Z-scale Question

[Mountain Man]

Here is a totally dumb question: what is the actualy width between rails for Z-scale?

I tried to find some track to look at in the LHS last week, but none was in stock. My curiousity was aroused by the idea that Z-scale track and ore cars might be small enough to use as mine cars in N-scale...?

OK - I'm wearing my Kevlar underwear with the Nomex lining. Go ahead...I probably deserve it...

 

[ScratchyAngel]

I'm guessing it would be 56"/220 = .254" (and x 25.4mm/" = around 6.5mm). This is just from using the scale though, maybe the gauge is not quite that accurate.

 

[rhtastro]

SA is right. Out of the Marklin book, the gauge of Z track is 6.5 mm or one fourth inch, the total width is 11.5 mm or 29/64 inches, the height is 2.5 mm or about 3/32 inches.
Bob

 

[Mountain Man]

Hmmm...well, it wasn't a brilliant idea to begin with...ops:

Thanks, everyone.

Misplaced my scale ruler...again...wall1

 

[ScratchyAngel]

Have you considered the stuff from the N Scale Architect?

Master Craftsman Series

It's down around the Lackawanna Coal Company.

 

[Mountain Man]

Great link, ScratchyAngel - thank you!

Interesting screen name, too!

 

[Triplex]

Z track is between metre and Cape gauge in N scale. The European term Nm is reasonably correct; Nn3 is a misnomer.

 

[Mountain Man]

Funny thing - I actually had an "expert" at the LHS tell me that Z-scale track was 0ne-half N-scale. He was startled when I told him, it couldn't be, as Z-scale is !:220, not nearly small enough to be one-half of N.

Got to watch those "experts".

 

[pgandw]

Nn3 - N scale models of 3ft gauge prototypes - use Z mechanisms, track, and Z gauge of 6.5mm as reasonably close.

56.5" gauge is 8.97mm in 1/160 N scale, close enough to 9mm, which is where the N designator comes from.

36" in N scale is 5.72mm. But just like HOn2 uses N gauge and Sn2 uses HOn3 or N, Nn3 uses a commercially available gauge. Actually, Z gauge equals about 22 inches in HO scale, and would be much closer to true HOn2 than N gauge is. But HOn30 has been around for a while, and is usually used for HOn2 models.

 

[Mountain Man]

Nn3 - N scale models of 3ft gauge prototypes - use Z mechanisms, track, and Z gauge of 6.5mm as reasonably close.

56.5" gauge is 8.97mm in 1/160 N scale, close enough to 9mm, which is where the N designator comes from.

36" in N scale is 5.72mm. But just like HOn2 uses N gauge and Sn2 uses HOn3 or N, Nn3 uses a commercially available gauge. Actually, Z gauge equals about 22 inches in HO scale, and would be much closer to true HOn2 than N gauge is. But HOn30 has been around for a while, and is usually used for HOn2 models.

Yep! But it doesn't help with my problem anyway 'cause it ain't "one-half of N-scale!