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Post by gerd on Feb 23, 2022 0:36:30 GMT -5
Yeah, that was the earlier response, especially for a small (qty) segment in Z. But maybe they could be classified as ‘Special Runs’, with Pre-orders, and charge say, 2x (like a brass run).
I can confirm the U-Boats are not as popular as similar EMD models, I offer them for years and numbers are indeed moderate
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Post by gerd on Nov 19, 2021 1:37:26 GMT -5
What puzzles me a 5 min internet search and review by AZL would have avoided that issue, can’t blame the Chinese supplier, they don’t have any idea in the first place, it’s all about the sign-off by the customer
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Post by gerd on Aug 12, 2021 17:33:25 GMT -5
I can't speak to AZL's motives, but one obvious possibility is that the hoods on the switchers earlier than the 1000 series are 7 feet wide, 3 feet narrower than the later models. That comes out to 9.6mm external width in Z. A bit on the tight side for their 7.5mm motor. That's a good point. I didn't consider that would be a problem so maybe the earlier SW's are a no-go after all. Maybe a newer motor or some other solution might permit it. It would be interesting to see if--for example--the ZMaker SW1200 shell would fit. Being brass, perhaps it might have the benefit of thinner walls vs the AZL. (wonder if AZL is incorporating the brass inserts still like they did on the SD70's?) The Zmaker shells are not thinner, they are cast brass of the 3D printed master, therefore the thickness is bigger than injection molded.
Brass or nickel-silver soldered shells like on my MP15DC and AC have a thinner shell. Some applies to the brass inserts in some former AZL locos: thin, metal etched sheet metal.
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Post by gerd on Aug 10, 2021 22:03:45 GMT -5
I'm in Portugal (23%) and I've purchased many times recently, sin ce 1st July, from DMToys (N scale) Germany and they just charge the 19% German sales tax. DMToys are a big concern too. I'm pretty sure they will be in-line with any EU requirements. Only because a company is big doesn't mean they do it correctly....
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Post by gerd on May 25, 2021 2:03:50 GMT -5
Like the PA/PB anouncement, nicest loco ever!
Well, on the other hand I can retire another 2 of my product lines, that's now up to no. 6....Good on you, guys, smashing it, guess its the fate of a small series builder, I stay with re-paints for the future....
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Post by gerd on May 11, 2021 21:40:15 GMT -5
Due being overseas and rough parcel treatments in general I have to agree that packaging of AZL models is not sufficient, I receive most items with loose bits, one way or the other. Most common is of course loose circuit boards, but the RS design gives hope with screwed on boards like Marklin does.
In saying that I received also Marklin items where the inner plastic mould of the packaging was shattered in pieces, too.
Rob: the Atlas fantasy paint scheme of the coil car still hurts
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Post by gerd on May 3, 2021 0:13:01 GMT -5
In my 90 seconds of research, I saw very little reference to E7's painted in this scheme (mostly other model companies), though I saw plenty of real E4A pictures. I'm sure Rob or Hans will share more info soon. As you can tell, I'm looking for an excuse to own a set.
That paint scheme is called "Citrus", early units like E4 had this scheme with silver trucks, the E7 had a later version with black trucks and tanks, but this paint scheme was only used for a few years and the last evidence of this particular paint scheme is a b/w photo from 1949, after that the roofs where painted in olive, what makes sense, those yellow roofs must have locked filthy after one day. So bottom line it's an exotic paint scheme in a narrow time frame.
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Post by gerd on Apr 26, 2021 4:28:52 GMT -5
...the only brass in this loco is the weight inside 🤣
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Post by gerd on Mar 16, 2021 20:43:47 GMT -5
Just to summarize all mentioned here: The paint scheme for 920 is wrong, it was only ever used on 913. Full Stop. 920 had a paint scheme covering the whole roof black plus around the front windows plus most likely the grills. Because without proper preparation paint doesn't stick well to stainless steel, the paint was wearing off quickly. They did a better job later with the preparation of the green which seem to last better.
But all that is easy to fix if you like it prototypical. What I found a bit of a disappointment is the prominent grills of the F7 are hardly visible on the model, but the openings are over-prominent. It appears its the reworked tooling or modeled on the F3, because the opening on the F7 were all rectangular without the two chamfered corners in the middle. Well, can be fixed too with some etched parts...
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Post by gerd on Mar 14, 2021 20:48:44 GMT -5
A little bit of history for these locomotives. WP purchased these locomotives in 1950-51 as A-B-B-A sets and delivered in the Zephyr paint scheme. The notable spotting difference between these earlier F7s is the intake grills. By the 1960s, in a cost cutting measure the paint scheme was simplified, replacing silver with orange and extending the roof black to the intake grills, over the cab and it's window frames: www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1827757Although seldom modeled, this is probably the most common scheme for the F7s. Throughout the 1960s, with the need for more power, WP started using F7s, particularly the B units as trade-in for U-boats and GPs. This started in 1965 and by the early 1970s the F7 fleet has been reduced to 4 units: 913, 917, 918, 921, sometime called the Fabulous "Fab" Four. These units ran as an A-A-A-A set (two forward, two backwards) the Stockton/San Jose, Stockton/Milpitas turns. The former being mixed merchandise, and the later to the Ford plant with parts in and autoracks out. In 1970 Alfred Perlman became President. During his tenure the alphabetic suffix on locomotives disappeared due to computerization, and the Perlman Green paint scheme was implemented. For the Fab 4 all but 913 eventually received this scheme. 913 was repainted in a modified Zephyr scheme which lasted into the UP merger. So in the 1970s it was common to see consists such as: www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=390788All four locomotives are preserved at California museums. Hope this was of interest, Mark Since AZL has produced two of the Fab 4, it would be appreciated if somewhere down the track they could come up with a Zephyr paint 913 and an orange 917. Mark So that actually means the above shown 920 has not a prototypical paint scheme? Should be numbered 913
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Post by gerd on Feb 27, 2021 4:10:01 GMT -5
...what the customer wants the customer get....
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Post by gerd on Feb 21, 2021 16:30:00 GMT -5
I made some AAR cars in the past:
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Post by gerd on Feb 12, 2021 6:40:05 GMT -5
Some Rock Island, some prototypical, some less
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Post by gerd on Feb 9, 2021 17:09:32 GMT -5
Have to congratulate your guys, all this recent work will boost Z scale and everyone will benefit from this
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Repaint
Feb 2, 2021 17:43:23 GMT -5
smr likes this
Post by gerd on Feb 2, 2021 17:43:23 GMT -5
I do repaints, but located in down under
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