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Post by zscalehobo on Feb 15, 2015 14:32:30 GMT -5
Ahhh Auto latch ... that video of a ... man repeating it over and over ... Dave: You don't mean this video, do you? :-) Warning: Do not try this at home or anywhere else for that matter!
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Post by zscalehobo on Feb 13, 2015 1:18:04 GMT -5
The F59PHIs sound different from other AZL productsTrue. The F59PHIs use a 10mm Maxom motor. They can have a slight higher pitch during operations. These locos are beasts. They are heavy and can pull like crazy. About the motor ... isn't it a Mabuchi can motor in the F59PHI? Maxon was used in the Micro-Trains releases.
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Post by zscalehobo on Feb 12, 2015 13:00:09 GMT -5
My porch is looseThis is the one achilles heal of these sets. The rear porch with the coupler is held on to the shell by two small pins. That is it. We recommend customers put a small drop of CA glue on each pin to securely hold them in place. Just make sure the coupler is aligned horizontally before doing so. I had so many complaints about the back porch from customers. For those who do not want to use super glue on the back porch, here is a simple modification to the packaging that will take away the main contributor to the porches dislodging during handling. For any set I sell I make this modification to the foam holding the locomotive.
(I did this video one-handed, so imagine how fast it can be done with TWO) Here is the detail of the modification:
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Post by zscalehobo on Feb 7, 2015 15:18:14 GMT -5
Will there be another run of GP38-2's? Seems that was a successful run at an amazing price point.
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Post by zscalehobo on Dec 22, 2014 20:31:21 GMT -5
So I posted a question asking if anyone had any ideas why my forward and reverse led' s quit working. Danny: Why did they quit working? Were you manipulating the board? Robert Allbritton or Hans: Is the attachment method for LEDs on this board only employing silicone? See attached images showing remnants of no solder disturbance on the board and no solder present on the LED, but instead traces of silicone are observed. Can't the PCB manufacturer build up some solder and then attach the LED with solder in a 90 degree orientation? Is there a new revision of this board that has the LEDs soldered to the board? In trying to troubleshoot my personal GP38, I had one LED pop off the PCB and now it won't stick back into the proper location. Since my personal unit is out of warranty, I'm trying to find out how you attach it so I can get this unit lighted again. I will attempt to re-work the board by building up a solder blob tall enough to allow the LED to mount properly without the silicone. I also had some suggestions on this tech note so send me a line if you would like to see my comments on the procedure. Appreciate the feedback. Merry Christmas to all. Attachments:
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Post by zscalehobo on Dec 1, 2014 17:52:48 GMT -5
There is a big jump from Marklin throttle to Rokuhan RC02. first of all it has a automatic circuit breaker and it will trip at less than 1 amp load while the Marklin unit will supply enough to burn things and weld things on occasion I also have no problems with most of my Marklin stuff but I know from experience if they are stiff from sitting on the shelf, the breaker in the RC02 will trip. regards Garth Great post, Garth. I am actually working with a customer who returned an RC-02 to me and when I re-tested, it works fine. Found out he is using Marklin loks, but he says they run fine on another layout. In the midst of troubleshooting at the moment and this was one of my suggestions ... possibly gunked up trucks/bogeys, but the timing of your post is uncanny. Thank you for supporting my suggestion of checking into the locomotives. One more thing... do you think the RC-03 would have less of an issue since the pulse magnitude/duration is slightly larger/different shape? I don't have the traces handy, but when I o-scoped these two units several months ago, there is quite a delta between the signals coming out of the two. Is there an eventual plan to phase out the RC-02 (new model could be RC-04?) with a similar circuit as the -03 ... like the transition from -01 to -03? Thanks. I was able to find issue with my customer's RC-02. It ran 6 MTL GP9/SD40's just fine. One Micro-Trains SD40, though, led to the RC-02 shutting off when the lok hit an R195mm curve. I changed power supplies ... ran the same engine on my Marklin 67271 without issue for about 20 minutes. I checked the motor temperature and the SD40's maxon motor was not heating up. It was lukewarm to the touch. I then lubricated this locomotive with Conductalube with focus on the copper pickup that connects the "ball" on the truck to the chassis. I re-ran it with the RC-02 and went two hours without issue, even at higher throttle on the RC-02. This is odd. I wonder if this RC-02 is indeed defective? I wonder if the shutoff current is too low for RC-02's? However, this proves that the locomotive conductivity is one effect on the RC-02 power supply shutting off.
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Post by zscalehobo on Nov 25, 2014 19:17:49 GMT -5
Is it even worth using the static grass method for Z scale? Since Z is so tiny, would the stand up grass be too big? Mark Mark: Noch makes 2.5mm long grass which is fine for z ... it's what they use on all their pre-forms and I think it is a very professional looking finish. I have the 50210 (spring meadow) grass in stock ... here's what it looks like: LINK to 50210 on Noch's website
I am also bringing in Noch's static applicator (although I've read you can make your own quite easily) for the first time. I have two Grasmaster 2.0 (#60135) units en route from Germany. Can't wait to try it out on my own layout. Rob: That layout looks great!
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Post by zscalehobo on Nov 21, 2014 18:07:19 GMT -5
There is a big jump from Marklin throttle to Rokuhan RC02. first of all it has a automatic circuit breaker and it will trip at less than 1 amp load while the Marklin unit will supply enough to burn things and weld things on occasion I also have no problems with most of my Marklin stuff but I know from experience if they are stiff from sitting on the shelf, the breaker in the RC02 will trip. regards Garth Great post, Garth. I am actually working with a customer who returned an RC-02 to me and when I re-tested, it works fine. Found out he is using Marklin loks, but he says they run fine on another layout. In the midst of troubleshooting at the moment and this was one of my suggestions ... possibly gunked up trucks/bogeys, but the timing of your post is uncanny. Thank you for supporting my suggestion of checking into the locomotives. One more thing... do you think the RC-03 would have less of an issue since the pulse magnitude/duration is slightly larger/different shape? I don't have the traces handy, but when I o-scoped these two units several months ago, there is quite a delta between the signals coming out of the two. Is there an eventual plan to phase out the RC-02 (new model could be RC-04?) with a similar circuit as the -03 ... like the transition from -01 to -03? Thanks.
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Post by zscalehobo on Nov 21, 2014 12:05:59 GMT -5
MILW 800 had 4x small 36' cap top roof fans, winterization hatch and closed skirting. The ACI bar code belongs onto the railing or cab. All pieces and bits to get it right are in your product range. BTW: MILW 302 had a large winterization hatch and the numbers on a separate board.... Gerd: You are either a die-hard railfan or a bona-fide hoghead ( link). Which is it?
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Post by zscalehobo on Nov 12, 2014 18:36:15 GMT -5
About E8s and E9s, any update about the time span when they are planned for release? Dom Dom: Two days ago at this link: azlforum.com/post/3006/threadRobert Allbritton said: "I expect E-units and F-units by the end of the year. 6-axle fright(sic) locomotives in Spring of 2015. That's my best guess as of now. Hans may have better insight."
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Post by zscalehobo on Nov 10, 2014 18:17:48 GMT -5
There are no turnouts or crossings on this module. Just two straight runs of track on two separate lines powered independently. Can you run some additional feeders to this section? Maybe you are getting too far from the power packs/feeding points.
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Post by zscalehobo on Oct 29, 2014 11:13:39 GMT -5
Looking for a turntable but doesn't look like much out there for Z. Mark As for currently produced ... there is NOTHING out there. You can find second hand (used) Marklin 8998 and 89981's on eBay. Rokuhan's S037 Turntable is slated for release via non-Intermountain channels (Ztrack or direct to Japan) in December/January or through Intermountain dealers likely by April or May. Marklin's 89982 Turntable and Accessory Buildings Set is a "late 2014 release" but I have yet to hear any updates about its official release date.
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Post by zscalehobo on Oct 13, 2014 17:46:05 GMT -5
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Post by zscalehobo on Sept 19, 2014 10:52:49 GMT -5
MTL's model will never come back I am wondering what is the source for comments like this? How do you know MTL will NEVER release it again? Thanks for any insight you may have on the topic as I have not heard anything like this from Micro-Trains. I do think it would be a good release... I'd like to see a steady production run of GP-35's and I agree that MTL's was a good seller. Don't delete this post, you aren't getting much traffic as people are not reading this blog at all hours of the night. You posted at 2AM my time, so I am just getting to this at 8:50AM. :-)
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SD70
Sept 16, 2014 17:41:51 GMT -5
Post by zscalehobo on Sept 16, 2014 17:41:51 GMT -5
This was posted on Trainboard a few min ago: Hi Guys, No Documentation: It is comming on the AZL web site. Getting the factory to print anything in ingrish is a nightmare. Coupler: Yes, you have to cut off the couplr box from the trucks to get the snow plow in place. This WILL NOT VOID your warranty, but might impact your resale value down the line. We have PLENTY of replacement trucks for sale. Parts: Full line of parts for sale to support the model. The only part we do not sell is the shell. Cheers -Robert AZL Robert: Frank Daniels from z.scale.hobo here ... Is there an on-line version of the instruction sheet? Can you point me to the link? Also, is there a description of the "add-on" parts. I have had a few customers asking what the add-on parts are are and where they go. Further, does anyone know of a procedure or a web video showing the coupler cutting for inserting the snow plow? A couple of customers are asking about that, as well. If not, it may be a project I will consider taking on. Thanks for any insight.
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