|
Post by dazed on Oct 9, 2023 12:58:17 GMT -5
I don't know, I've done pretty well with 00:01... Less competetion at that hour. Plus it gives you a taste for what AZL's dealers have to contend with every month.
|
|
|
Post by dazed on Oct 3, 2023 10:36:48 GMT -5
Today was the deadline for dealer orders BTW, I just looked and according to Atlas, the deadline for preorders is the 4th. So maybe you can still get in a preorder...the Atlas site still seems to permit it. Here's the schedule... shop.atlasrr.com/t-ordership.aspx
|
|
|
Post by dazed on Oct 3, 2023 10:32:15 GMT -5
I preordered 3, which was a massive stretch as these schemes were almost 100% gone by the era I model. There were still quite a few roaming the rails approaching 2010, like the SFLC's, etc. (see Atlas' N roadnames for more info)
I did find evidence of a UP that was lingering around within a year or two so I got one of those. I got a BN just as a stand-in for similar BN smoothside double-door boxcars that were still around. Both of those will be weathered heavily. And I got a WC to reletter into a more modern scheme by removing the logos and reporting marks...hopefully Atlas uses the same printing process as their N models so that removing the logos is do-able.
EDIT: And to show my support for Atlas and Frank's plea for participation, I've ordered two more. Neither of which I need at all, but I'll figure something out for them. I'm not normally one for "you have to buy something to show your support", as my take is if you want me to buy, make something of interest and worthwhile to me. But, I do recognize that this is sort of a "never get a second chance to make a first impression" type of deal. So I'll make an exception to my stance this time. One thing that is a certainty....I'm not worried at all that these will fail to be nice models. Atlas is a very consistent company that does nice work every time.
|
|
|
Post by dazed on Oct 3, 2023 10:01:43 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. <snip> 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. MTL's system isn't pre-ordering a specific item. It is using Intermountain's failed system of throwing out a 6-8 roadnames and then only producing what gets enough preorders. Not only are you correct that people generally don't reserve items, this system "splits the votes" so that nothing ever gets done. What I'm talking about is basically an order guarantee whereby I get a "confirmation number" (associated with the dealer of my choice) like with a hotel reservation. As long as I can pay when the item arrives, I"m guaranteed to get it. I'm not suggesting that AZL alters their production at all. (they could, though, armed with this info)
|
|
|
Post by dazed on Oct 2, 2023 14:02:58 GMT -5
If consumers don't know what will be released, how would one go about pre-ordering? I imagine we'll see a lot of these Tropicana cars on EBay at inflated prices in short order. AZL would have to do something like Atlas...release a quarterly or annual catalog with sku's for everything upcoming. And there would need to be some way to provide workflow for pre-orders.
|
|
|
Post by dazed on Oct 2, 2023 13:58:51 GMT -5
There is a way: Your local (or far) Dealer, has access to these releases, well, most all of them. Your Dealer, if they check in enough or, remember or, aren’t on ‘vacation’) can let you know so to add your pre-order. That includes the ‘Larger’ dealer(s). Dealers aren't guaranteed product. This has happened several times with the R-70-20's whereby one or two dealers will buy the entire lot, leaving many of the "Top 10 Places One Might Purchase Z" out in the cold.
|
|
|
Post by dazed on Oct 2, 2023 13:51:07 GMT -5
Gotta' be quick! Stare at the website on the 1st of the month! Almost makes it not worth the effort to obtain AZL stock anymore. It's getting about time to return to "N" where there is more than one active producer. Maybe AZL could/shold do some type of pre-order so they can gauge interest and produce enough to fill demand. It would be nice if there was a true pre-order system in place. I've said this before, but one of the biggest problems with Z is a pretty prolific number of active speculators. So yes it would be nice to get some assurance. (and help AZL's massive inability to properly gauge BNSF and UP diesel sales ) It would be much better to see these cars go to a guy with a massive Tropicana train in the works, than have them sit on eBay for 5 years at a 50% premium. And btw N isn't completely immune to this phenomenon either. But yes it is definitely less of an issue. A lot of companies in N are a year or more behind on their release schedule at the moment, though. Athearn just announced a release due in February 20 25!
|
|
|
Post by dazed on Oct 2, 2023 9:42:32 GMT -5
Yes! We're seeing what is possible at this phase of production. Thanks, there was a lot of discussion around the announcement time and at the show, but I was afraid that it was forgotten about post-NTS.
|
|
|
Post by dazed on Sept 28, 2023 8:13:38 GMT -5
Just a minor point of clarification...
THe Oakway SD60's were not demonstrators, even though they carried the EMD demonstrator colors and (for the most part) scheme.
The reason that is important is, there were 100 of these units in service, versus less than a handful for most demonstrator locomotives. I don't know what that might suggest about sales, but it would make sense that the Oakways might sell in larger numbers than a demonstrator. (although I do recognize that demonstrators are popular as well, in other scales. Not sure if AZL has done a demonstrator of any sort in Z.)
And I'm not suggesting anyone here was saying they were demonstrators, but that confusion was apparent in conversations I've had outside of this post. And there was mention of demonstrators here in comparison.
|
|
|
Post by dazed on Sept 27, 2023 22:32:08 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by dazed on Sept 19, 2023 16:00:20 GMT -5
My two cents on the Rokuhan discussion...
As the trains get smaller, there is less room for error if you want trains that run well. Rokuhan just performs extremely well, so for something like a starter set, it is what about 95% of those people want....trains that run are much more fun than static models.
Aside from Rokuhan, there just aren't many options. The most North American looking roadbed track is MTL, and there's a whole book one could write about why that's not a good plan. Notwithstanding AZL and MTL get along about like cats and dogs, MTL turnouts are a mess, and there just isn't a lot of variety of track pieces. And the sectional/"trainset" friendly track options go downhill from there.
Should Atlas choose to do some sectional pieces (eg not roadbed track, just sectional track pieces and their #6 turnouts) that would be ideal. But we're not there yet.
So I guess I would inquire....what is the ask? For AZL to build a new track system? I can't speak for them on that, but I'm doubtful that's even remotely on their radar, and honestly I hope it's not. I would rather them spend their energy on what they do extremely well.
Having said all that, I'm in agreement that the stock Rokuhan track isn't very visually appealing for modeling the North American scene. But there are far worse problems we could have in Z*, and at least it runs REALLY nicely. Weather it a bit and start buying up Atlas track for that new killer layout.
*Why can't we get Midwest to give us some cork roadbed in Z? I know there are plenty of workarounds, but it sure would be nice to just split the halves and start placing roadbed along a centerline. That beautiful Atlas track needs a nice cushion-ey place to rest.
|
|
|
Post by dazed on Sept 19, 2023 7:15:27 GMT -5
62621-2 FRISCO EMD E8A 2007 Whirlaway "Whirlaway" might be the best locomotive name ever. And these are beautiful locos...nice job bringing them to market.
|
|
|
Post by dazed on Sept 16, 2023 20:57:40 GMT -5
YES! AND BNSF Patched BN Whiteface! I think there were some "Tiger Striped" versions as well? SHhhhh, don't distract AZL, they need to focus. -There was only one Tiger Striped SD40-2, number 8002. It existed with the orange and black tiger stripes from 1985 until around 1991, but had two different experimental tiger stripe schemes during that time. Of note, initially the stripes wrapped around the entire nose--front and sides--which was corrected later with the sides being green. -There were three Tiger Striped SD60's. They were only on BN for less than 2 years I believe, although the scheme (patched) hung around for several years running as a lease unit for SOO Line...I think until '89 or '90. -The rest of the "tigers" were GP50's. Almost all of these got the whiteface scheme by '90. I've been trying to map out the repaint schedule since I model 1989 in N, but it's difficult as photos get mislabeled online. -There were plenty of variants during this time of various s schemes BN was testing to improve road crossing visibility. Of note two GP50's had orange and white stripes vs orange and black. They were nicknamed "creamsickles" in reference to the popular ice cream & sherbert bar with a similar color scheme. I would say we're safe, surely AZL would do something like the whiteface scheme that was on well over 100 BN SD40-2's before the one-off. But that sounds exactly like something we'll end up with. I'm less worried about the patch jobs, as they're easy enough to do after the fact. But having the base schemes like standard BN white stripes and BN whiteface is big. And BNSF H1, but I digress.
|
|
|
Post by dazed on Sept 14, 2023 15:16:39 GMT -5
We are working on a second order of SD40-2s and SD40T-2 with production next year. Will consist of some paint schemes we did not get around to and probably a couple of patches too. Yes, BNSF Heritage is already on our list Hans, that is great news about the BNSF Heritage-I. Don't suppose you could comment on the patch jobs you are considering? My interest is: BN --> Patched BNSF ATSF --> Patched BNSF DRGW --> Patched UP And aside from BNSF Heritage, I would like to see the whiteface BN scheme too. Hopefully y'all still have all the pics I posted before.
|
|
|
Post by dazed on Sept 12, 2023 11:41:42 GMT -5
My vote is for the Kenworth W900. It checks all the boxes....nice representative look, spans a long time frame, etc.
IMHO, the Peterbuilt has a little too much "snout".
I'm glad it was brought up about the fact that we're talking 53's, since that makes some difference as far as styling goes. But I agree that something like the Volvo looks too new if you wanted to try and get away with using it in a slightly earlier timeframe.
|
|