option to get started? That is get a loco and some rolling stock? Does anyone other than the Japanese and Europeans make trainsets? I was looking at the FPH59 and cars, but $400 is a bit on the extreme end, is there anything cheaper?

What I've found:
Marklin Pacific and 2 cars, caboose: 300
Pro Z: EF65 and 7 cars: 225ish (Yen to $ is tricky)
American Z Line: F59PH + 4 cars, amtrak: 400

I just haven't managed to find a place where I could do something like a loco from column A and 3 cars from column B and 2 from column C

Is there a good choice with a well stocked Z segment?

[Sokramiketes]

www.Zscalemonster.com is a friendly online shop that I've used personally.  You would be able to piece together a set of MTL track, MTL or AZL locomotive, and pick out individual freight cars from them.

[Mark5]

heh, my wife wants a Z set to put under glass ala in a coffee table.

if we ever do it I'm liking the MT F7 and a short train.

One of these prolly:

http://www.micro-trains.com/train_sets_z.php

[Chris333]

The MT F7 is no longer made. I'm sure there are still tons of them out there though. My 2 F7's run pretty good and are nice and slow.

[Mark5]

The MT F7 is no longer made. I'm sure there are still tons of them out there though. My 2 F7's run pretty good and are nice and slow.

Well they are selling them in the trainsets on their site (see above).

So they discontinued it? Why?

[DKS]

So they discontinued it? Why?

They're 30+ years old. Based on 70s technology, shell tooling and mechanism design. Long overdue for retirement. MT's newer GP9s are nice smooth runners, even though their shells are "fat" to clear the motors. I hear they're releasing an E unit soon, along with passenger cars.

That said, nothing wrong with an old F7 unit, just noisy and sometimes requires some TLC to coax it into running smoothly. You can sometimes get F7 trainsets for a real bargain on fleabay. Just watch out which couplers are being offered--avoid Marklins.

BTW, I wholeheartedly endorse ZScaleMonster as likely the best online shop for Z.

[Chris333]

I think Joe said the molds for the frames halves are no longer good. I would love a nice F3 in Z!!!

[Chris333]

Also you seem to want a passenger set, may like these:
http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=96132
http://ztrackcenter.com/marsilius/