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Post by billmock on Jun 25, 2020 19:59:18 GMT -5
Donner Pass will have to serve as the Alaskan wilderness for these photos of the Alaska Railroad's Glacier Discovery. AZL, you did a fantastic job on these locomotives and lightweight cars. They perform and look beautiful! And as always, thanks for another great set of locomotives and passenger cars. Bill Mock
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Post by billmock on Jan 14, 2020 0:21:48 GMT -5
Interestingly, the California Zephyr's Observation Car has a slightly different body mounted coupler design than that of the Lightweight Observation Cars. The Zephyr's coupler is attached with a screw via a small tab. This tab interfered with the rotation of the rear truck causing the rear wheel brushed this tab. So even running through a 220mm curve, the Observation Car would derail. This was not true for the Lightweight Observation Cars who's body mounted couplers were attached without this screwed tab. Well, a little R.I.P. maintenance was all it took. I filed away the edges of the offending plastic tab and this allows for a few more degrees of rear truck rotation. No more derailing. So if your California Zephyr's Observation Car is derailing, give this quick fix a try. Bill Mock
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Post by billmock on Jan 14, 2020 0:01:58 GMT -5
The California Zephyr made a detour from it's normal Feather River Canyon route down to Donner Pass. And we're glad to see her. Bill Mock
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Post by billmock on Sept 14, 2019 15:41:59 GMT -5
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Post by billmock on Mar 10, 2019 0:46:34 GMT -5
It's hard to see the baggage car, but it's there. Bill Mock
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Post by billmock on Mar 4, 2019 17:19:18 GMT -5
Oh, and to be perfectly "prototypical," the Surfliner would be in "push-mode" heading north to LA.
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Post by billmock on Mar 4, 2019 0:34:31 GMT -5
As a cyclist, I used to ride from Santa Monica to Solana Beach and then take the northbound Surfliner home. They had a weekend, 4:00 train which had a baggage car in the consist, that allowed bicycles to be transported. So that's the train we had to catch. It made for a fun and fast ride down the coast. So yes Mike, that baggage car would be perfect for you to run with your Surfliners. But remember, only on weekends. And only once a day in the afternoon. Bill Mock
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Post by billmock on Mar 1, 2019 20:29:59 GMT -5
Well, my UP City of San Francisco train made it's way on to my Truckee River Layout today. These are beautifully constructed cars. The painting and printing are flawless. All of these cars can negotiate through my 145mm inner loop; except for the RPO Car, who's multiple stirrups interfere with the truck rotation. The Observation Car is equipped with a rear body mounted coupler and a closed skirt to give it a really nice appearance. AZL has really produce a wonderful set of Lightweight Passenger Cars. Thank you AZL!!! Keep up the great work! Bill Mock
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Post by billmock on Jan 6, 2019 23:59:14 GMT -5
Charles, You have it right, replace a truck. MTL models a number of different freight trucks depending on the particulars of the car. They are usually pretty good at naming the truck type on the box insert. Just buy what they tell you. If not you can go to their web site: www.micro-trains.com/index.php?_route_=z-scale/trucks-1634648038 and compare your trucks to the drawings. The trucks are probably roller bearing or Bettendorf, although the differences are so small, you may not care. If you want to learn more than you ever wanted to know about railroad trucks check out: mrr.trains.com/~/media/import/files/pdf/4/c/c/mr_pi_5-06_freightcartrucks.ashxThe MTL trucks are held in place by a press-in plastic pin that can easily be removed with a small screwdriver. Hope this helps, Mark Thanks Mark. Now to decide which 2 cars to convert. I'm thinking it would probably be best to convert the boxcars as for appearance in the train makeup. Hi Charles, You might try changing out the trucks on the tender with MTL trucks and a body mounted MTL coupler. Zelatory makes a great conversion kit and ZScaleMonster sells them at: www.zscalemonster.com/zelatory/Have fun with it! Bill Mock
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Post by billmock on Sept 16, 2017 12:58:33 GMT -5
Hi Rob, I have 145mm Radius curves on the inner loop of my Truckee layout. So I have a lot of experience in running and modifying the AZL locomotives and rolling stock to insure that they can negotiate these tighter curves. So here's some additional information. Granted... I have no knowledge as to the long term mechanical wear due to this greater than designed truck rotation. But so far, so good. I've not noticed any additional wear to any of my AZL locomotives. The AZL GE P42 Genesis locomotives will operate on 145mm Radius curves, right out of the box. The AZL E8A - E9A locomotives will operate on 145mm Radius curves, right out of the box. I have found that all of the other (non-brass) locomotive chassis will operate on 145mm Radius curves, but it's the shell interference which causes the trouble. The trucks will rotate only so far before binding against the inside of the plastic shell and then the locomotive will derail. But the trucks and shell can be modified by sanding off the corners of the coupler boxes and sanding off the inside faces of the molded steps on the locomotive shell. This works for the SD45, SD70M, SD75M, SD70ACe, ES44AC locomotives and then they too can negotiate the 145mm Radius cures. This modification will also work on many of the AZL rolling stock, like the Phase IVb Superliners. These are pretty easy modifications. Certainly not like sawing apart and shortening a locomotive chassis! So I hope this information helps others enjoy their AZL locomotives and rolling stock on smaller layouts with tight radius curves. All my best, Bill Mock
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Post by billmock on Aug 7, 2017 18:09:48 GMT -5
You mean like this?
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Post by billmock on Aug 3, 2017 17:46:45 GMT -5
And, same after the AZL4 or DZ123ZO decoder is put in The LEDs are just as bright an a millimeter or so farther away, so chance for dimmer. But it they are as good as you say, then there is hope. I have to wait for 3 of the UP's. Have extra track space in my Engine Yard but will end up as triplets hauling 50 car trains. What? No DPU helpers? Where's the fun of trying to balance the power from the helpers? Rob would love to sell you a few more units.
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Post by billmock on Aug 2, 2017 15:53:32 GMT -5
Whatever happened to your California car test. They work just fine John. On the California Cars, I cut off the coupler's "whiskers" to give the couplers a bit more swing in their boxes. But they're still a little stiffer then I'd like. I might need to do some sanding of the components inside. Or wait for AZL's new P42 couplers when they go on sale (hopefully some day) and then change them all out. But the P42 works well with the California Cars. I need to take some photos of the combo and post.
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Post by billmock on Aug 2, 2017 14:04:18 GMT -5
Cuz, I used the MTL baggage car instead, since I already own the Amtrak set. Yup, Yup! Saw that. I missed purchasing the MTL's and now, they're too hard to find. Marklin's Amtrak baggage cars are so easy to find and convert. And I like the fluted sides too.
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Post by billmock on Aug 2, 2017 13:58:18 GMT -5
How is the forward and ditch lighting luminance ? Visible in average room light now or do I have to wait until August 21 @ 10:21 ? Jeff, Plenty of candle power via the fiber optics. They're as good as my SD45's. So don't wait until even a partial eclipse. They're good to go even in the bright California sunlight.
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