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Post by dazed on Aug 23, 2023 10:20:17 GMT -5
Thom, save travels to you and anyone else coming in for the NMRA/NTS events. Looking forward to meeting everyone.
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Post by dazed on Aug 23, 2023 9:15:23 GMT -5
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Post by dazed on Aug 22, 2023 15:45:15 GMT -5
Well if none of the guesses above the wheels are correct I'm going to take a shot below them and guess its a "WYE" turnout. I think there was some mention that there would be track pieces too, but maybe not yet. Yeah, I'm just having fun with the guesses...I wouldn't expect AZL to disclose that info prior--one way or the other--since I'm sure it was shared in confidence. But since he shot down our first guesses, I have no problem embarassing myself further, sirs!!! Still, it's pretty "Christmas-morning"-level exciting that Atlas is doing a freight car. Who knows where that leads, but it certainly gives Z-Scale a little injection of stability versus what previously was ONE major player (AZL), 1/1000th of a second major player (MTL), and mosty a bunch of cottage industry type companies beyond that. EDIT: I would probably add Rokuhan to the major player list too, and of course now Atlas. But hey, we're burying the lede....what about AZL? My guess... -EMD GP40-2 (alluded to before) -EMD F40PH (alluded to before) and some Amtrak decorated El Cap (and Chief, et al) cars -Some new name train, and an associated Steam loco to go alongside -AutoMAX cars (alluded to before) -57ft Spine cars and Pups
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Post by dazed on Aug 22, 2023 12:49:52 GMT -5
From what I know, nobody has guessed correctly- yet. Hmmm......think think think. I confirmed Steve models 80s SP......must be some type of double door boxcar, which really isn't available in Z. (post-2000s cars aside) ...Or maybe a PS4000/4427 covered hopper. The Greenville rock hoppers are a nice SP staple. My final wild arse guess would be a 70s/80s era coil car. Something like Red Caboose used to have in N. Atlas got Walthers coil car, which wouldn't be my first choice over the old RC prototype. But I'd still buy a few if that were the case. I don't know enough about Atlas' catalog outside of N to know what else they might draw from. (and don't really have time to do a lot of digging at the moment) And that's assuming they're doing a car they've done before in other scales. Maybe it's a whole new animal entirely.
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Post by dazed on Aug 21, 2023 15:32:24 GMT -5
Yeah, if I had to wager on something besides a modern boxcar, I think the 4180 Airslide would be it.
My guesses are as follows: 1. Precision Design Boxcar (or ACF) 2. 4180 Airslide 3. Some type of 52ft6in Gon...the 2753 or the Evans car. (or the former BLMA ACF? I think Steve is an SP guy...hmmm) I have a printed 2753 car so I kinda hope that's not it. 4. (Reaching) Some type of non-dupe tank car, maybe Kaolin. 5. Ballast car (like the former Walthers N tooling)
Now that I type this out, I really am leaning toward that ACF gon. Either that or the Airslide. The boxcar probably wouldn't differentiate enough from the ubiquitous Micro-Trains modern boxcar.
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Post by dazed on Aug 21, 2023 14:22:22 GMT -5
Hopefully it wouldn't be a duplicated prototype like that AAR car.
Which is an interesting thing since there is a lot of overlap from, say, Atlas' N product line and AZL's. So that should narrow it down some. I figure that it probably will be a boxcar of some sort, maybe their modern ACF or Precision Design boxcar.
Could be something from HO like a Bethgon. True that's overlap but they probably understand that the market is there for somoeone wanting more cars/roadnames than AZL has.
My wishlist? -Their 5161 Covered Hopper (from Atlas O) -Their ACF Coalveyor bathtub coal gon (done by Atlas in N, HO, and O)
Either of those would cost me a lot of money, in a good way.
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Post by dazed on Aug 20, 2023 18:24:35 GMT -5
Big announcements coming from AZL at NTS. And rumor has it that another Z scale manufacturer has a big announcement too!!! An Atlas freight car! Saw that posted by an Atlas guy....so a pretty solid rumor. I just got home from the Gaylord Hotel....NMRA convention is in full swing. Lot of buzz, and I helped put together an impressive Free-MoN layout for the NMRA Ops Road Show. If you get in early enough and there are any spots left, I recommend signing up for an ops session.
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Post by dazed on Aug 17, 2023 9:50:49 GMT -5
Being in Texas, I think the video should involve a mechanical bull.
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Post by dazed on Aug 13, 2023 10:51:36 GMT -5
OK, thanks for checking!
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Post by dazed on Aug 7, 2023 9:28:34 GMT -5
Doug, I’ll check my inventory for UP91202 and ATSF 91205 Thanks Jeff, much appreciated.
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Post by dazed on Aug 6, 2023 23:21:45 GMT -5
Amazing.
I'm fascinated by your ingenuity and creativity with your creations for DCC in Z. And, I'm appreciative that you are so transparent with sharing a "look behind the curtains".
I can see applications outside of Z, such as tricky N installs or N/HO maintenance-of-way equipment.
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Post by dazed on Aug 4, 2023 11:38:46 GMT -5
Just wanted to update that I have a few autoracks to trade if anyone wants to swap out one for one with any of the above. I'm still looking for singles in UP, Santa Fe, and Canadian Pacific bi-levels, and also the single CP Rail JA Autorack.
AZL Bi-Level Autorack BNSF #1 AZL Bi-Level Autorack BNSF #2 AZL Bi-Level Autorack BNSF #3 For the above BNSF autoracks, I have corrected the decoration on these...the prototype BNSF Bi-Levels only had a single BNSF circle logo on one end, not on both. The tri-levels did have both, but not the Bi's. While there were rare exceptions to this practice, I consulted prototype photos of all the car numbers in the set, and they all had only the single logo. The second logo has been *cleanly* removed, the underlying paint is unaltered.
AZL JA Aluminum Autorack Canadian National CNA #1 AZL JA Aluminum Autorack Canadian National CNA #2
If there is a particular number or numbers you are interested in the sets let me know and I'll see what I can do. I can most likely accommodate your request but no guarantees.
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Post by dazed on Aug 4, 2023 11:15:20 GMT -5
ZSM is sold out. Must be a lot of interest in running produce/fruit trains. I think you will find them available at other dealers. Including those run by people named "Frank" Frankly, I have to agree with Rob on this.
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Post by dazed on Aug 4, 2023 11:00:04 GMT -5
I will be in attendance. REally wanted to have my layout there but work got in the way. Looking forward to seeing everybody again. I was at the KC NTS several years back and met you, Thom, Ellen, Mike, et al.
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Post by dazed on Aug 2, 2023 15:21:19 GMT -5
I think you're forgetting you've started discussions about this already... azlforum.com/thread/2457/suit-case-projectazlforum.com/thread/2451/nwe-dcc-layout-plannedThe plan you posted in one of the other discussions looks as good as any. Layout design is highly personal, and also depends on what your goals are and what you like doing. If you want to switch industries, that layout might look much different than one to just run trains, or a "passing siding" style where you try to run trains around each other over a single track.
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