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Post by tjdreams on Jun 25, 2015 17:35:48 GMT -5
I own several of each and am equally satisfied with the Build Quality Performance of both. The GP38-2 is a nice low cost starter locomotive that runs and pulls pretty good. The Gp7/9's coast a little more but have better detailing and pull like crazy. How much better I don't know I have never compared them. But I can tell you that well maybe a video will speak more than my words Check this out
Oh and she pulled all those cars all day both days at the show.
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Post by tjdreams on Jun 24, 2015 16:41:35 GMT -5
My favorite is Chessie System so my first choice would be IV But steam from the early years is a close 2nd so I have to check off II and III as well. I would model the earlier years But their is just not enough working Z scale Civil war era loco's and rolling stock out there yet.
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Post by tjdreams on Apr 19, 2015 21:53:26 GMT -5
I for one would love to have the option to pick up a truck with a Marklin coupler on it. I plan to pick up and run a few A+A E8/9's in several Roads. Putting a truck with the Marklin coupler on the front of one unit would allow me to pull cars no matter what stile coupler they have by simply turning the pair of A units around and hooking to the other end.
David
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Post by tjdreams on Mar 28, 2015 13:26:06 GMT -5
The only way to get more people into Z is to make more models. ams and mrja This is by no means directed towards you, but rather to every one who reads it While I agree we need more models, I don't think it is the only way to get more people into Z scale. I firmly believe it will take a combination of Z scale manufactures and US "YES" you and me All of us the current Z scale modelers to get out there and help promote our beloved Z scale. I will say it again, We our selves All of us who can need to help promote Z scale, One or 2 manufactures making new models can't do it alone. How many times have you gone to a train show only to find their isn't a single Z scale layout on display or even one z scale item for sale at the show? But their is a ton of O, HO, & N scale on display, Many train Show promoters would love to have you come setup a Z scale layout at their show. (space permitting) Operating Layouts helps bring people to the shows which means more business for them, and at the same time it lets us show off and promote our Z Scale stuff to those who may be interested and never knew Z scale existed. Its a Win, Win scenario. It just involves a little more effort on our part. AZL and many other manufactures are doing their part by producing Z scale items. It is us the public who need to do our part and buy more of their products and let them (Respectively ) know what we like, want, will buy, and do not like. We also need to show off what we bought and built so others know what is out there and what is possible with Z scale trains. Yes I know their are many who are on fixed income, don't have the transportation to get out there, or are older and just physically can't do it. But those of us who can need to get out there, Take pride in our work and Show it off to the public. No you don't need to attend every show but if we each of us could show our stuff off at one show a year I believe the Z scale community would double if not triple in no time at all. I apologize if I have offended anyone that was not my intension with this post/rant Back on topic I to would love to see a C&O Allegheny N&W Class J a Pacific Streamline Passenger cars Some Civil war era cars and locomotives or anything sporting the Western Maryland Fireball logo. David
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Post by tjdreams on Feb 13, 2015 18:01:53 GMT -5
I would love to say I will take one of each but reality is I can only commit to buying one at this time. My first choice would be the Daylight paint with the Freedom scheme running a close 2nd.
David
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Post by tjdreams on Jan 7, 2015 22:01:19 GMT -5
As davestubbs said the magnet is for picking up metallic objects not for down force. I've run mine on Marklin Peco Rokuhan and Micro Trains track and it works the same on them all.
Simply Put They Work
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Post by tjdreams on Jan 1, 2015 18:40:43 GMT -5
Well Done!!!!
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Post by tjdreams on Dec 5, 2014 21:34:14 GMT -5
Not to hi jack but I have a question about the RC-02 for you electronics guys. On my RC-01 I have a set of panel mount gauges to read the voltage and amperage to my test track Gauges are simple analog 2 wire gauges, "V" in parallel, "A" in series, With a DPDT on/off/on switch to reverse direction.
Is it possible to wire up the gauges to get separate readings for constant lighting and the train throttle on the RC-02? What I'm trying to do is setup a 2nd smaller more compact controller to use on my work bench.
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Post by tjdreams on Dec 3, 2014 16:50:02 GMT -5
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Post by tjdreams on Nov 26, 2014 17:06:21 GMT -5
As for the applicator do a search on YouTube for "DIY Static Grass Applicator" Theirs dozens of videos on how to build your own. I have heard both good and bad reports on how well they work, but for just a couple dollars it might be worth a try.
If you build one BECAREFUL These can Zap you pretty good
David
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Post by tjdreams on Nov 11, 2014 0:18:52 GMT -5
1 AZL GP7 (Chesapeake & Ohio) 86 Hoppers 1 Caboose
Other than a hand full of Hopper derailments it pulled all 87 cars for nearly 6 hours with out a problem.
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Post by tjdreams on Oct 10, 2014 16:59:20 GMT -5
I'm still learning how to use my airbrush and can't give a whole lot of advice. But the 2 things I have learned are. "1" A good air compressor w/ regulator and moisture trap is just as important as the air brush. "2" Clean your airbrush often and clean it right away when your done painting. You don't want the paint to dry inside it. Also do a web search for "Airbrush Depot" (TCP Global) They have some good Sales on airbrushes and compressor packages from time to time www.tcpglobal.com/Airbrushing-Supplies/
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Post by tjdreams on Sept 23, 2014 15:54:43 GMT -5
The GP35 are easy to find. Its not like we are paying top Dollar for them. I rather get another loco instead. Shamoo737 I'm looking for some B&O and Chessie if you say there easy to find. Bob Keep a eye on eBay. The Chessie dose pop up there every once in a while. The B&O is more common and can be had for a reasonable price. David
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Post by tjdreams on Sept 18, 2014 22:47:45 GMT -5
Expectations Could it be that some of us are expecting a little too much of our Z scale trains? Wait are our so called "Z scale" trains really 1:220th the real thing. The simple answer is NO they are not.
Not everything Scales down
As we all know the weight of a locomotive has a direct effect on it's "Tractive Effort" how many cars or how much weight it can pull. The B&O #4500 Mikado at the B&O Museum weighs in at around 292,000 lbs. 1;220th of 292,000lbs is 1327.27lbs A SD70 weighs around 394000 pounds at 1:220 that's 1790 pounds
The B&O #4500 Mikado & tender made by AZL weighs about 1.5 ounces 1;220 x 1.5oz 20.625 lbs. AZL's SD70's are even less at around 1.4 ounces
How many of us could pick a 1327 pound locomotive up and put it on the track? How many of us built our bench work strong enough to handle several 1790 pound SD70 locomotives? on the other hand How many 10 ton box cars do you think a 21 pound locomotive is going to pull? With such a big difference in scale weight ratio verses real weight and the tractive effort of each, Z scale Locomotives just can't pull the same scale weight as Full scale locomotives. The bottom line is some things just can't be scaled down.
David
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Post by tjdreams on Sept 14, 2014 22:35:05 GMT -5
Thanks for the quick replies. The first two 'victims' are AZL 61010 (CSX), and the others I have yet to unpack. Dave, thanks for your technical help. This is what I had to do to early n-scale engines before state-of-the-art KATO, ATLAS and others came along. I have a large n-scale layout also with perfectly running rolling stock. It just seems that spending in the high $100's for a new locomotive, one would not have to perform such surgery right out of the box. I am hooked so I'll do what it takes to make my investment work, but future purchases of this product line, unless quality improves, may be out of the question. Thx, Roland I concur! I have four of the GP38-2s, three of which ran great right out of the box and one of which had to be returned to my LHS for a better copy. Of the four SD70s that I have (all new BTW) three ran well out of the box but the fourth is really noisy and a really bad runner. AZL however, appears ready to stand behind it and investigate the issue. I agree that AZL produces the best locomotives in Z Scale, hands down! However, I am somewhat dismayed that, at about the same price point of an AZL SD70, I can get an HO Scale Athearn Genesis GP7 with Tsunami sound; and it is a vastly superior model in detail, features and reliability. I realize that Z Scale is somewhat a niche market, suppliers are limited and run quantities are much smaller. However if a supplier requires a price point of nearly 200 dollars, every product’s performance and reliability needs to be commensurate with the price. Models should perform flawlessly out of the box and not require disassembly, cleaning, de-burring, lubricating and tweaking when they are in a new condition. Regards, Cliff
One thing to keep in mind Their is a big difference in the cost per unit to manufacture HO and N verses Z scale. HO and N they produce thousands of each road name and number. I've seen listings for HO and N (Limited run only 500 produced) In Z scale 500 is a big run. 20 to 60 units is a limited run. When You divide the cost of producing the molds and dies and such by 500 units verses 5000 units you get a big difference in the cost per unit.
I would venture to guess that if we had as many people interested in and buying the same quantities of Z scale products as HO and N scales the prices per unit would be in the same ballpark. And until we get to that point One should expect to pay more per unit than the more popular scales .
Personally I think AZL's products are among if not the best on the market today. And they seem to get better with each new release. Are they perfect NO, but they are a lot better than the rest in my opinion. Just look at the Marklin units that run like they are racing the Daytona 500 or the Micro trains F7's that sound like meat grinders grinding up a tree stump.
David
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