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Post by tjdreams on Sept 10, 2014 16:43:28 GMT -5
I don't mean to change the subject but I have purchased quite a few AZL heavyweight passenger cars (mostly SP) and have read that the door diaphragms will extend out. To give you an idea of my situation I have to wear XL gloves or larger (my hands and fingers are big but I am truly intrigued with Z-scale) so I have been unable to extend them for the fear that I will break something. Can anyone give me advice on how to gently pull them out and how far I should expect them to extend? Mark Hi Mark Its XL or XXL gloves for me too so I know your dilemma all too well. I don't have any SP heavyweights but on the C&O cars I Have the diaphragms will move about 0.75 of a mm or 0.0295 of a inch on average. The ones I've check all seam to be all the way out and only push in. I used a tooth pick to try and pry one out with no luck. So I just popped the roof off of it. The diaphragms appear to be held in place with 4 pins that have the ends melted to prevent them from pulling out. They are at full extension and can only be pushed in about 3/4 of one millimeter. At least that's the way it is on the one I just checked. David
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Post by tjdreams on Aug 27, 2014 18:18:10 GMT -5
I too went with NCE Power Cab. Why? Well It seems to be the popular choice for Z scale. NCE Products are normal stock items at my local Hobby Shop. (Read I can stop by and pick up what I need without having to wait for a special order to be shipped to me.) + the staff there are very knowledgeable and were able to answer my questions about NCE DCC right off. And lastly, The power Cab is upgradeable. You can buy a booster and upgrade with out having to go buy a hole new system like you do with some of the other DCC systems.
Is It the Best? I don't know. I have never tried any of the others. But I like it and am happy with it so far.
David
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Post by tjdreams on Aug 24, 2014 12:31:16 GMT -5
For sound I was able to put a SoundTraxx Micro-Tsunami Decoder (TSU-750) in a AZL PC&F Beer Car, and have 2 others in the works, a older MTL F7 dummy B unit and a AZL Heavyweight Baggage Car. I have read where others have done similar with Auto racks, hollowed out double stack cars, and a few other cars. And I believe someone just recently shoehorned a WOW sound decoder into a steamer or maybe it was the tender. In any case the Bottom line is Yes You can put sound decoders in Z scale. However it dose require a fair amount of ingenuity and customization to get the job done.
David
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Post by tjdreams on Aug 22, 2014 18:35:21 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum and Z scale As has bin said most of the negative comments about Z scale come from those who have no real hands on experience with Z scale. Give it a try and find out for yourself. All 14 of my AZL Locomotives (GP7, GP7, GP30, GP38-2, SD70m, 2-8-2 Mikado's) run just fine on Rokuhan 220mm radius track. In fact all 53 of my locos AZL, Marklin, Micro Trains, and Rokuhan all run fine on Rokuhan track. Some will run on smaller 195mm, 170mm or even 145mm radius track. But just like N, HO, O and all other scales Longer Locomotives like- Chalanger's, Bigboy's and some longer cars need a larger diameter track such as 245mm, or 270mm. You can ballast the road bed track the same as you would non road bed track. Just like the larger scale road bed track, If you take your time and check clearances with a gauge or a piece of rolling stock as you go no one will be able to tell the difference.
As for structures and buildings you will find more kits than ready built, While the smaller size may make some of the finer detail parts a bit of a challenge for the first time modeler, A experienced kit builder should have no difficulty in assembling the kits fine details and all.
David
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Post by tjdreams on Aug 17, 2014 9:43:42 GMT -5
Excellent work I wish my painting and decaling skills were that good.
PS
Hay AZL The rest of us not so skilled painters would like a Chessie System locomotive to pull those Hoppers Hans posted about.
.-.-.-. HINT---HINT .-.-.-. 2 road No.'s each in B&O C&O WM Livery
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Post by tjdreams on Aug 16, 2014 16:39:31 GMT -5
Looking Good!
Where did you find the decals at? or did you make them yourself?
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Post by tjdreams on Aug 15, 2014 19:03:34 GMT -5
As Has bin said MTL's Re-railing ramp will help. It's about 40 CM or 1-9/16 inches longer than AZL's light Mikado's. So their is plenty of room to place the Mike and tender on it and let them roll down and onto the rails I just did a quick test Using my AZL Southern Mikado. I got all wheels on the rails 5 out of 10 tries with a MTL re-railing ramp just sitting on the rails I got all wheels on the rails 7 out of 10 tries using the one I have glued down at the end of a siding on my test/brake-in track.
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Post by tjdreams on Aug 5, 2014 15:43:58 GMT -5
N&W J class, PRR K4 NYC Niagara
All get my Vote
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Post by tjdreams on Jul 14, 2014 15:23:40 GMT -5
As Mark said take a look on Z Scale Resale www.ztrackresale.com/ Do you have a manufacture name and model or part number for the ones your looking for? If so post a list. You never know maybe someone here has what your looking for or knows where to find it at. David
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Post by tjdreams on Jul 8, 2014 21:42:17 GMT -5
As Mark pointed out theirs not many options for American tie spacing. As you've found out MTL Switches aren't the best. Wright turnouts were pretty good but I believe he went out of business a few years back. You may get lucky and find one or two of his turnouts on eBay but I wouldn't count on it. Rokuhan and Marklin seam to be more reliable but not American prototype. If you really want American prototypical tie spacing Fast Tracks system (Hand laying/building your own) is probably your best bet.
David
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Post by tjdreams on Jun 10, 2014 18:06:44 GMT -5
I would love to see a few Chessie paint schemes
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Post by tjdreams on May 7, 2014 17:16:14 GMT -5
C&O Chessie System WM Chessie System I'm not aware that the Chessie System paint was ever applied to any of the F-units. Do you have any proto-photos?
It appears you may be right. While I know the F7 units were in survive through the late 70's, well into the Chessie system years, I have not bin able to find a single photo of a actual f-7 in Chessie paint. It's hard to believe that all the photos and models I have seen over the years are of a fictitious paint scheme. It just goes to show that Even a old guy like me can learn something new every day.
Fictitious or not I would still like to have a F7 wearing the Chessie paint scheme.
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Post by tjdreams on May 3, 2014 9:26:26 GMT -5
Have you chosen any paint schemes yet? Not that I would ever try and bribe anyone but
C&O Chessie System = Where do I send the Beer? WM Chessie System = Where do I send the chocolate C&O 3 color Passenger Scheme = Where do I send the Beer and Chocolate to?
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Post by tjdreams on Apr 8, 2014 18:21:30 GMT -5
The DC z scale group does dcc? It was just a rumor out here on the left coast. You know how twisted information gets once it leaves Washington LOL I'm a relatively new member of the DC Z Scale group and can tell you the last 2 shows we setup at it was all DC. I'm happy running just DC for now. But I would like to see one loop converted to DCC some day. There are a few of us who are looking into DCC. I think ED's layout is DCC. I plan to run Both DC & DCC. While most of my current fleet is DC and will probably remain so, I have done a few custom DCC conversions. 2 MTL "A" units and 2 "B" units, A AZL Mikado Plus several drop in's to GP-9's, GP-35's and a SD-40. I found and followed write up's on how to do the conversions over on TrainBoard.com.
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Post by tjdreams on Mar 28, 2014 16:00:20 GMT -5
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