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Post by ztrack on Dec 13, 2015 9:12:31 GMT -5
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Post by davestubbs on Dec 13, 2015 9:23:07 GMT -5
Hi Rob, Can we pick road numbers? That set with the UP GP7 is a killer deal sold alone its $150.
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Post by ztrack on Dec 13, 2015 9:30:27 GMT -5
If there is a particular road number you want, I can make that happen. Just add it to the notes field of your order.
Rob
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Post by Rob Albritton on Dec 13, 2015 11:13:31 GMT -5
Hi Rob, Can we pick road numbers? That set with the UP GP7 is a killer deal sold alone its $150. A quick note: All the locos are drop in DCC compatible EXCEPT the UP GP7. The UP model is from the 1st run of GP7 and has a different size PCB; however, it is easily converted to DCC using a TCS Z2 decoder and a soldering iron. |
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Post by ccdg on Jan 4, 2016 18:41:16 GMT -5
Any chance there will be other $199 packages in the future like a BNSF one?
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Post by tenwheeler on Nov 17, 2016 20:44:38 GMT -5
Rob, How firm is the Rokuhan RC02 controler and retailing ramp? I bought an RC02 and MTL rerailer already but still would like the track to see if it might mate with MTL's track.
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Post by ztrack on Nov 17, 2016 21:11:10 GMT -5
It would be better to purchase ad-hoc if you already have the RC02 and the retailer. What you can do is order from AZL direct and our track store. If you do so on the same day, we will combine the orders and adjust the shipping accordingly. We do this all the time for customers. Here are the two sites: www.azldirect.comwww.zscaletrack.com There are a lot of other track options on Z Scale track as well, and accessories like the wall adapter for the RC02. Rob |
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Post by markm on Nov 17, 2016 21:18:31 GMT -5
tenwheeler,
Welcome to the forum. Regarding the track compatibility, Rokuhan track will mate with the MTL roadbed track. You can't use the roadbed joiners. The rails will mate and match up, although the MTL roadbed can use a shim that is an index card thickness. Joining to MTL flex track, Rokuhan makes an adapter (A014) to connect the tracks and after that you'll want about a 1/8" roadbed.
Hope this helps,
Mark
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Post by prokop5588 on Sept 20, 2017 22:13:53 GMT -5
It looks like the three GP38 starter sets are no longer available. Any idea if there any plans to offer new starter sets soon?
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Post by ztrack on Sept 21, 2017 5:38:40 GMT -5
Wow talk about timing! Just last night, I asked our web guru to add 7 new starter sets to AZL Direct. These are all based on the GP7. I will be posting photos as soon as we have these online. It has been fun coming up with these sets since we have a number of new freight cars to work with.
I was going to ask this question when we announced the new sets, but I might as well ask it now. What other start sets would you like see? As an example type of loco and number of freight cars? I hope to come up with a few more options before our busy time of year hits.
Rob
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Post by dave on Sept 21, 2017 6:59:35 GMT -5
For the starter sets, I think you should create them using a specific loco (like the GP30), three specific types of cars (coil car, gondola, 23,000 gallon tank car as an example), a loop of track and a controller. From there, let the customer pick the road name and number from a drop down box for the loco and cars. You could have several choice of starter sets with different locos.
The other option would be to, from the AZLDirect website, have a customer choose a loco, a minimum of three cars, a loop of track (you could have different sizes of loops available) and a controller. Once those are all added to the shopping cart, give a 15% (or whatever that magic number is) discount on Checkout. The advantage of this is the customer has full control of the road names. Customers can choose lower end locos like the GP38 or the upper end like the SD70ACe or even Mikado.
I think that in the past, some of the starter sets are featuring rolling stock that doesn't really sell well or you have a glut of and honestly, people don't want to stuck with rolling stock they aren't fond of.
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Post by markm on Sept 21, 2017 10:58:20 GMT -5
While I already have the rolling stock, may I suggest the WP Milpitas turn: a train between the Ford Milpitas plant and Sunol (via Niles Canyon), staging for national delivery. The consist would be one or more of GP7s, F7As, or U30Cs (in any combination), a couple of autoracks, a box car of spare parts and a red caboose.
Mark
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Post by dazed on Sept 21, 2017 11:15:33 GMT -5
I think that in the past, some of the starter sets are featuring rolling stock that doesn't really sell well or you have a glut of and honestly, people don't want to stuck with rolling stock they aren't fond of. I think that's part of the point of a "starter" set. If you're starting out, you probably aren't overly concerned about what roadnames or even what locomotive you even want. It's at a lower price point *because* it is clearing out old stock, and it allows beginners to the hobby or to Z-scale to get their feet wet. You buy an old school trainset, you get what you get....same concept here I think. Having said that, I do wish there was at least some improvement with consideration to era. Having a nice "80's+ modern" loco and cars and then a PFE reefer (1950's?) thrown in sort of kills the value proposition for those who aren't beginners and just trying to augment their roster. With most of the GP7's having 1960's era schemes it does make it difficult....that lone set sitting on AZLDirect is probably the best compromise given what is in the AZL catalog at the moment. Off topic, but....My only interest in a GP7 is if there is some way to "chop nose" it, and I haven't found anyone that has done it or has information about it yet so I probably won't attempt it. I did finally come across a decent photo of the mech, and it looks like a major hack job if its even possible at all...the screws holding the frame together fall right at the point where the cut would be. The frame clips like the SD70's use might be a possibility if you could carve the right notches in though. Hoping I'll eventually come across someone that has tried it. |
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Post by dave on Sept 21, 2017 12:25:51 GMT -5
Doug, I would disagree with you on your first paragraph. I believe that most people getting into Z scale have been or are currently in another scale. Based on that, I think they do care about road name (or color or location or  ). I was in N scale for a long time and still dabble in it but I knew I wanted a particular road name. Above, there was a comment asking if BNSF was available. |
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Post by dazed on Sept 21, 2017 13:15:32 GMT -5
OK, how about "they can care, but they can't care and get a budget-minded trainset necessarily"....I guess that is a better way of saying it. You said it yourself...it's pretty clear that the sets are a collection of what didn't sell, and that's not coincidence.
Still, there have been some fairly nicely themed sets...I know there was a BN/ATSF/BNSF-centric GP38 set at one point. (EDIT: Yes, see above...the Santa Fe one) So it's not impossible that the two goals line up. But to say "hey let us hand pick our own set"...well I guess we'll wait and see. I don't see that happening, but then again I never thought they would skip a BNSF ES44 either.
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). I was in N scale for a long time and still dabble in it but I knew I wanted a particular road name. Above, there was a comment asking if BNSF was available.