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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Mar 27, 2024 3:35:33 GMT -5
The first run is now done and we are preparing shipping. Hopefully we can start delivery late April! Photos of RI and WP Attachments:
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Mar 23, 2024 4:33:28 GMT -5
Looked through the PO. Other railroads include GM&O and NP. WP will be produced in two versions
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Mar 22, 2024 14:36:36 GMT -5
4180 Airslide Hoppers Attachments:
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Mar 22, 2024 14:34:10 GMT -5
1937 Modified AAR Box Car Attachments:
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Mar 22, 2024 14:32:59 GMT -5
UP SD60M in early stages Attachments:
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Mar 22, 2024 14:29:20 GMT -5
AZL visits China
Great to be able to travel again and a factory visit has been long overdue. After a bumpy evening ride into Shenzhen, I was greeted by our friends from the factory.
Expectations were high that we got to see some of our Z products in production as we got to the factory early. It is funny how language really is not a barrier once you focus on trains and production processes.
First on the agenda, updates on all our submitted purchase orders. So here is a quick update:
1937 Modified AAR Box Car First finished samples! They are amazing! Very similar to our existing AAR car. The body is 6” higher and even in Z, that is noticeable. The car has either Youngstown or Superior Doors and Metal or Wooden Running Boards. The ends are 5-5 Dreadnaught. We are planning 15-16 roadnames and hopefully we can offer the 1937 Modified AAR Box Cars by end of Summer.
4180 Airslide Hopper And yes, they are in production. BNSF and KATY cars were awaiting Pad Printing. Think these will be really popular so AZL have a second run already in mind.
EMD SD50, SD60 and SD60M Same here, they are being Painted and Pad Printed! All kinds of goodies here.
ALCO RS-3 and RSD-5 Rerun Not in production yet, but we had 30 minutes of color coding. Always a hard process and luckily, we sorted out some potential errors.
Tractor Trailer (Trucks) Thank you to the Forum for suggestions. We will use a different design for the hood truck and it will have the option of crew cab. So now we have 4 different models! We will make these in tons of different colors and they will be sold in 2 and 4 packs. They will also be available as unpainted and partially assembled kits.
We will update our readers on our other products in development as design and tooling progresses.
Future Products
What I can also share with you is that we submitted POs for yet two more new locomotives. Long horizon here. Do not expect those before 2026. But we did discuss more reruns of existing locomotives; F-units, ES44ACs, SD70Aces and GP38-2s.
We should probably head to China more often, because it shortens developing time and is especially good for problem solving. This was a full day visit, but a week would not have hurt.
A quick note on brass. It may be coming back, but because of environmental issues, lost wax brass casting is not legal in the province the factory is located. We are sure that they will find a way.
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Mar 22, 2024 14:17:52 GMT -5
Thank you for all the GP38-2 feedback. Sorry, the Southern High Hood will not be possible. The tooling is not set up for this version.
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Mar 22, 2024 14:14:37 GMT -5
Thanks for all the emails on this topic. It is correct that we have offered the F59PHI and GP7/GP9 at very favourable prices. These all came from tooling that is long lost. Luckily we made a huge amount so many are still available. But they will eventually run out and only new tooling can replace these locomotives. About availability, maybe Rob Kluz can give us all an update.
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Mar 17, 2024 6:45:10 GMT -5
No way to field a new budget locomotive. The costs are too high. We thought the GP38-2 locomotive molds were history, but not so. It will remain our budget loco. So already at work on a fresh run.
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Mar 6, 2024 23:42:33 GMT -5
What we order and what we get does not always add up. We do not usually go out with the numbers since not all will end up being available for sale. The first run of Heritage units we made about 50 each (SP was 70). This time around the quantity was 60 each. Based on past sales, the UP Heritage units went fast, while half of the NS Heritage units did not. Will we rerun if demand is strong? Yes. When? Probably 2-3 years out
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Mar 2, 2024 3:43:27 GMT -5
Bell Attachments:
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Mar 2, 2024 3:43:04 GMT -5
CP, the 5600 series made by EMD, not GMD. Maybe the top is a bit too shiny, but we use photos for reference. Bell should be where it is supposed to. Attachments:
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Mar 1, 2024 4:08:59 GMT -5
Thank you for all comments. Our idea behind the decal is linked to a much higher production volume at substantially lower prices. Thus the decal solution. If test this out, remains to be seen. If we cannot get the savings, we will continue with pad printing
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Feb 26, 2024 14:01:54 GMT -5
There are 23 versions in this first run
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Feb 23, 2024 7:52:49 GMT -5
Enclosed second run artwork: Attachments:AZL RS V.pdf (355.47 KB)
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