Z-GAUGE MODELLING

During the initial years of establishing the scale, Maerklin's focus was virtually exclusively on German prototypes. The first model outside of this format, introduced in 1979, was the famous Swiss "crocodile", followed throughout the 1980s by a handful of additional Swiss models and Maerklin's venture onto the US market with an F7. During the latter half of the 1990s, Maerklin broadened the horizon further, introducing models of e.g. Austrian, Belgian, Dutch or French locomotives, whilst the selection of modern freight cars covers almost the whole of Europe. This production policy continues to date with so-called "Export" models of European prototypes, as well as some new US models (most notably the GG1 Electric launched in 2004).

In addition, Maerklin - despite being the unchallenged market leader in Z scale - is no longer the only supplier the average modeller can turn to for ready-to-run models. Whilst US modellers had an alternative choice almost right from the start with Micro Trains, alternatives for European modellers were very limited. The entry of AZL (American Z Lines) into the US Z scale market in the mid 1990s was eventually paralleled by SZL (Swiss Z Lines) in 2004. Today, pioneer producers of European Z scale such as Freudenreich Feinwerktechnik or Railex have been joined by companies such as SZL or Mikkelsen, and whilst their production output in comparison to Maerklin is of course very limited, they have broadened the choices and therefore the options for Z scale modellers in general in a decisive way.

Z today is a steadily growing modelling scale, but even so it clearly is no mainstream form of railway modelling. The tiny size resulting from the 1:220 scale ratio accounts for both its appeal and its limitations. The average modeller with average skills will have to find ways to live with a restricted choice of models and limited availability of many items you need to put together a working layout. On the other hand, facing up to these challenges can be very inspiring, and unlike its size, the potential of Z scale is far from being small, especially in terms of scenery and running long trains or having a layout taking up virtually no space at all.

It is true that these models are amazingly small and lovely to look at, but they're working model trains and ultimately they're built to run on model track, and the possibilities of modelling Swiss Federal Railways (and above all the modern Swiss rail scene of today) in Z scale are both excellent and exciting.

The most convenient and easy way to get started in Z scale modelling is the same as in any other modelling scale: with a starter set.

Starter sets contain all that is needed to get started straight away: a train, track, and a mains controller which all fit together so that after a minimal amount of time to set it all up, you will have a train running. It may just be a basic oval (although some starter sets offer more complex track configurations), but it's the best way to "test the water", even if you have plans for a complex layout. Besides, starter sets are usually excellent value for money: buying the components individually usually costs around the double the price of a starter set.

Maerklin offers a fairly large number of starter sets, ranging from very basic to fairly extravagant. The selection of starter sets avaialable varies, but since 1994 Maerklin continuously offers a Swiss starter set.

When Maerklin introduced their first Swiss starter set to the mini-club range in 1994, the train formation of this set (catalogue number 8185) was a modern stock freight train with an Re 4/4 IV in all-red livery with large white logo up front, portraying a Swiss Federal Railways freight train of the 1980s.

In the spring of 2001, this was replaced by an "updated" Swiss starter set (catalogue number 81851) which featured an Re 460 pulling slightly more modern freight cars, moving the era of the train portrayed to the 1990s.

The Swiss starter set currently available was introduced in 2004 (catalogue number 81852). Although a matter of taste, one could argue that visually the selection of freight stock has become less colourful but more attractive in terms of "Swissness". More importantly, however, the new technical and production standards Maerklin has introdcued (five-pole motor, blackened wheels, state of the art printing) are now also available with this starter set, ensuring a a state of the art train set which contains enough track to build an oval with a passing siding - in short, an excellent way of getting started in Z scale modelling.

81851, starter set (current production, since 2004)