No, I don't have 18" radius curves, because my minimum radii will be 20" (yes twenty inches, 50 cm ). And my goal is not to operate ICE's at 300 scale km/h (re ), but heavy freights (up to 80 cars) on a layout that will show chosen locations of the famous Tehachapi Pass. And I want to emphasise on close to prototype curves (mine will thus be scale 16 degree curves, yet far more than the ten degrees curves on most US mountain railroads, but with a quite pretty prototypical look). This layout will be a walk-in and walk-around style layout, sitting in a 22' x 13' room. It should have been tall enough to host an honest HO layout or even a N scale empire, but I definitively remember my former euro style HO layout when I was a kid, with its streetcar-like tight curves on which passenger trains had an awful look.... Initially my goal was to build the Loop at an exact scale and only Z scale allowed this. Oddly I don't have anymore the Loop in my layout's final design, but I definitively believe in Z scale, and as I had already invested in huge amounts of rolling stock, track and turnouts when I decided this change in design, I decided to go on with Z scale. And I know my choice is the good one! Cheers, Dominique
Z Scale has certainly took off over the last few years!! The biggest drawbacks for me are decoder installations in Z. I have issues working on my N Scale locos (has improved greatly over the last few years). Details are very small (people, cars, etc). I am slowly adjusting to this in Z scale. Now the trains look awesome and scenery capabilites is just nuts . I do plan to dabble in Z scale someday. Maybe I will recyle the upcoming Canton Division into Z scale when I build the N Scale empire in the future garage. I need to win the lottery NOW!!
I can use a lottery win myself, so I could start a model railroad company to build all the locos I want in Z. I would also produce a track and turnout selection with Yard Ladders, and all kinds of great stuff... if I won the lottery. Decoders are not impossible, but they do require care and patience. But you have to admit... Z Scale looks so cool being so small compared to N Scale. It has been just over 3 years since I switched to Z from N, and I have totally lost my eye for N Scale stuff. It happens! Just look at some HO stuff, and ask yourself how big it looks, and how much more happy you model N? Well that's how I feel now with Z. It is happening to lots of N Scalers now, as more Z Scale stuff comes available.
I have ato agree with Robert, Heck I think it has bee almost 3 years now for me since the switch from N to Z. Every now and then I am tempted, but boy Z is so much more satisfying. I guess it just seems like everything has been done and produced now in N so maybe that is the appeal for me.
Same here! My wife keeps saying she has the winning numbers. But for some reason, she never uses them! mg: :sad: Boxcab E50
