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Post by zscalehobo on Aug 14, 2015 17:13:57 GMT -5
Hi all I've been in N scale for years, and had the opportunity to pick up a small batch of Z scale items. I've checked around the web, and it seems that finding a source for parts for both Marklin and MTL locos is proving difficult. Any assistance would be appreciated. Thanks. Strummer Strummer: As a burgeoning Marklin service center, I am building up an inventory of Marklin spare parts in my store, but it is still developing. Let me know what you might need. We have a new distributor for Marklin in the USA that is getting parts even more reliably than Walthers and the European routes. I hope that trend only speeds up even more going forward. If you cannot locate part numbers, I find the Marklin spares search is quite handy: maerklin.de/de/service/suche.htmlIf you don't find your locomotive, find what class it is and then see if there is a more recent release of similar class. Then you can find latest prints with part numbers and spares lists. You can always ask me and I'd be glad to help you locate part numbers. I also have some MTL spares and can work with you and MTL to get what you need. Regards, Frank Daniels Owner - z.scale.hobo Irvine, California USA www.zscalehobo.com
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Post by zscalehobo on Aug 10, 2015 17:49:27 GMT -5
I created this set to be just that, larger with more of a selection of rolling stock. With five different freight cars, those getting into the scale can have a variety to start with. I very much looked at the larger Marklin starter sets as a model when coming up with these packages. We launched similar sets over a year ago and are doing very well with them. The other part is that these prices are realistic. Z scale tends to be more expensive than the other scale. Smaller runs and higher quality drives up prices. But here is the fun part. We can create custom packages for folks. If folks want smaller packages to get started, we can do that. We can also do mixes of different rolling stock and even locomotives. Since we have everything here, it is easy for us to do so. How many of you would be interested in a smaller set? Possibly a GP38, 1x car and 1x caboose (if matching the road name), a small oval of track and the smaller RC02 controller? If there is enough interest, I can work up a few options for these sets. Rob Rob K: I think the lower tier set is a good idea as well. But, this mega set is a fantastic offer. I like that you have combined the top controller, oval AND the siding set of tracks. I have so many customers who want to use the track from their ultra-bare-bones "gift cube" Marklin set to "finish" the track plan for a Noch Cortina pre-formed layout. Uh, that starter set comes with only a small portion of the track required to complete such a big layout. So, what I end up doing is suggest customers keep the Marklin track as a test loop for troubleshooting off the layout. Then they go with Rokuhan for building the layout, as sourcing all new Rokuhan is more cost effective than going with Marklin "add-ons" to their existing starter sets. With this set you have released, you have a couple of turnouts which are useful for applying to larger layouts. Plus the deluxe RC-03 controller with turnout control function. I see this as the "premium" starter set and I wish you could devise a way to pack these together for dealers to make it a single click purchase for our customers instead of making them hunt through the dealer site as N scaler had to do. I like the one-click option you have provided here and the price point is great. As others have suggested a lower price version would be a solid complementary item to round out your offerings. Frank Daniels Owner - z.scale.hobo Irvine, California USA www.zscalehobo.com
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Post by zscalehobo on Jul 31, 2015 15:36:58 GMT -5
I have a lot of questions Sven but I'll space them out. How do you achieve the realistic water effect? I have never seen anyone pull off such realistic scenery. I have to look several times to make sure I'm not looking at the real thing. Yes, Dr. R, as Aaron asks, how did you get the water effect? I offer a couple of different brands and wanted to know if it was one of these. This is truly amazing work you have done. Thanks!
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Post by zscalehobo on Jun 26, 2015 11:27:31 GMT -5
While browsing through the product announcements, I saw that the Dallas TRE and Sounder F59PHi and passenger cars are now only $99 for a set. These look to be a great value for getting started in Z scale. I have done some research on these and can't find a lot of information. I think these have been out for about 10 years or so. What I would like to know is how well these locos run in addition to how well the cars track. I am not a good tinkerer and like locos and cars that run well out of the box. I would appreciate your input. Dave: Welcome to the board and welcome to z! Yes, this is an amazing value since they used to retail at $399! Buying a set at $99 allows you extra cash to send AZL a tip in appreciation for the value they are providing. :-) I believe they are a 2004 release, the first injection mold from AZL. I am surprised you cannot find much information ... here are some searches I did at Google to get more details on these sets: www.google.com/search?q=azlforum.com%3A+f59phior www.google.com/search?q=azlforum.com%3A+f59In those Google search results, I found this article from not too long ago, which catches most of the issues: azlforum.com/thread/411/azl-f59phi-tips-tricksSo, actually, there are quite a few "out of the box" issues that can potentially be in each set, but there are fixes posted all over AZL's site and via Ztrack. Here is the link to the Ztrack article to which markm refers: www.ztrack.com/articles/azl/AZL_F59PHI_upgrade.pdfAZL's main website has a lot of the basic information about each release, here is the link to the F59 page (1994 refers to the year when the real F59PHI's were introduced to American railroads, NOT the year AZL released the set!): www.americanzline.com/locomotives/f59phi/On AZL's release description, I don't see the same description I have on my product pages. Here is I what I have: AZL's F59PHIs and coaches are injection molded and produced by Ajin of Korea. This represents the first injection release from AZL. The locomotives feature a 10mm Mabuchi can motor, brass flywheel, direction controlled lighting, and come DCC ready. The couplers can be replaced with Micro-TrainsĀ® Magne-MaticTM couplers. Passenger cars include interiors.Note that the most common issue is with the back porch (I observe this on most of the units I receive), and I have posted a video on how to do fix that in under 2 minutes seconds from start to finish, counting opening the package and doing it one-handed. That video is in the comments of the tips post I linked to above. Good luck and enjoy!
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F Units
Jun 17, 2015 12:19:56 GMT -5
Post by zscalehobo on Jun 17, 2015 12:19:56 GMT -5
still can't get over how small they are compared to the E8/9. According to Wikipedia articles ... E8 is 70ft 3in (21.31m) while an F3 is 51ft 2in (15.6m). An F3 is 71% of the length of an E8.
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Post by zscalehobo on Jun 12, 2015 11:54:05 GMT -5
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Post by zscalehobo on Jun 9, 2015 13:19:02 GMT -5
I see three listings on the big auction site. Searched "z scale camper."
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Post by zscalehobo on Apr 28, 2015 18:40:05 GMT -5
Here's a direct link to their product video for the 08100 gras-spritzdose (puffer bottle):
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Post by zscalehobo on Apr 22, 2015 11:03:43 GMT -5
Being a 'dealer' and a 'distributor' are two different animals. But, it is good news to read that Walthers' no longer holds that strangle hold. Yes, this is good news and mrja is exactly right ... Walther's was a distributor of Marklin but they were also a dealer. The new distributor follows a pure distributorship model and does not sell directly to end users. The new distributor also has plans to make available spare parts, so I encourage everyone to check with your favorite official Marklin dealer for any Marklin spares you may need. If you need help locating items or part numbers, I am always glad to help.
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Post by zscalehobo on Apr 14, 2015 19:27:28 GMT -5
I have tried that too , it doesn't work. It is really mind boggling , I took a picture of the layout with my cell phone. The picture came out crystal clear. I then emailed the picture to myself. Open the email on my computer and tried printing that. No luck. If it don't work that way I can't figure any other way. You are having other issues if you cannot simply screencap and print. Try a screencap and then paste it into a MS Word file with the layout at Landscape. By the way, I found out direct links to the pics via Rokuhan's resident nice guy, Mr. Kebukawa: Plan A Plan B Plan CPlan DPlan EPlan FPlan GPlan HPlan IPlan JPlan KPlan LPlan MPlan NPlan OPlan PPlan QPlan RRegards, Frank Daniels Owner - z.scale.hobo Irvine, California USA www.zscalehobo.com
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Post by zscalehobo on Mar 25, 2015 18:58:31 GMT -5
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Post by zscalehobo on Mar 20, 2015 11:46:15 GMT -5
Hi, Has anybody come up with a good way to make deciduous trees? My pine trees are made from Loren Snyder recipe, which is the best way to go in my opinion but now need deciduous. Thanks. Mark Noch has produced a tree-making kit 24302. Here are the steps: This is slated for release in June 2015.
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Post by zscalehobo on Feb 27, 2015 12:45:50 GMT -5
Hi all, Has anybody here dealt with removable mountain tops? I have a small access hole in the bottom of the layout for train recovery and hopefully enough room to clean the track. I believer it's Mister Dave that has this type of access and it seemed to work. Just getting a bit paranoid to make it permanent. Any advice? Mark Yes, even Noch's Cortina pre-formed layout #85880 for z scale has two removable mountain tops. As Rob said you simply add additional foliage or flocking material to blend nicely if the gaps are too large. Also, in case you have track areas that are hard to reach, Peter Post Tools has a nifty cleaning tool. It has velcro tip and comes with cleaning fluid and several spare cloths to put onto the tool tip. You can reach into far away places inside tunnels or on opposite sides of your layout. I have the N scale version as well, and its arm telescopes out for a longer reach. Here's the item's package contents: Here's a link to the Peter Post tools page on my website: zscalehobo.com/peter_post/peter_post_numbers.html
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Post by zscalehobo on Feb 25, 2015 13:19:16 GMT -5
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Post by zscalehobo on Feb 15, 2015 22:54:52 GMT -5
Dave: You don't mean this video, do you? :-) Warning: Do not try this at home or anywhere else for that matter! I thought the high-cubes were before the release of the auto-latch couplers? They were. But AZL's site says "Auto-Latch" and most dealers followed suit: www.americanzline.com/freight/60-high-cube-boxcar/My product page for that item simply states "AZL Couplers" from one of the initial dealer email blasts: zscalehobo.com/azl/azl_90401.html
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