My first venture into this section of train board. It seems like Z scale is truly flourishing over here. I look forward to popping over and seeing the work you guys are doing.
It's awesome. I wish I had the ability to join them but just looking at what happens here is very enjoyable. Charlie
Thank You! I can truly say that these few encouraging words will go along way when it comes to Z scale appreciation. We appreciate any and all support anyone can offer us and visa-versa, if we can assist in anything, all you have to do is ask! Thanks again! Hobo Tim
Geeky, why don't you just jump on a UA or Frontier to San Jose the weekend of 23-24 and just see the BAZ BoyZ in person? We'll show ya some big modules, a movie theater, radio tower and DCC.
Hobo, I think it is interesting how scale phobic people get. I still hear stupid comments from people that almost like the kind of racist slurs the way they say them, all because I do a different scale. thumbs up to all of you guys doing Z. Z-man, Would love to come visit but the cash is tight. I'll keep coming here and looking at what you guys are doing. I was once tempted to buy a four pack of shorty tankers with european soap brandnames on them, just because. Somehow the cost of Z has always kept me away from actually purchasing it. I love looking at it though. My LHS has some in a cabiinet and I always oggle the european passenger trains. Long Z scale story follows: Back in the seventies my best friend was of german decent, 1st generation immigrant. His grandmother started sending him "toy" trains from germany as presents for B-days and Xmass. He first got a 060 tanker set with power and oval of track etc. Just the basic starter. I very jealously watched as he amassed a fairly large collection of early Z scale DB trains. His layout was a double oval with some spurs but it amazed me how small it was and how well it ran. Ironically, I was thinking of him a month ago and so I called his folks house and got his number from them. his mother was very apologetic, telling me had moved away from our home town, and now lived off in Colorado. I live in Colorado. It turns out he lives maybe three miles from me. We got together for the first time in 30 years for a beer. I asked about the trains and he says he still has them. Along the same lines, does anyone here model standard german prototypes?
There was a time when this site was basically N scale however the Z scale forum is really active now which is great to see. Some really amazing modelling happening, it is very impressive to read
Why that would be a yes. I model everything Z! My home layout is European. I also have North American modules and layouts that I model run on. Rob
I checked out this forum years ago. I had no Z then. I asked a few questions, like does it really run? I saw the nice work and thought: yeah, but it runs like crap, why waste the time. Hey I was wrong! I must agree that this is "The Place" for Z scale.
It is interesting to note that there is no Starter "quality" (or lack thereof) type sets in Z scale. The worst you will see is equal in quality to a median quality set in N scale and now the pricing is just about comparable as well. In the last few years, quality has gone up even more and the prices have started coming down (relatively speaking and adjusted for inflation). The one exception on price would be Marklin and that is mostly due to fluctations in the exchange rate. One year it can be low and the next year it can be high. If you get it directly from Germany, the prices are lower as well. Randy
Ztrak, Nice layout. Very impressive fleet of trains. Well... I went to the LHS and checked out their Z scale stock. Not a good thing for me to do since I am unemployed right now, but hey lifes fun living on the edge. So basically, I need z scale like I need to go to the bad side of town and purchase crack, NOT! Dang this stuff is, dare I say, CUTE! Gotta have some. I had not realized that Z scale Is actually affordable now. The Microtrains Z locos were only about 80 bucks. Cars were about the same price as N scale higher price cars. While at the Hobby store the guy behind the counter said that Marklin had been bought and there was some doubt as to what would be happening to them. Any info on that guys? Where do I find catalogs of marklin stuff online, especially euro proto. Thanks
Probably the best place to start is the Marklin, Inc. web site. Check out: http://www.marklin.com/ You can also check out the online dealers. They have images of a number of Marklin Z items. Here are a couple of great dealers: http://www.reynaulds.com/ http://www.eurorailhobbies.com/ Yes, Marklin has been sold. But we don't see too big of an impact. This year is a transition year, but we are told to expect more next year. It will be an ineteresting! Rob
Here is the Märklin Z catalog in English version: http://catalog.lokshop.de/MAR/2006/E/Z/image_1.html
Geeky, once you find what you like (and a job , simply Google the part number and you will quickly find who has what you want. Some stores have good stock, some have to order and some have really bad websites (no pix, one LONG list, etc.) so you'll learn your favorite. Sometime we buy from Needful-toys on Zbay as he often has everything in stock at great prices and only costs $7-$14 to ship anything. Also, may "sets" are broken up for even better deals (and greater profits for the resellers) so you'll need to learn the indiviual part numbers for each. Once you get some track down, you'll be running. You'd be surprised how cheap you can find running stuff.
Well, As all things trains go with me. I tend to shop for ages before taking the plunge. Half the fun is researching my subject. Thanks for the links those were some good time spent on the internet. I found this site today: http://www.wymann.info/SwissRailwayZ/ Are Swiss intercity passenger cars fairly easy to locate? I find myself drawn to the swiss stuff. If only they made Italian prototype.
Some years ago I had the chance to go a few times to Denver, and I found Caboose Hobby was a mecqua, even for Z scale that was then far from showing the same choice than now... BTW unfortunately most hobby stores are still reluctant to Z, wherever here in France or in the US when I go there in vacation once a year, and that's why I'm still making 95% of my purchases online..... (but in Denver, what a memory: the hotel where I spent my nights was just along the UP Denver to KC sub, just close to former Stappleton Airport.....How awesome it was!) Dominique
Dominique, I live close enough to Caboose Hobbies that I walk or ride my bike there. They do have a nice selection of Z scale, but european style Z is not too popular. They have gotten rid of almost all the european stuff, but have a wall of Z scale freight cars and a variety of Z scale track products. It is what is drawing me to Z scale, the ability to go and look at it up close. I have to say, the American stuff just doesn't really attract me. I already have a nice N scale layout in US prototype. Can a regular power pack be used with Z scale or is the voltage too high? Could I put a resistor on my track leads to bring the voltage down?
Most Z locos are rated for 8 to 10 volts. BTW under these inputs they run at a very unprototypical high speed. They can be run at fair speeds under a 3 to 4 volts input. So I believe there are few risks to fry them. There is maybe one exception: the AZL SD70M. Mine crawl at something like 50 scale mph under their max input. This a factory design in order to have a maximum tractive effort. For these I consider using a voltmeter in order always to have them under their max voltage. Dominique
Geek, you can use a regular power pack, once you put a volt meter on the track and get an idea how fast your trains run, under load, with about 8V max. Try and stay below this, 5-6V max. I'm sure you don't have 18" radius and the desire to run an ICE at scale 300km speed. Or, you can place 1-5 bridge rectifiers (not just 1-5 single diodes in series) with the output of the pack, but that will restrict you to single polarity, you'll have to add a reversing switch after it. The resistors will drop more voltage with more current (e.g. 2 vs 1 loco or a grade). The diodes will have somewhat of a same effect but no where as bad. Each bridge rectifier drops about 1V under load so you won't see the drop if you just measure the output with out a loco. You could buy another power pack @ ~ $40 but you can make yours work fine once you know it. Some put a screw or glue a stop on the power pack to limit it. (make sure you take it apart before drilling so you know where the drill and screw will end up
