New Z Scale Enthusiast

Get a starter set.

From what you've said, that is the best way to try and see if you like it without being disappointed. You won't have to be concerned about voltage as everything will work together with track, wires, controller, and engine right out of the box - just like your old HO set up. Just set it up and play with it.

Play with it until you start getting antsy and wanting more. That's when you'll know that you like it and are ready to expand. Add more rolling stock. Buy a track extension set with switches for a siding. That will mean a little more complex operations than just running your train in a circle. You can always reuse your original track as you expand "your little empire". That's another good plus for getting a starter set.

As you grow more, start looking at other people's layouts and thinking how you could add to your layout. Think about what you'd like to create in your little world. That'll give you the direction for what terrain you'd like to model, what structures you'd like to build, where will you lay your track to best fit your plan, what kind of story you'd like to tell with your trains. And don't forget to enjoy them.

Z scale can be harder to work in than other scales because of the smaller size and sometimes higher costs. Also, there is not as much variety as some of the larger scales. But things have improved over the years. We have a tremendous amount of product available now days and it is still growing. You can fit a lot more in a smaller space with Z scale than other scales. And you can still be as detailed as you want. Many of the people on this forum will amaze you with their creativity to innovate in such small trains.

So get a starter set. AZL sells some different ones. Rokuhan has some. Marklin, MTL.

Oh, and welcome to Z scale and this forum

Probably like a lot of us, I also came from HO. I still have a large collection of un-built Fine Scale structures I hope to get to someday. I've also been picking up HO brass locomotives when I find a good deal in fine shape.

But I turned to Z for the challenge, and I find the size intriguing. You can pack a lot into a small space. A 4'x8' HO layout translates to about 2'X3' in Z.

So having made the trek you're talking about, I'd also recommend a starter set. I'd go with one of the AZL starters since (sorry MTL) I find the AZL locomotives superior. You can get a nice, inexpensive DC power pack and some Marklin track and give it a go for a few hundred dollars. Not exactly free, but also not a huge investment to dip a toe and see how it feels.

Being an ardent scratch builder, I lay my own Z track, including turnouts. I do recommend Fast Track fixtures, most especially for Z turnouts (http://www.handlaidtrack.com/). The selection in Z is limited, but probably fills 99% of the needs. Just watching the online videos is fun, if you're into trackwork.

As for buildings, as Mark mentioned there are some places that provide raw materials. For me, the exciting aspect is 3D printing. There is a ton of stuff on Shapeways (https://www.shapeways.com/marketplace?type=product&q=z+scale), so you see what can be done. I build a lot of structures in brass (addicted to bridges), and that's getting harder to do with the loss of some of the brass shape providers. So 3D printing is an exciting alternative since I can build in detail I couldn't do in brass (at least without etching).

Once you get the hang of it, then introduce DCC. Wow...the amazing things that come along for that ride. Lighting, sound, accessories... AZL locomotives are a snap to upgrade to DCC. You'd need a different controller, and they're quite pricy, but the capabilities are astounding. Sound is a harder thing to manage given the small size of the shells, but you'll find some postings here where folks have successfully done it.

To me, even though Z has been around for decades, I still feel it's the "wild west" where a hardy pioneering spirit can yield huge dividends. Yes, there isn't as much available, but that only means you can dig in and do it yourself. That's my definition of modeling anyway. Don't buy it (all), build it. That's the fun of it.

I'm liking the microscope idea, tho.

Thank you all for the help.... I do have a question about track. There have been several mentions about Rokuhan as being a better track than Marklin and MTL. Is this because of consistency and quality of the track? What about connectivity? Are different manufacturers track systems interchangeable?

Thank you all again

Bryan

Welcome to the land of Z. On a standard sheet of 2' X 4' plywood you can create an entire county! Like many, I began with a starter set, in my case a Marklin steam engine. It wasn't long before I was ready to make the plunge.
After watching umpteen videos & reading stacks of magazines, I started modeling & creating vignettes. There's a world of wonderful Z structures & figures that rival its larger cousins. Fiddly at times but infinitely satisfying.
Great group on this forum willing to help newbies & veterans alike. Welcome!