More questions ?????????/

Hi all I am back with more questions. If that's good or bad I don't know !

Still pondering this Situ. Z or N, have not commited to anything yet and with spring coming this is sure to be a late summer fall, winter project anyway.

Reading about Z I have noticed that most of what I read is all about modifying parts, Loco's trackage, turnouts etc, is this the real deal, or can one run Z without all the advanced tech. stuff ?

I have recieved quite a few comments over at TB that has me seriously thinking about how much actual trackage I can realisticly fit in N on my 24 x 48 space. I am thinking if it's worth it going with N.

Thanks Tony

I have nothing but, Micro Trains sectional on my layout and it is the same size. I have some pictures in the gallery of the some what finished product. I'll have some more up tonight. Granted it's not an industrial layout, more scenery, and small side track yard. Feel free to pruse. Hope that helps.

Eric

Tony, I noticed over on TrainBoard that you're getting an earful from some of the more vociferous members. You may have noticed that some Z scalers are, how shall I say, a little over-the-top about the scale. It's good to have such enthusiasm around, but sometimes I find it verges on fanaticism. The irony is that some of the most staunch supports of Z scale are the same ones that bristle when larger-scale enthusiasts pick on Z. Do they not see the hypocrisy of this when they're so loudly plugging Z scale to the exclusion of other scales?

Anyway, hopefully you'll be able to sift through the posts for the wheat and filter out the horn-tooting. For what it's worth, I'm modeling in Z scale for two reasons: I am limited on space, like yourself, and I wanted a new challenge. I've been modeling in N scale since around 1967, and I still have a preference for that scale. But breaking into new modeling territory has its pluses: it more or less forces a modeler to do a lot more modeling in order to get exactly what he or she wants.

I have a gut sense that, being new to model railroading, your better bet would be N scale. This would steer you clear of performance issues, for the most part, and allow you to focus on designing and building captivating scenes. Once you have a layout or two (or three!) under your belt, you might perhaps want to take on a bigger (ahem) challenge by working smaller.

But of course this is your decision. I'm just trying to help you avoid some of the propaganda that can emerge when enthusiasts get their motors revving. Myself, I like the challenges of Z scale, but I'm not all googly-eyed head-over-heels in love with it. More than anything, I use Z scale as a means to keep modeling under the constraints of real life; it provides me access to just enough commercial goods to support my modeling habit. If I did not have such constraints, I'd be working in N scale right now, and probably using a few Z items as forced-perspective props on a large N scale layout.

As to an N scale layout in a 2 x 4 foot space, this is still doable. You'll simply be restricted to small locomotives and rolling stock. The idea of doing a backwoods mining scene is a good start; rugged terrain would help hide much of the loop(s), assuming you want continuous running. I'll see if I can locate and/or draft some potential track plans. For what it's worth, my very first N scale layout was 2 x 4 feet; here's a bad photo of an embarrassing-looking layout built by a high school student...

David yes indeed, I am trying to get as many answers as I can to make a fairly educated decision. I agree that N scale is much easier for me. However I do have the knowlege and skills as a modeler I think to handle Z if I wanted to. Performance issues yes, really don;t want to be fiddling constantly with hardware at all. Just wanted to get more opinions here again. Still up in the air though, no rush to decide either.

Thanks Tony

tonphil1960 wrote:

Hi all I am back with more questions. If that's good or bad I don't know !

Reading about Z I have noticed that most of what I read is all about modifying parts, Loco's trackage, turnouts etc, is this the real deal, or can one run Z without all the advanced tech. stuff ?

Thanks Tony

Tony,

Ah ha.....I tracked you down over here too. You can run but you can't hide

I have many feet of track on some nice modules that I can run trains on almost error free for long periods of time at train shows. Nothing high tech or fancy. Just do your track work correctly and it is a simple matter to enjoy your running of trains.

Track work, track work, track work........do it right and you'll be pleased with operation.

Loren

David K. Smith wrote:

Tony, I noticed over on TrainBoard that you're getting an earful from some of the more vociferous members. You may have noticed that some Z scalers are, how shall I say, a little over-the-top about the scale. It's good to have such enthusiasm around, but sometimes I find it verges on fanaticism. The irony is that some of the most staunch supports of Z scale are the same ones that bristle when larger-scale enthusiasts pick on Z. Do they not see the hypocrisy of this when they're so loudly plugging Z scale to the exclusion of other scales?

Ok Dave,
I know you were thinking of me when you wrote the above and I'm not offended. However, I am not one who gets bristled when the larger scale guys come down on us.

Matter of fact I hope to run a three loco UP consist this summer at our G scale club here in Medford. G offers many pleasures that Z can't so I do appreciate the merits of other scales as well as Z.

I don't think of myself as a Z fanatic but maybe I am. I do like it above all other scales and I'll leave it at that.

What amazes me is the huge investment some of our Z buds have in the product. They obviously have much more money than I do....I must have done something wrong somewhere:huh:

Ok, enough of enjoying these boards, I do have a real job to do today.

Best to all,
Loren

tealplanes wrote:

Ok Dave,
I know you were thinking of me when you wrote the above and I'm not offended...

To be honest, I wasn't picking on you... not specifically, anyway... (ducks)

I was "synthesizing," if you will, a Z scale fanatic. I know full well that, while you love the scale above all others, you're hardly guilty of scale prejudice.

Go ahead, pick on Loren ... you should see his N and HO-Scale voo doo engines (dolls) that he sticks pins in

Brad,
You had to go and tell them didn't you. Ok, no sharing electricity with you.

Get your own 9 volts;)
Loren