The latest interesting products is the tram which they originally offer in Zm 4.5mm, but since they are unable to solve the track problem, they have to go back to the 1:220 gauge instead.

The E32 20 E.lok
is the very first one non Marklin Z kit I built, solid brass body with the Marklin 8895 base (not supplied with the kit).  The kit was not difficult to assemble, the Marklin base did require a lot of cut off in order to accommodate the shell.  I got some of the parts installed wrong due to the lack of information at that time (note the position of the front and rear buffers)

The ETA 177 and ET25003 on the other hand were tricky to build, it took me several months to finish the job for each model.

The ET25003 requires a Marklin 8855 or similar base to be cut in half to extend in order to meet the length of the body.  However, the running performance is limited due to the extension.

The ETA 177 is powered by a assembled FH motor unit.

For building these brass and photo-etch parts kits, I normally use epoxy A+B glue and soldering-iron welding.  I also recommend the TEFLON TOOL offer by FR to get the parts set up straight for welding.

Small tips: When fixing the clear plastic for the windows supplied with the kits, I highly recommend using the CLEARFIX from Humbrol.

The V16, according to Scholz (the distributor of Westmodel) however is too difficult to build by the modeler, so they offered this diesel in RTR version only, the finishing and the running performance is uncompromising, thanks to the FH motor.  The beautiful box packing also goes very well with the model inside.

VT66 is the one I am unable to finish myself.  I got the kit last year and managed to build one of the truck assy. and then I have no ideas how to go on because of the complexity.   I was so afraid I will spoil this beauty, so I wrote a fax to the Scholz family and ask for help.  I sent the kit back to Germany for assembly and they returned me a master piece after several months and charged me for a reasonable price.  What can I say.  The job is 1st grade.

Other beautiful and unique Z products including the Wismer and
Kittleboth powered by FH motor, I got these 2 in kit as they are very easy to build.  For the details and modification of the Wismer, you can also check on my article published in Zclub 92 CR 3/98.

Westmodel also offers US prototypes, one of them is the Hudson F6; either in kit or RTR version, the one I got is a kit.  It took me approx. a month to finish due to the problem of understanding the German instruction.  I just got confused.  And I think the biggest problem is that I assumed a Marklin "Mikado" 8808 base should be used for the modification at that time but I was wrong, I was told by Scholz later that it's the 8885 should be used !  Anyway, I got the problem fixed and here it is :

The other one is "Casey Jones" Kat No. 30028, which is already discontinued.  Anyone have this one in stock and willing to sell, pls let me know ;-)

Westmodel & Scholz also carrys a range of up-grade kits for the steam lok's such as the conrods, bells, lantern and track sides acessories.