Z Scale Attributes

It’s all good Allan. Trains are trains, regardless of scale. Although, Z is just a teeny tiny bit small for my eyes, even with lens replacements!

I was a N scaler for years. That is me 30 years ago.

Don

Allan: For several decades now, I have thought about getting one of those Marklin Z briefcase layouts. As a teacher for some twenty-five years, I imagined having a desktop layout during free periods and lunch, but alas, my other gauges always got my available funds. One local collector friend with a Z layout used to joke about a bacteria derailing his trains! LOL!

Alan,

Have you ever tried TGauge? (I haven't) Guess it would be hard to come up with a steam locomotive version given the complexity of modeling piston, rods and linkages at 1:450 scale.

Allan: just thinking I might have purchased one of your briefcase layouts back in the day. The ones offered by Marklin included the scenary and structures plus a train and battery controller. Ready to run! :-)

Just started dabbling in N, for reasons I won't mention here...

From an operating model railroad layout perspective, The real advantage of Z is the ability to model with the scenery truly dominating the railroad and structures, as it does in real life. I have never gone beyond the very modest layout size with Z, aside from an around-the-walls layout back when I lived in Hawaii, but even that one afforded some very long runs through some dominating scenery. As an aside, that layout was equipped with fully operating catenary, which was surprisingly reliable. I had a good number of European electric locomotives (Marklin) at the time. Folks do tend to poke fun at the small size of Z, but I'm blind as a bat without my glasses on, and have never had any real problem working with that tiny scale. Had a lighted magnifier mounted on my workbench, and that served well when needed.

Just checked the very nice current NOCH briefcase Z layouts and WOWSA at the prices! Still unaffordable! :-(

Allan: Catenary operation with Z must be very impressive and amazing! Did Marklin make the catenary system?

Marklin Z produces some very precision and well crafted locomotives. I was unaware they made models of electric locos with actual working pantographs! Amazing!

I have quite a bit of Z Scale equipment/rolling stock and Miller building kits in my storage, just waiting for me to find a home so they can pop out of their box.  I plan on having 4 layouts in my home, when I finally obtain one.  I will model G, mostly Playmobil stuff, O three rail (High), N scale and Z scale.

I am thinking of using the N and Z on the O scale layout to force a perspective of trains in the distance.  I think it will be pretty cool.  With G, I pictured a floor layout with Playmobil towns and forts for the grandkid to play with.  Thinking of doing a garden layout for Papa, but don't want to bite off too much in the beginning.   The O layout will be the focus of my early attention.  At least as big as half of my basement.  The planned house is 1840 square feet, and perfectly rectangular.  So the O layout will be a minimum of 50 feet long!  Going to be able to run some cool trains on it!

I was interested in doing a bit of Z; FWIW, Marklin engines were nice runners (once you cleaned and re-lubed everything).  Sold the Marklin, still have some Micro Trains track, F units and cars. Those F units are fussy little things, but are very easy to work on...fun stuff.

Mark in Oregon

Thought Allan might have answered my questions above. Guess he is busy?