What are we lacking in Z scale?

Karin,

I really like your buildings. I've gone German with my micro layout, so none of your great work will appear here, I'm sorry to say. I've got the three BAZ half timbered houses coming, though. While researching German towns, I notice that there are cobblestone-like streets almost everywhere. I've looked high and low for scratch building supplies that will give me cobblestone streets, but can't find anything. So I guess I'd say that's one thing missing from Z scale.




I agree that it would be great to have building materials, in wood, that have already been mentioned available. Siding, stone and brick walls (for houses and other buildings); roofing materials; windows, doors and their frames, all of which would be available in both N. American and European styles.

Also, it would be fabulous to have a Canadian steam locomotive, tender and caboose set plus a set of Canadian passenger cars. I know there are CN and CP diesel locomotives and cars to go with them, but steam is my personal favourite.

HI
Cobblestones come in different sizes and are in different patterns. Cobblestones are still used in Germany, especially in places where they have the half timbered houses. but not always. (I live in such a house but its not as pretty as my neighbors house.) Cobblestones in most of roads were replaced in the 60s but in some places made a comeback.
I use a printed paper sheet made by Faller in N scale, number 222569 for my cobblestones. There is also in Z scale a cobblestone road that's like a roll of tape, sticky on one side, (I don't have the packaging so I don't remember who makes it) It is really strait, which isn't realistic in Europe, but I cut bits off for the sidewalks (which can also be cobblestone, usually smaller stones so it contrasts with the one from Faller)
The thing about the Faller sheet is it is wide so you could use it to build say, a market square in the "old part" of a German town with the old buildings around it.
If you are doing an Era that is earlier than the late 50's, then you would need more cobblestone streets.
If one thinks the cobblestones on the Faller sheet is too big, then it can also be scanned and printed out on a color copier with the size reduced.
It depends on the region and the era you are building things.. Most houses here are stucco with tile roofs. Just like not all Canadians live in log cabins in the snow covered woods, not all Germans live in a halve timbered house.

Hello Beverly, Hello Kelley,
Kelley wrote:

HI
Cobblestones come in different sizes and are in different patterns. Cobblestones are still used in Germany, especially in places where they have the half timbered houses. but not always. (I live in such a house but its not as pretty as my neighbors house.) Cobblestones in most of roads were replaced in the 60s but in some places made a comeback.

It depends on the region and the era you are building things.. Most houses here are stucco with tile roofs. Just like not all Canadians live in log cabins in the snow covered woods, not all Germans live in a halve timbered house.

I can confirm about the cobblestones still in use, and in a lot of places again in use for streets. As Kelley wrote, back in the 60s and 70s cobblestone roads often were redone into more modern streets. But now they are often have a comeback especially in old town centers because they help with the flair of a city. Fortunately in those cases they are better made then before. Or probably I should say that they are better matched to todays needs and weights of the modern traffic. Where you see still the old cobblestone roads it often is a pain to drive on. Especially in some old villages you can find some stretches of really bad cobblestone roads. On my way to work I have to pass a village with one of those.
There are also different kind of cobblestones, often depending on the material that was available in the area. Some are a real pain to drive on in wet conditions.

About the exterieur of houses, this also depends on where in Germany you are. Kelley lives in the southern part I believe, and there stucco walls are more common. Up in the northern parts you find much more houses with brick walls. As my wifes father said when I was building our house: Don't go to stucco walls, those workers here can't do them as they do them in Southern Germany. Here they only can stack bricks... but his own house is also stucco, but then he bought it as an old house.
Besides: stucco or brickwork both is used with those half timbered houses. Most of the house kits from Faller, Kibri or Vollmer are more of the southern option.
Even if they now are more build real pure wooden houses here are much less common then in the US or Canada. (I remember when I went from near Seattle on a daytrip to Vancouver,BC my hosts pointed out to me: Look and see, they build brick houses over here...)

Alinda used some of the cobblestone tape (faller) to make a town square, exactly as described. I can take some pictures later on....

Beverly56 wrote:

Karin,
I've got the three BAZ half timbered houses coming, though.

I bought those too, but I've only assembled the smallest one. It went together well and looks good, but you do have to be patient.

Now the usual complaint with kits is missing parts, but in this case I ended up with one part left over. For the life of me I can't see where it was meant to go! Anyway, enjoy!

Kelly and ULie,

I will look around some of the German sites for the cobblestones as well as brick and stone walls.

From looking at scores of German house photos I realize that there are many styles and exterior finishes. I think I even saw a thatch roofed house and I'd love to replicate the thatching if I can. First, I have to try my hand with the BAZ houses to see how they are made before I strike out on my own.

Andy,

Please post some photos. BTW, where did you get your materials?

Beverly56 wrote:

. . .I notice that there are cobblestone-like streets almost everywhere. I've looked high and low for scratch building supplies that will give me cobblestone streets, but can't find anything. . .

how about this:
cobblestones
OK, so it is N, but this has never particularly bothered anybody here before

Beverly56 wrote:

I've looked high and low for scratch building supplies that will give me cobblestone streets, but can't find anything.

www.eurorailhobbies.com/ERH/eurorailhobbiesdetail.asp?pageid=&MN=15&SC=Z&stock=NO-44070

Enjoy, Jim K

From my experience, the products of Hugwa are very nice and exact to scale (and prompt delivery too). Their etched products are very well taken care of. I have their culvert, it is very intricate but with some patience "do-able", and it came out very nicely.

The pushcart is quite a challenge to build , the first one I tried ended up samewhere in outerspace (that is, off my workbench and never found again); from the second one I lost the wheel in a similar way and I had to make a new one out of a slice of a styrene rod.

I´ve been looking at the ferroconcrete posts for a while, and with this idea of N scale cobblestones, I might go for a new order.

Andy, and others, if looking for German style laser cut buildings, take a look at
www.mbz-modellbahnzubehoer.de/
They have quite a range of kits in Z. I have not had the pleasure of working with one of their kits, but from the site it looks incredibly good. Take a look at their foto gallery, and don´t forget their list of products. Anyone tell us more about this "hersteller" ?

Matt

Matt,

The November/December 2008 issue of Ztrack Magazine has a review of MBZ kits. I built one at the end of last year and loved it! I have other kits on order. In the US, they are available through Reynauld's Euro-Imports. Definitely run kits to build.

Another favorite is Luetke's line of kits. I have completed one and will be building others. They are excellent!

Rob

Ok Rob, thanks, that´s good to hear. MBZ is the one to try.
Luetke´s kits are nice too, indeed, though a bit "clean" imho. The brewery is very nice, a friend has it and was enthusiastic about building it. For those interested:
www.luetke-modellbahn.de/

Matt

Matt,

I have the brewery. It is on my to build the list. It looks incredible! I already completed the wine whole seller warehouse. It went together beautifully. We actually distribute their products here in the US. You can find the full line at:

www.ztrackcenter.com

Here is the Luetke image of the brewery:



Rob

Well Beverly, you don't want much do you? Just kidding. Yes, there is a need for hundreds of Z items.
When you stop and consider the fact that Z scale is relatively new compared to other scales like N, it is no wonder we have a shortage of ready to run, ready to use, Z supplies.

You should have seen the much smaller inventory of Z items just 4 years ago. Be glad you started just recently.

Don't know if Karin or any other laser owner wants to make that sort of cobblestone road bed and side walks etc., but it is something that is most likely in the realm of possibility.

Maybe you ought to communicate a bit more with the site and ask for specifically a certain item. You never know what someone might be willing to conjure up;)

Loren

Hi Loren,

Thank you for the reply

I have your email address from another thread and often dream about contacting you and Karin about some of the things I've been thinking about. I'm still so close to the very beginning of my journey into Z scale model railroading that I don't have anything concrete to ask you for - yet. As I work my way through the challenges of trying to build with the scratch building supplies available locally, I will identify what I can and cannot do for myself. Once I get a few things figured out, I'll better know what I'm going to need and will be certain to contact you privately, if that's okay

Beverly,
You can always contact Karin or myself when you want any help with anything we might be able to assist you with. I'd say that likely goes for just about everyone here on Z Central. We are a big family and we all have something to offer one another.

I know you are chomping at the bit to do lots in Z scale, but the first thing I learned when I got into this was that it all takes time and patience. Don't be in too big a hurry to finish anything, (unless a show is just around the corner, and then you can scramble all you like) Just enjoy your adventure as you research sources for products, ask for helpful hints, and learn the "how to" of this great hobby. There are so many aspects of this you can explore, it will take you a long time and there in lies the fun. You never have to get bored because there is something new to learn every single day.

The bonus of all this is that while I am writing this, someone somewhere is making something brand new to add to our growing list of products and techniques. Z is really like space exploration. So much new out there just waiting to be invented and discovered.

So, enjoy the ride and share what you learn and discover.

All the best,
Loren

Well, I've taken a stab at making some much needed (for me at least) chairs and benches in Z. They are so tiny to work with!!!! But if you can thread a needle you can make these. I made a jig to hold the pre-cut leg braces to glue on pre-cut bench or chair parts. And I used artist grade paint markers, not sharpies, to paint the parts first. Although I carefully sprayed a finished bench (not in any of the photos) and was happy with that as well. I think painting them afterwards helps to give them strength too. Anyway, I am just thinking out loud to you folks about my newest project attempts.

Karin

That was the chair jig, here is the bench jig with the legs sitting in it waiting for the bench itself.

And this is with the bench glued on but before painting. After the glue is dried you just lift the unit straight up and WAH-LAH, you have a park bench!

Karin...

...those jig are so purely simple and therefore genius that I'm wondering why nowbody had thought about it before...

...or is someone holding back with this somewhere...

Only one question:

How do you make the leg part of the benches and chairs to put into the jig...

Karin,

Maybe you could include the jigs in the kits, or sell it separately. The jigs themselves have got to be pretty small, too.