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Post by zscalehobo on Jan 1, 2024 17:48:05 GMT -5
These Ortners look great! I really wish AZL could show a list of all road names and just release all paint schemes at one time just like the larger scales. To wait months for your favorite road to come out can be frustrating. I love Z and love AZL, but I’m am not a fan of the every two week releases, just my opinion. Never too early in a year for frustration! Search tool yielded: "First Run Railroads: SP, C&O, CSX, FEC, GATX, Conrail, DJJ, NS, SCL, Vulcan and Amtrak" Source: azlforum.com/thread/2482/azl-ortner-open-aggregate-hopper
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Post by zscalehobo on Dec 26, 2023 10:16:04 GMT -5
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Post by zscalehobo on Dec 21, 2023 19:37:17 GMT -5
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Post by zscalehobo on Dec 14, 2023 16:05:14 GMT -5
This is a great BOGO deal from AZL. They are cutting their losses on relatively stagnant stock and offering a sweet deal; and now that the 2007 C&O images are in front of everyone for the first time in a long time, there is criticism of a detail that has been missing since ... well, initial release. There is no image anywhere showing the horns on this loco. It likely was missed. For information purposes ... the timeframes of releases provide some added details... 4-digit part number releases were in the 2007/2008 timeframe. SandaKan production using Faulhaber motors (8v rated, if I understand correctly - so don't overdrive these!). 620x 4-digit part numbers: 6202 C&O 2/07 6203 NPR 2/07 6204 PRR 6/08 6205 UP 6/08 The next run of GP7s were with the new 7.5mm motor and were in the 2014/2015 timeframe and these are represented with 5-digit part numbers. 620xx 5-digit part numbers: Date of release (M/YY) / Road 4/14 SP 8/14 MP 10/14 ATSF 11/14 MILW 12/14 WP 1/15 DRGW 2/15 NYC 6/15 CB&Q I've found the 620x 4-digit series to be some of the smoothest running locomotives AZL has ever put out and we've all seen David Wolf's "AZL Coal Drag" video on YouTube where one is pulling several dozen hoppers (as Rob A mentioned). They originally had an MSRP of $210 but when the new released 2nd run came out in 2014, AZL slashed the price of the remaining original run units to $169 to align with the new releases. And now this week, you have the ability to get them for $84.50 each. Crazy solid deal. As for railings - I've found that just removing locos from the soft plastic sheet that wraps around them can move the railings - don't remove it the way Rob K did in his latest SD40 video from 1:34 to 1:40 in that video (he pulls it straight out! **Video cued up to plastic removal** We've all done this so be very careful when opening the wraps of plastic as the railings might get caught up. They usually can press back into place or back into shape with a tweezers in a jiffy and hopefully, no paint chips off. Adding my 2c as I am not feeling the love on this amazing, better than dealer cost offer (believe it) that AZL has bestowed onto everyone.
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Post by zscalehobo on Dec 12, 2023 12:33:59 GMT -5
Actually, if you look closely, you can see the horns on the UP and PRR near the dynamic break fans.
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Post by zscalehobo on Nov 26, 2023 18:44:27 GMT -5
It only takes a phone call to find out if tooling is still available.
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Post by zscalehobo on Nov 16, 2023 18:10:43 GMT -5
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Post by zscalehobo on Nov 5, 2023 1:34:03 GMT -5
Robs video above shows how to remove the shell. Instead of his screwdriver method (edit: sorry - screwdriver method is in the F7 video - in this video the shell simply shimmies off), I use two thin guitar picks to get the shell to come off. Doesn't work for every locomotive There's also a series of documents on AZL's info site... shell removal instructions are there. Link: www.americanzline.com/tech/documents/
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Post by zscalehobo on Oct 17, 2023 20:33:56 GMT -5
3xxxx = HO 8xxxx = Z
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Post by zscalehobo on Oct 17, 2023 16:56:23 GMT -5
What's a Marklin GE locomotive?
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Post by zscalehobo on Oct 2, 2023 23:53:45 GMT -5
So, speaking of pre-orders. While the pre-orders have been healthy for me on these, we might want to really show Atlas we mean business. Today was the deadline for dealer orders and the pre-orders have stagnated. I'm taking a neutral route here and pointing to competitor's sites to order along with a link to my own website ... that's how important this release is. Order from z.scale.hobo: zscalehobo.com/atlas/atlas_index.html#evansOrder from Zscale Monster: www.zscalemonster.com/atlas/Order directly from Atlas: shop.atlasrr.com/c-1700-z-53-evans-double-plug-door-box-car.aspxThis is the moment to put your money where your mouth is ... show a new manufacturer in Z that our community can support their venture. The success of this release will be critical for ensuring more releases will come from Atlas in the future.
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Post by zscalehobo on Oct 2, 2023 23:43:48 GMT -5
Its very frustrating to see a new release announced on this site and by the time I click on the links or check out the 3 dealers I buy from, eveything is already sold out. I'm mostly UP (especially Locos). I guess I'll have to hope for the best or pay inflated EBay prices when AZL starts releasing them again. I try to buy at least one full set (all road numbers) of each UP release. There must be about 7 different UP locomotives still available right now. Not sure what you missed out on with regards to the UP.
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Post by zscalehobo on Oct 2, 2023 23:41:51 GMT -5
Funny. MTL's move to a pre-order system for Z was panned universally and yet it works out great for dealers (although, I must make my own estimate of what I will sell as nobody pre-orders). Only getting enough for orders and things are selling out faster than ever before. There's now a demand instead of stagnant stock. (aside: The War of the Worlds set has been the most successful "foobie" set they've made by my count. People love it!).
For AZL, please ... do not go to a pre-order system - the community will likely lose a lot of items that AZL still has gone full steam ahead on - people don't usually pre-order in Z! Having the variety available, even if stock stagnates, is awesome ... AZL only missed on the R70-20's and a couple of other items. But they were spot on or over-produced, I'd say about 98% of the time. We're all complaining about a small portion that proves to be very popular and now Mr. A is agreeing to produce more. Problem solved.
Yes, please, Rob A ... make some more Tropicana reefers.
Even though I decided to sleep Saturday night and missed out on the latest release (I pressed F5/refresh on my browser until I fell asleep and awoke to SOLD OUT notices upon re-refreshing), I'm not deterred ... AZL is doing really well on most releases ... and I'm thankful you're considering to make more R70-20's.
Also - we all really love conspiracies! The R70-20 "hoarders" are gonna make a big $5 extra by holding onto the handful they got. Sorry about it but there's just too few produced to actually hoard them. I'm not denying there are prospectors, but this is not the case for the R70-20s. When I had garnered "most" of the stock of an R70-20 recently, I've only sold 1 of each item (4-pack & 2-pack). People weren't buying my entire stock.
Thanks for listening.
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Post by zscalehobo on Sept 11, 2023 15:45:19 GMT -5
WHY would you bother with Road Number”s Funny story ... I would guesstimate that maybe 5% of all customers don't even know what "road numbers" or "reporting marks" are ... it's a common question I get - "What does 'road number' mean in your pages?"
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Post by zscalehobo on Sept 9, 2023 12:01:38 GMT -5
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