|
Post by domi on Sept 1, 2023 14:06:27 GMT -5
Hi Steve, If this boxcar sells out and Atlas releases a 2nd freight car, what is the probability of a Z Locomotive release in the near future? I'd like to see a GP40/-2 or a U30C. Make Undecorated also! I'd buy 10 at a time. Thanks And for me a U23B (BTW a U30B could make it to me😉) !! A long time ago Hans told us U-Boats were not in the hose, but in the future, who knows ?😉 Dom
|
|
|
Post by domi on Sept 1, 2023 14:03:39 GMT -5
On my side, pure bliss with my AZL locos, besides the unuseful traction tires for me. Smooth and silent running, and wonderful low speed characteristics. Please hang on, AZL.😀👍
Dom
|
|
|
Post by domi on Sept 1, 2023 13:50:12 GMT -5
Those, and the impossible to find GP38's! Maybe some of the newer SD's? The only SD (and only 6-axle loco indeed) used on Alaska RR is the SD70MAC, which is not produced by AZL. Indeed you could use a SD70M (after having it re-painted) but that would not be accurate. Dom
|
|
|
Post by domi on Sept 1, 2023 13:34:45 GMT -5
neither in buying freight locos (NYC RS3) nor cabooses ; in the future, will only run Budds ! What’s the reason ?😳😳 Dom
|
|
|
Post by domi on Sept 1, 2023 13:20:23 GMT -5
I don't have a permanent layout yet, but just today I abandoned my loop with spur for a temporary switching layout. I have a Rokuhan shorty fitted with the MTL compatible couplers. I appreciate how well they work with the MTL couplers. They couple with no needed intervention from me, whereas the AZL and Full-throttle couplers need a little push by hand to join them. All easily uncouple with a little pick whittled from a long wooden sandwich "toothpick". Coffee jitters complicates things a little. I was pretty certain until today that I'd be refitting my cars with MTL trucks and couplers, but I don't think it's necessary. If you run a layout with a lot of switching, do you work the couplers by hand or do you use magnets? On my side, I like ‘’hand free’’ maneuvering. So I’m swapping all AZL couplers on my rolling stock with MTL samples (on my freight cars I didn’t bother, I swapped AZL trucks with MTL ones), and for uncoupling I’m using magnets, see electromagnets (indeed Kadee #309 initially released for HO, that work well with Z). 😉 Another observation tonight is that when pulled by my Rokuhan Shorty, my train of MTL cars doesn't seem to have as much of that "MTL bounce" that everyone talks about. But, when I pull the same cut of cars with my AZL GP7, I notice a pronounced bounce in my train. That said, I also find myself having to tap my Geep to get it to move, so I'm wondering if there is an issue with contacts somewhere that's causing it to cut in an out, making that "MTL bounce" more prominent. (The Geep has been stored for several years. I've cleaned the wheels, but I'm wondering if there are other contact points that need some attention) If your loco has been stored for a few years without running I guess you have to run it light for a while in order to ‘’break it again’’, as if it were brand new. I encountered the same issue 2 days ago with a MTL Geep and two MTL SD40-2 that hadn’t been taken out of their boxes for one year.. After a few laps, everything ran ok.🙂 Dom
|
|
|
Post by domi on Jul 10, 2023 3:49:43 GMT -5
Thanks for your input. BTW, not easy to understand for a non-electrical engineer.🤔 Anyway, when it’s time for me to switch to DCC I guess I will find some good advise in this forum..😉👍
Dom
|
|
|
Post by domi on Jul 10, 2023 3:43:28 GMT -5
Great !😀👍
Dom
|
|
|
Post by domi on Jul 9, 2023 13:53:27 GMT -5
are you using Micro-Trains rolling stock with stock plastic wheels? These are gunk accumulators. Suggest you change the wheels out for metal wheels. DO NOT REMOVE THE TRACTION TIRE from the AZL locomotives! The Tusgawa 12508 / Rokuhan A063 is the best way to clean AZL locomotive wheels as it's not too abrasive on the traction tire. Just not sure why Rokuhan priced it where they did as the Tsugawa model was in the $20 price range. I tend to think Rokuhan bought out the design as the Tsugawa model is no longer available. Marklin has the 66623, but I don't recommend it for locos with traction tires, although, there is no such disclaimer on the product page: zscalehobo.com/marklin/66623.html‘’DO NOT REMOVE THE TRACTION TIRE’’ ?? Well, for a reason unknown to me , my own SD70ACe lost its two traction tires. Maybe those decided to flee away as I was hard and loud thinking that I don’t like traction tires ? Well, the loco has lost some tractive effort but it has far better running characteristics, especially on turnouts, so I won’t blame the situation.😝If all traction tires on my remaining AZL locos could go away..🤔😁 Dom
|
|
|
Post by domi on Jul 9, 2023 11:37:16 GMT -5
Correct, DC *only*. So if your locos have problems, they can have issues with DCC. The HF operates only when there is no current sensed. This is random in time, duration and location. This can be from crud, oxidized rail and even the loco wheels/trucks wobbling. The HF1 the.n immediately generates very high frequency AC and very high voltage (@very low current) to try to bust the crud off. If there is current drawn from loco, it does not do this, just passes the DC from the Power pack. This high frequency/voltage caused micro-pitting of the rail and nickel plating on the wheels (thats MICRO, under HIGH magnification). With DCC, the track power is also ‘AC’ (alternating current) which is in a square wave essentially on-off, making digital data and is around 8-9 KHz. The voltage is 12-15 volts, peak-to-peak. So, these DCC feature ‘can’ help alleviate the just DC way. But DCC has so many benefits but let’s focus on Loco benefits. One, there is always power on the track. That power keeps the Decoder constantly decoding that loco’s Address CV’s. The Motor runs on PWM, like LEDs but @16khz. Decoders have 28 Speed Steps Nominal but can also 128 Speed Steps. Speed Step 1 then turns on the motor (@12-15 volt, whatever the DCC system is) for 1 period and then turns it off 23 periods (doing this 16,000 times per second. Making the motor have an impulse affect to help start the motor and affectively make it crawl. As speed steps are increased the 1:23. Changes to 2:22 and eventually around maybe 12 periods on and 12 periods off for running speed again all at 16,000 times a second. So motors run quite smooth. Decoders also have other CVs that affect starting features and running features such as BEMF (electrical term for automatically changing the voltages for the situation) like grades up or long running trains, or even just simply starting the locomotive. If you choose 1 2 or 3 Speed Step, and the locomotive doesn’t seem to run. It knows that and starts pounding it with internal speed steps much higher to try to get the locomotive the run at speech step say, three. It’s not all perfect but that’s the concept.Decoder manufacturers will tell you that they really don’t work for our Zscale locomotives as the current that it use is so low it does not know what to do with it they were designed for nominally HO performance . Jeff, I’m puzzled by your statement. If I have a clear understanding, that means that in DCC ‘’true voltage’’ that arrives to motors’ contacts, indeed under the shape of ‘’square waves’’, are in the 12-15 volt range ? I always heard that using PWM with ‘’crest voltage’’ more than the typical 8-10 volt range that fits with our Z scale models could be deadly for them.. Myself I started using a PWM power pack rated at 12 volts and I smoked 3 or 4 motors on my z scale locos…That’s why as a currently DC guy I’m using a PWM power pack dedicated to Z scale, with a ‘’crest voltage’’ of 8.1 volts.. Thus I have flawlessly been operating my Z scale locos for more than 10 years. As far as I thought I had understood, DCC indeed works with a 12-15 volt (AC current) constantly feeding track, and then this current would be transformed in the decoder into PW DC current with a crest voltage of 8-10 volts matching our z scale motors. I would be interrested with your input, and that of other fellow members here.😉 Dom
|
|
|
Post by domi on Jul 9, 2023 11:06:01 GMT -5
... Too bad model trains builders and airplane kits manufacturers never managed to harmonize their respective scales. Myself as an aviation fanatic I've a few 1:200 airplane kits, some of which will find place above my future layout. Hasegawa :Douglas DC3, Airbus A300B4, McDonnell-Douglas DC9-30, DC10-40 and MD11, Lockheed L1011-200 Tristar. Italeri : Tupolev Tu-95 Bear. But indeed there is a full Z scale aircraft kit that I'm the happy owner : an Aerospatiale-MBB C160F Transall, a Franco-German military tactical transport airplane that has been widely used by French Airforce until the very last months, and that is furthermore dear to my heart as it was the very first airplane I was rated on as a young military pilot close to 40 years ago. View AttachmentDom Dom, on a flight back from Bamako/ Mali to Dakar / Senegal in 2015, I had the honour to sit at the joystick of a Transall . I was very surprised how difficult it is just to fly staight for 20 minutes . Priser offers a nice set ( 1:200 scale) of pilots and crewmembers. View AttachmentOh my !!… Must have been a thrill for you !😀Are you a pilot yourself ?🙂 Dom
|
|
|
Post by domi on Nov 1, 2022 8:27:00 GMT -5
Should be done in Zm. Dom
|
|
|
Post by domi on Oct 30, 2022 8:43:47 GMT -5
Ok Sven, thanks.
Dom
|
|
|
Post by domi on Oct 29, 2022 14:15:49 GMT -5
Thanks for explanations. Dom
|
|
|
Post by domi on Oct 29, 2022 14:13:14 GMT -5
With AZL`s new PAs becoming available, more and more old brass PA1 enter the secondary market. I had the chance to get one and of course took a picture: View AttachmentBest, Sven Just for my information, how many dollars was it worth ? If no worries for you giving us the number ? Dom
|
|
|
Post by domi on Oct 29, 2022 11:06:56 GMT -5
What is interresting is that CP actually operated a barge service to serve a remote branch in British Columbia, until the eighties... Infortunately I'm unable to find any data on it else than a few pics with no explanation. Dom
|
|