Perhaps an assessment is due in Z scale?

I am doing Z-scale modeling since 1978, I have seen a lot of foreign suppliers/manufacturers come and go, but companies like Märklin, AZL, or MtL do and will remain in the market because they deliver excellent models with service. On the long run it doesn't matter so much where the models are produced as long as AZL is on top of the quality control. Märklin moved most of their production from China to Hungary, AZL may have some thoughts as well.

The output of AZL models in the last years was enormous. I don't have a small budget, but a lot of models I had to let pass by. Now I get perhaps the chance to catch up a little bit.........

All the best,
Sven

I'm currently, and for 4 years now, trying to build my first large home-layout (L shape: 4.5m x 2.2m).
I started Z scale with a Marklin starter set in 2001, the US one! I almost left Z scale about 8 years ago due to a lack of variety in material and locos.
After hoping, hoping and waiting, I bought the AZL Challenger, as I dreamt of it (and big boy) for a long time. Thanks to AZL and this loco, I stayed in Z scale and started collecting materials, buildings ...
I'm now fully in Z scale and only Z scale. 
There's still some material and structure missing in the shops (larger variety in buildings, cars, etc), but the main things are already here

So the future is positive 
Charlie

Assessment, huh...wow, you're really brave...let me pull up a couch. lol

I'm sort of at a crossroads. (again)  I have only been in Z for a few years.   And I came to Z *because* there's "never been a better time", so using that as a measuring stick doesn't really help put Z any higher up on a pedestal, for me.

I voted:
-Considering leaving Z for another scale.
-Continuing, just as I have done in the past.
So, clearly....crossroads.

The AFFA thing is a mixed blessing. On one hand, it will likely slow the roll of product...which will help my situation immensely. (the pressure in Z to "buy it now or its gone" is pretty high, and even in N was fairly significant) On the other hand, it will likely push back a product (a key locomotive) who's announcement several years ago was one of the catalysts for me making the move to Z...then AZL dropped the ball.

So I'm disappointed that it's likely 3 or 4 years before my locomotive roster will "make sense" in my mind. Also, I have also been frustrated by my inability to get a layout to any sort of completion, and this goes back to before I was in N, 20+ years ago, and through at least 4 n-scale layouts in the past 15 years or so. I used to just think it was because I was "busy", but now I wonder. My job in IT has been very demanding with long hours over the years but it has finally subsided a little. My goal was to be very conservative in Z, and really focus my time, energy, and money to getting a layout going. But then as I sold off my N I had tons of hobby funds at my disposal and of course I didn't stick to my goals there. I have actually done much better than in the past, but alas my layout is still stuck in "plywood central" (foam central, as it were) stage. I also have a flaw where I'm never happy with anything I do, which is a big part of the problem...I easily get frustrated with layout progress and give up working on it for long periods. (and, in hindsight, most work I have done on layouts is very good...but in the moment I don't feel that way.)

I am now selling off my Z in droves (and still some N) and I'll see where I'm at once I have pared back down to some reasonable collection for my small layout. If I keep moving forward in model railroading, it will indeed most likely be with my small Z layout for the foreseeable future. We'll be empty nesters in 6-7 years and then I'll see what my next move is.

That next move will likely be to HO. It will be a shift from the mainline modeling that I love to more of a switching layout modeling a proto-lanced regional line, along the lines of MRL. That goal is something that has been on the backburner for some time, and will be less resource-intensive. I have been able to do pretty well finding "deals" in Z, but it isn't easy. A lot of watching for sales or buying 4 of something and reselling 3...it's a lot of work and a lot of time to do all of that. I don't really want to be an eBay preferred seller...it's not on my list of life goals. :-) And the handwriting on the wall tells me that Z is climbing back to its roots of $100 freight cars and $600 locos and I just cannot sustain that. I want to have just literally a couple of locos and only cars necessary for ops and just enjoy the nice sound and the variety of relatively inexpensive products that HO offers.

In the real Chicago, you have to be in the "correct party." Here is just a PARTY!

Thanks for being candid. Sometimes we need a change ....any change ...to cause us to consider where we are ...and what we want. Otherwise, we just keep going without thinking.... Thanks again, for sharing.

Thanks, folkZ, for your open discussion. It reminds my to boxcarwillies reflections what will happen to his layout and collection in case of severe illness or even death. These are highlights and make a community to a family!

As everybody has concerns in his mind like you´r talking about, this discussion shows me, I´m not alone. For me, the pros and cons are balanced. The AFFA-thing gives me time to slow down a little bit as I was always affraid that I (financally) miss a new loco or car from my favorite railroads. Now, I can put some money aside each month, like I did for buying the SP ML-4000, and can wait for an opportunity to bay an SP GS-4 on the second market some day. And, of course, there are still items left on my personel wish list.

I´m contend with my way of building a layout step-by-step, which means from station to station. For the frustrated modellers among us , I recommend to build in modules! You can see your progress quite fast and you can cover all aspects of our hobby, from soldering over detailing to switching. And may be, some days ......

My brother is 81 now and he started building a german railroad station in detail with excellent trackwork. You find him on youtube (s3sextel). He is fit and is working on his layout every day. Meaning, we still have time to wait a little bit, until AZL has find another manufacturer.

Keep rolling!

Best, Ingo

Like Charlie, I began with a Marklin starter set-- a Pennsy steam loco & 4 passenger cars. After watching it run around its oval track for a few days I thought, well, this is never going to satisfy me!
So I built a 2' X 4' layout, got into modeling structures, added Broadway Limited's thunder & lightning sound simulator system, & finished it in 4 months!
Now I've started on an 8' X 2.5' layout set in SW Virginia running Southern & N&W trains.
A former friend tried to convince me to switch to N but I'm a Z'er for as long as I can see them.
I also run HO on my train club's layout so I can get my sounds & fury fix! Lol
!

Deb
PS-- great topic btw