Yes, I'm new to Z-scale

Hi folks, I've just acquired a bunch of z-scale equipment. Mostly Micro-Trains, with a few Marklin items. I'm going to build a small layout, but there's way more stuff than I'll ever use in this collection. (I'll post in classifieds when I've got an accurate inventory, and decided what I want to keep, and what I want to get rid of)

This just dropped into my lap recently. At this point, you could hardly call me a model railroad hobbyist, although I do have an old collection of N-scale trains; a couple of locomotives, a dozen or so cars, and a small oval track that I had put together years ago. The z-scale thing happened when I dropped in to visit the hobby shop across the street from where I work. I enjoy looking at the model trains, even if I don't feel I can afford the prices for the really nice stuff, or the time to indulge in it as a hobby.
On this visit, I idly asked the owner if he had any z-scale trains in stock.
He said that he quit selling it some years ago, but that he had a customer who was into HO trains who had bought a large quantity of z-scale items from him over the years, then decided he wasn't interested in doing anything with it. The shop owner told me that he was very interested in selling it all to a single buyer, and gave me a ballpark price that the owner wanted for it. I really wasn't that interested, but thought maybe I could resell it for a profit, and offered about 25% less than the figure the shop owner had given me. He said he'd relay that to his customer, and I let it go at that.

A few days later, I got a phone call from the owner of the equipment, who accepted my offer. We met later at the hobby shop to close the deal.

There are two copier paper boxes full of stuff here. One box contains at least 90 micro-train cars of different types, plus four F7-style locomotives, and several Marklin cars. All of this stuff appears to be unused.
The other box contains two Marklin starter sets, one with a battery powered controller, a 6 wheeled locomotive and one car, the other has a 110 powered controller, a little 0-6-0 steam locomotive and two cars. Along with those two sets, there were a bunch of Marklin switches; 5 or 6 at least, a number of peices of loose track, two micro-trains controllers (NIB ) three Marklin iron trestles, one building, 4 or 5 boxes of people and animals, 4 or 5 boxes of automobiles, and a few other items. There's also a box of flex-track that's labelled as being for z and nn3, made in England, looks to be about 24 inches long, and maybe 8-10 pieces.

The first thing I did was get out the battery powered starter kit and set it up. I sat and watched that little tiny locomotive pulling the little car around the track, and thought to myself "I could get into this!"
Later, my wife saw it, and asked where I got it, then "how much did you pay for it", looking at the $100 price tag still attached to the box.
I did a quick guesstimate in my head based on a possible full-retail value of the entire collection at about $2000, and quickly said "I got it for $5" (I'm not ready to confess to her yet that I bought a whole lot more than that!) She did say that she liked watching that little train going around the coffee table, so a full confession will come eventually.
So, I'm thinking of taking out all the cars with Southern Pacific markings from the collection of Micro-Trains cars, and one of the two locomotives painted in Southern Pacific livery (two are S-P, and two are New York Central) to keep for myself, since I'm a West Coast native, and selling the rest of it.
I'll probably build some kind of "briefcase" layout, or perhaps set up a little track running around the desk in my home office.
Anyhow, I expect to be hanging around this forum looking for ideas, advice, etc. And of course, eventually put some of this stuff up for sale.

BTW, apparently, this stuff was listed on ebay, but didn't sell, am I likely to be stuck with all this? Given what I payed for it, having two more boxes of "junk" to store isn't a huge price to pay while I'm getting into this hobby, but if there's anyone out there who wants it...

Hello Carlb
Welcome to Z central Station. I am happy that you got hooked on Z scale. It is a scale that you can do alot with very little space. The Members here are a group of people that are happy to help in any way possible to make the joy of Z a great experiance. I have been a Z scale collector for about ten years but only an active modeler and scrachbuilder for less that two.In that time I have become very close friends with a group of people here and that has made the hobby a very fun time. I hope that you find this to be true for yourself also.
When the time comes that you decide to part with part of your collection, Post it here for the members first,from what i have seen in the past, you will do alot better here selling your items than other places because you will get a fair price for your items here.
Again, Welcome to the Z scale world

Steve aka "Slugger"

I doubt you'll get stuck with it if you list it on ebay or privately. You will have your work cut out for you to list it all, but it sounds like you have some great Z items.
The SP are of special interest to many I'm sure.

Start a list of what you want to get rid of. Maybe post a picture or two of the items laid out for all to view.

Depending upon how much you really paid for it, you may have struck gold.

Welcome and yes, if you do a layout up right, your wife will be enthralled with the "cute" little choo choo.

This could be the start of something big!!

Loren

slugger wrote:

Again, Welcome to the Z scale world

Steve aka "Slugger"

Steve, you are obviously a faster typer than I am.

I think you gave Carlb some good, sound advice.
Loren

Thanks a lot for the friendly reception, guys.

When I found this site during my search for z-scale info, I figured that it would be a good resource, and a better option than ebay for selling off the excess stuff. I'll get some pictures posted when time permits.
One advantage to selling it here is that I can just lay the whole collection out, and let people choose what they're interested in, and as much or as little as they want. Much more flexible than ebay.

Carib, I don't mind a post, or a large scale photo, here in the Forums announcing your sale of the collection as long as it refers us to the Classified Ads. Click on Community above and the Click Classified Ads and post your info there. We are not Ebay and don't want to be. Trust me, interested parties will get a hold of you and your goodies. Thanks, Jim CCRR:)

Hi Jim, thanks for the advice.

I was looking at an about.com site on model trains, and saw several photos of layouts that you built. Unbelievable detail and realism! Is this typical, or are you an exceptionally talented builder?

I have so many things that already absorb my spare time, that I doubt I will ever have the opportunity to build a layout as nicely done as yours. I can be happy just watching the little things going 'round.

Carib, Thanks for the compliments. I have my moments. Check out the CCRR/Northern Division, and CCRR/Southern Division, and the New CCRR in the Galleries. We have many fine modelers here.
Also, if you do some homework and find out the cost of the items currently on ebay then what seems to work well is just naming a fair price and first come, first served. It is simple that way. If you have MTL Moguls in the collection they retailed at $499.99 I would ask $550 each. Other than that loco all the rest is easily figured out. If you go with a decription and a price the post it in the Forum. If you want to take a bunch of photos or sell individual items the use the Classified Ads. Cheers, Jim CCRR:)

Jim, if I had a Mogul in the collection, I'd be keeping that one! I'm really more interested in steam locomotives than Diesel. I just like all the rods and linkages on those big wheels. Lot's more stuff going on while they're running.

I just noticed that my user name is "carib" with an "i". I mistyped it. I meant to say "carlb", for my first name and last initial.
Oh well, I guess I'm "carib" to you folks from now on! <---- nevermind, looks like you're the one who mistyped. My profile shows me as carlb.

How about if we just call you "Late for dinner"

Would you prefer a first name? Many of us use our real names.......those of us who aren't wanted in the lower 48 states that is.......

Loren..........really

And I finally looked closely at the posting. My eyes aren't what they used to be.

So is Carl ok with you?
Loren

Carl is fine with me.

I go by the user name "carlo" wherever possible, but that name was already taken here.

The name dates from my years in heavy construction in the SF Bay Area. I used to work on a crew with a bunch of 2nd generation Italian-American carpenters, and one of them used to call me that, with a little roll to the r.

You're hooked... Don't sell anything before you're sure you want to part with it. Before a year has passed it goes from a briefcase layout to a lounge table layout to a whole basement full of trains. They breed you know

Hi,you are a lucky one! In Québec there's no hobby shop who sells Z track. When asked, they all try to sell me N scale train! ............. Charles

Charles,
I sell Z scale to folks in Canada so if you need Z contact me:)
Loren