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Post by atw on Nov 29, 2015 8:16:19 GMT -5
Rob
Back in February you told us about how some of the GP38-2s were starting to sell out, numbers as well as entire roadnames. You also mentioned you're planning a second "delivery" in 2016.
Amidst all the wonderful new models we're getting every fortnight the GP38-2 still holds a special place IMHO - not the least because it's a great eye-catcher with people who aren't modellers (yet), and better still you can tell them they could have one too for less than a hundred dollars (plus shipping and taxes here in Europe, but it's still a great entry level price). They run great, look great - okay, I'll admit it, I'm a great fan of the GP38-2 both in 1:1 and 1:220 scale.
So... about this second "delivery" - any information you can share? I guess you might do additional numbers for roadnames which sold well (the usual suspects), but are you also thinking of adding new ones? The GP38-2 of course offers almost endless possibilities...
Just a rush of curiosity while running my AZL GP38-2s 8)
thanks and cheerZ
Adrian
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Post by dawdawes on Nov 30, 2015 5:51:11 GMT -5
Vermont rail system, Green mountain and how about Green Mountain and Clarendon and Pittsford GP9s?
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Post by Rob Albritton on Nov 30, 2015 8:17:02 GMT -5
We do have another full run of GP38-2 with multiple road names planned for release in early 2016, but in the meantime, we had a short production run of Genesee & Wyoming GP38-2 that we will release before Christmas.
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Post by shamoo737 on Nov 30, 2015 10:30:07 GMT -5
I hope you are using a new factory that doesn't produce crunchy and crispy chassis.
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Post by davestubbs on Nov 30, 2015 12:18:07 GMT -5
Second that, I have 2 dead chassis just came apart. 1 circuit board tab ( ill take responsibility on that one, stupid digitrax board) and one fuel tank half. Can you guys get some spare frames on the second run, hate to toss an engine for 1 bad part.
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Post by davestubbs on Nov 30, 2015 12:18:26 GMT -5
GP30 as well
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Post by Rob Albritton on Nov 30, 2015 14:39:19 GMT -5
I hope you are using a new factory that doesn't produce crunchy and crispy chassis. Yes - new factory. Second that, I have 2 dead chassis just came apart. 1 circuit board tab ( ill take responsibility on that one, stupid digitrax board) and one fuel tank half. Can you guys get some spare frames on the second run, hate to toss an engine for 1 bad part. Yes, we will produce extra parts for the next run. I test ran one of the new GP38-2 locomotives at a train show a couple of weeks ago. It ran for 2 days with no problems. There will also be another run of GP30 at the new factory this winter. |
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Post by zscalehobo on Nov 30, 2015 14:48:14 GMT -5
I hope you are using a new factory that doesn't produce crunchy and crispy chassis. Yes - new factory. Second that, I have 2 dead chassis just came apart. 1 circuit board tab ( ill take responsibility on that one, stupid digitrax board) and one fuel tank half. Can you guys get some spare frames on the second run, hate to toss an engine for 1 bad part. Yes, we will produce extra parts for the next run. I test ran one of the new GP38-2 locomotives at a train show a couple of weeks ago. It ran for 2 days with no problems. There will also be another run of GP30 at the new factory this winter. Was the issue of circuit board contacts to motor contacts addressed? I have lost a few first time AZL buyers to this issue in spite of coaching them through the quite simple rework or bringing the units back to me for rework. The first impression is hard to get back once it has been soured. |
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Post by Rob Albritton on Nov 30, 2015 15:35:02 GMT -5
Was the issue of circuit board contacts to motor contacts addressed? I have lost a few first time AZL buyers to this issue in spite of coaching them through the quite simple rework or bringing the units back to me for rework. The first impression is hard to get back once it has been soured. Hi Frank, The design is the same, but the production quality is better, so we think the situation has improved. Best, -Rob |
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Post by atw on Nov 30, 2015 16:54:22 GMT -5
We do have another full run of GP38-2 with multiple road names planned for release in early 2016, but in the meantime, we had a short production run of Genesee & Wyoming GP38-2 that we will release before Christmas. Thanks Rob, that's like an early christmas carol choir to my ears  Adrian |
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Post by dazed on Nov 30, 2015 19:51:27 GMT -5
Man, the G&W's would be cool to have. Just too much other stuff on the radar though.
Count me as one with a crumbly Geep chassis. The value of the GP38-2 isn't quite as good when you have to buy two of them. Any chance of getting some type of "upgrade chassis" made? If you can make the plans available we might be able to get some done via Shapeways or some comparable service.
Mine ran beautifully until it exploded in a fury of flying debris during a "simple" decoder install.
Running = excellent.
Exploding = bogus.
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Post by dave on Nov 30, 2015 21:37:18 GMT -5
As a newbie to Z-scale and AZL, some of the comments on this thread about the crumbling chassis are a little concerning. I haven't seen anything about the crumbling chassis until this thread came up. How widespread of a problem is this? I see the GP38-2 and the GP-30 mentioned; any other locos have this problem?
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Post by dawdawes on Nov 30, 2015 22:17:55 GMT -5
Not had any problems with my Milwaukee and Soo locos, and they are used for exhibition work
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Post by dazed on Dec 1, 2015 1:07:25 GMT -5
As a newbie to Z-scale and AZL, some of the comments on this thread about the crumbling chassis are a little concerning. I haven't seen anything about the crumbling chassis until this thread came up. How widespread of a problem is this? I see the GP38-2 and the GP-30 mentioned; any other locos have this problem? Dave, I'm fairly new too. I was warned about this issue and since mine ran really nicely I thought....meh, whatever. Then when it came time to install the decoder I had a lot of "told you so's" coming my way. AZL pretty much refuses to acknowledge it, so it's sort of a "cost of doing business" in Z. Likely, if you don't mess with it much it will probably be fine. I was trying to be careful with mine--knowing the issue--but it wasn't enough. My suggestions: -Don't take the shell off. Especially if it runs good, just leave it be and run it until the thing dies. By then hopefully a solution will be here -If you have to install a decoder, be dead steady and don't hurry ANY PART of the install. I'm told that installing a decoder voids the warranty so that complicates matters further. I have installed dozens if not hundreds of decoders in N and never broken a frame. I will say the decoder was extremely loose and I tried to secure it by building up the pads with solder....bad mistake. Just hard wire the decoder in, much wiser choice. -I asked AZL about this before mine broke and was told they have only had two reports and one was a drop. They said it is "not a common problem". But I personally know of 4, not counting myself and not counting those here. I have heard accounts of others. So it isn't "uncommon". -I admittedly have not contacted AZL about mine. I was warned not to, and AZL has provided me really good customer support otherwise so it was a battle I chose not to fight. -We have had discussion about having new frames milled up or produced in Shapeway, but that is still in very preliminary stages. Doug |
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Post by markm on Dec 1, 2015 2:58:42 GMT -5
Dave,
I've been doing Z for a while and have about 35 locomotives. About half are AZL. As far as I know, all the units utilize a milled cast soft metal chassis, most the split design. I may just be lucky, but I've yet to purchase a unit that was DOA, although I have received two that didn't measure up to my standards (an SD40-2 that runs too slow and an E8B that runs too fast). I've yet to kill any locomotive, not even the 3 that fell to the floor. So overall, I feel pretty good about my AZL. I'm not in love with AZL, I have a number of issues, but since nobody else seems to notice them, I tend to keep them between me and AZL.
Hopes this helps,
Mark
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