You GuyZ are so Lucky!

Today I was visiting my local hobby shop, Rio Grande Hobbies. They are not your typical hobby shop as they are mainly web based but they decided to open the doors to the locals when they moved here.

www.4nscale.com

Talking to the owner he is surprised to have so much walk-in traffic. When you walk into the store, the isles are stocked full of N scale rollingstock and lots of accessories.

The reason I go to the store is because in the very middle isle is a small section of N scale & general model train magazines, but next to these is the Z scale section. This hobby store is mainly N scale but they do sell Z scale.

I have to say, every time I enter this store the N scale just overwhelmes me. I wish it were all Z scale. I know 20 years from now it just might be, but that is 20 years from now.

You guyZ are so lucky to have all the items you have to build your massive empires of "N". I envy all of you!!!

Hobo Tim

 

And we N Scalers usually have similar comments about stores who primarily stock HO Scale. Just a matter of perspective I guess.

Ben

 

AND, I remember a time when HO scale... was slim pickins. Thanks to Athearn we started getting some variety...quality was lacking...but you could buy better running chassis and some limited detail parts to improve them.

Today, with the Genesis line, Athearn has finally stepped up to the plate to produce quality comparable to Kato. I didn't think I'd ever see that day.

Never, ever, in the history of Model Railroading, have we had it so good.

I believe it's safe to say that "Z" scale has more to offer... then some of us old timers remember having available in HO, when we first started. Right?

Railfanning since 1949, Model Railroading since 1959!

 

As Mark (Fotheringill) once posted about N scale "welcome to squinting" which is so true. I can't image what working Z scale would be like. I am amazed at some of the layout in that forum.

 

I always tried to visit RGH whenever I worked the local in Owensboro. Much to my dismay, they were NEVER open for walk ins when I was there. Hopefully that will change now.

 

I try not to look too hard at what is available in HO scale and compare it.

So far, I have been able to keep pretty busy. I have modeling skills developed in architecture school that I can use to build bridges, buildings, etc. that are not available as kits. There are new engines coming out all the time, and the trend seems to be on the rise. I belong to an NTrak club now, so there are lots of opportunities for sharing ideas, swapping equipment, and helping each other out.

I went to the World's Greatest Hobby tour when it was here and my jaw just dropped when I saw what some folks were doing in Z scale. A-MA-ZING!

Adam

Adam

 

Walked inside RGH two different times in Owensboro while visiting by grandparents in Bowling Green. It was N-scale heaven. Now that it's gone, the closest stores to Bowling Green are in Nashville.

The first time they were "closed", but since we had traveled all the way from Bowling Green, originally from Texas, they let us in the side door. Mother-Son team, they were very nice both times. I believe it was the second time my dad and I went there that they were partially flooded because of snow, or was that the first???

 

Rio Grande Hobbies has moved!

I don't think most know this but Rio Grande Hobbies was sold and then moved.

Rio Grande Hobbies has been in Georgia for close to a year now. If anyone is near Atlanta way, RGH is about an hours drive NW, and that is in traffic. If you are up this way, you might as well visit the Smithsonian's Civil War Railroad Museum in Kennessaw. The 4-4-0 "General" is housed there. You'll find a train hobby shop across the tracks from the museum too.

Have a nice day!

Hobo Tim

 

We are still the poor relation of the industry. Modeling in Z is like being left in the doorway of the church.

Bernard- I am still squinting away.