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Post by dazed on Mar 16, 2024 0:03:42 GMT -5
I'll be in for two. That's it for me for the first round of AZL SD40-2's, but hopefully there will be more in store in (according to AZL) two more years. So in seven years when they REALLY come about, I'll hopefully purchase some BNSF H-1, more BN with ditchlights (patched or otherwise), more ATSF with ditchlights (patched or othewise), NS original scheme, UP "Modern", and others. modelwarships I expect that this decoder will be able to drive the rotary beacon but it will be a separate LED. Funny, because I model 2007 where beacons are only being reintroduced to signify a remote controlled locomotive. But generally they don't come into play otherwise. But, I also model N-scale in 1989, and BN in particular was HEAVY into beacons then. So i'm looking for a good solutions to coming up with a decoder driven LED to simulate the beacon. So any information gleaned from this forum may very well be used for (gasp!) N-scale purposes. (and yes, that includes using the Z decoders if necessary, although I feel like just finding a good solution for some small, somewhat realistic, *working* beacons in either scale would be win.
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Post by dazed on Mar 15, 2024 23:21:15 GMT -5
Now how about a rerun of BN coal porters? Actually, we've yet to see *true* BN coalporters. I've been rallying for these almost since I got into Z. At one point about 5 years back AZL alluded to doing another run of coalporters but it has yet to materialize. Here's a tip: Dear AZL, maybe do some cars that match up to all these great diesels you've been releasing. 4-packs? No, we'll buy 36 of them if you'll do the right schemes. BTW, you already have the tooling. Oh, and do a quad hopper and watch every single Tunnel motor disappear overnight. Plus some of the upcoming AC4400's.
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Post by dazed on Mar 15, 2024 23:04:43 GMT -5
I plan on doing a BN/BNSF whiteface SD40-2 if AZL does not produce it. I am talking with a new decal maker and will be testing soon. Z scale is extremely difficult to print over say N scale… the film needs to dissolve, leaving only the ink behind or it will look terrible. Very interesting! Could you please keep me in the loop on how this goes? Is there anything I can do to contribute?
Ed
Same. As soon as AZL stops taking $200 from me every time I turn around, I'll be happy to contribute to getting some decals made. Both BNSF patches for the BN units, and for the ex-ATSF locos. If we can get the FURX patch for the BN locos included in the mix that would be awesome.
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Post by dazed on Mar 15, 2024 22:21:32 GMT -5
And just like that, the new BNSF ES44s were gone. Meh, BNSF is not very popular. I bet it was a run of 15. I keed, I keed.... I swear, if I miss out on the Heritage-II ES44's, you will all see a grown man cry.
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Post by dazed on Mar 15, 2024 11:23:03 GMT -5
Beautiful! Very excited to have a highly detailed Z-scale model of one of my all-time favorite locomotives. And the perfect number series for what I'm wanting to do. While I hope that eventually we will get additional BN versions that have ditch lights, this one is a number series that ultimately became FURX lease units, which would seldom be in the lead. So dummy ditchlights and a patch job and this guy is squarely 2007. I won't do that until we get a nice arsenal of other BN units though...it will stand in as generic BN Armyknife Dash2 for now. But still nice to know that it can transition to something useful later on, unlike the ATSF unit that is pretty "pre-BNSF". (I also hope for more/"ditchlighted" ATSF too, but I couldn't help myself to have one in the meantime.) Anyway, got 7279, which also liked hanging out with SD60s... rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1404537Also picked up a 2-pack of the Marten trailers.
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Post by dazed on Mar 14, 2024 11:32:07 GMT -5
Excellent question! The older tooling has different features which fit my era better, to wit... 1. They have the older white GPS dome vs the newer PTC antenna array. This is suprisingly noticeable, even in Z. 2. The first round of SD70ACe's offered the original cab configuration, which did not have the prototype's noise isolation feature, signified by a seam running across/around the nose of the locomotive. 3. The numbering for the BNSF and UP locos represents the earliest production runs, and thus aligns with my era better. That one is less noticeable than the first two, but still is evident in photos. In my era (around 2007) the SD70ACe's are pretty much brand new. So, having the early numbers and other physical characteristics of the early production ACe's are nice details to pay attention to. Adhesion to a particular era and locale is not something everyone is interested in, and I fully support ALL the ways that modelers choose to enjoy this great hobby. However, it is also very much a large part of my enjoyment of the hobby, to research and try to get as close as I can. That can be tough in Z sometimes, but I have a healthy acceptance that there are always going to be compromises. Are the above items MAJOR issues? No. But will I try to find the older tooling versus the newer run? Yes. The ACe's aren't an integral piece of the puzzle for me...they're a nice-to-have, and provide a little more variety to the roster. I actually hadn't considered any changes in the mechanism like the blind drivers. I don't have enough information to know if that is a help or hindrance, but either way it won't sway my preference for the older locos.
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Post by dazed on Mar 14, 2024 10:39:46 GMT -5
If they'd run the previous tooling for the UP Heritage MP and MKT, BNSF, UP, and UP George Bush I'd buy them all today, even though I have probably close to 3k worth of Z-scale and N-scale hitting the books over the next 6-12 months. That would be a serious budget deficit, but I'd do it. Well, in the "eyes bigger than my stomach" department... I actually had a chance to purchase all of the aforementioned except for the standard cab UP SD70ACe, and I couldn't get it done. So, a good example of what happens...you think you want something but then the timing doesn't work quite right and you realize the financial reach just isn't worth it. So here I am in front of a nice second helping of crow. In fairness, I didn't dream that it would happen within a week, and with the BN SD40-2 release looming.
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Post by dazed on Mar 12, 2024 16:23:43 GMT -5
In AZL's defense...you really just never know what is gonna be a homerun like the Spirit of UP. For every 10 saying they missed out, maybe only 2 or 3 might have actually bought one. So AZL may have made 100 and sold 63. Or maybe they made 75, sold 'em all, and still have folks missing out.
I remember a story that Frank Angstead of Intermountain told at his (very informative) presentations at various train shows over the years. He said that Intermountain did a run of cylindrical hoppers (this was N or HO...many years before their failed Z experiment) and they sold out almost immediately. So Intermountain figured "hey, we have a gold mine here" and did an even larger second run...which proceeded to sell about 10% of the first run. Turns out, they pretty much pegged their market exactly perfect the first time around. It was a very expensive mistake and many lessons learned. One of the biggest being: assuming that because they sold out, there was some massive desire for more. After the dust settled they acknowledged that nobody was really letting them know they wanted more.
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Post by dazed on Mar 11, 2024 16:30:08 GMT -5
Kind of remarkable all differences in the locos – yet they managed to keep the price reasonable: View AttachmentIt really is incredible the number of variations they are offering. And it really opens up what can be modeled in Z. I'm a bit surprised that the tunnel motors have hung around on the shelves. I figured there would be a good contingent of Z/N/(HO?)-scalers that were just waiting around to take advantage of the Z track-to-scenery ratio and model the grande Colorado Rockies or the various other western hot spots like Cajon or Tehachapi on the SP. But even the standard SD40-2's broaden the spectrum. (including the nice ATSF units alongside SP in CA) And being (mostly) proper for their roadnames is really great. Come to think of it, modeling the Joint Line in Colorado would really be a possibility now...it has a mix of all the above depending on the era...DRGW, ATSF, BN, SP...do 1987 and throw the Oakways in the mix too.
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Post by dazed on Mar 10, 2024 9:23:43 GMT -5
I would be interested in one each of: UP SD70M Flared (Any Number) UP SD70ACe Heritage MoPac UP SD70ACe Heritage Katy UP SD70ACe Heritage George Bush
Man what an opportunity missed, but after thinking about it I had to let these go to the next guy. Just bad timing, budget-wise. After posting, I got an invoice for some N GP40's that I ordered 2 years ago...
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Post by dazed on Mar 8, 2024 22:38:17 GMT -5
Very true... a good reason to get into 3D printing
Even in say HO scale, there are so many prototype variations that it's important to prioritize.
Ed
You're probably not going to print the mech though. You missed my SD40-2 thread here, which I removed because everybody was telling me I was an idiot for wanting certain light configs, ditch lights, and patch jobs. (or at least schemes conducive to patching) So, yeah I'm honestly right there with you. Sort of hedging my bets...got the ATSF which I'll probably ultimately try to sell eventually. The BN I'm hoping is close enough to use for *something*, maybe a FURX with dummy ditchlights since they often weren't leaders. Modeling 2007ish, my wish list would all have ditchlights, and looks something like... -BN Stripes Orig (there were still a few then) -BN Stripes Patched BNSF -ex-BN FURX Stripes -BN Whiteface Patched -ATSF Patched -ATSF Snoot Patched -BNSF H1 -BNSF H1 -ex-UP EMDX -Others (BNSF H3, EMDX Blue/White, CN Stripes Widenose, NS Orig, UP 2000s, FURX Green/Silver) I do have some of the BN patch decals, and I may have picked up one of the ATSF sets too I can't recall. I think we could pool our resources and get some more done probably.
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Post by dazed on Mar 8, 2024 19:36:33 GMT -5
One note with patching the current release of ATSF units is that they will need to add ditch lights, plus (if one wants to be rivet-counter accurate) the cab headlights want to be relocated onto the nose. The cab headlight is correct for an (ex-)BN unit, tho that needs the brake lever instead of the brake wheel. Yes, that is all true. If you look at the artwork, you can see that neither the ATSF nor BN releases will have ditchlights. (at least, unless something changed) In Z, you don't necessarily have the luxury of picking and choosing like that. (heck, you barely do in N) And it could be many years before round two comes. And even then, the chance that (a) the correct unit, (b) with the correct lighting, and (c) with the correct details will materialize is slim. So, if you want an SD40-2 in the next half-decade, this is it. If you want to customize one, you still have to buy this one....you can't get shells, parts, or anything associated except maybe trucks.
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Post by dazed on Mar 7, 2024 22:55:22 GMT -5
www.trainpix.com/BNSF/EMDORIG/SD40-2/800X600/6356.JPG (the close parenthesis was fouling the url) I would be in for the patches for the ATSF units too. AZL alludes to doing patch jobs, but so far nothing BNSF-wise. Ideally I would get a few BN's and a few ATSF's, all with ditchlights, and various patching. But the reality is I got one ATSF, and will get at least on BN.....without ditchlights, and DIY patching.
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Post by dazed on Mar 6, 2024 9:40:17 GMT -5
I agree with future releases, don’t want to know about those. I’m more curious on the previous release and the decision behind standard releases. We all know the UP releases go fast typically and I would presume the major railroads are produced in higher quantities due to demand. Production runs are a double edged sword. Produce too few and it can be considered and opportunity lost. Produce too much, unsold inventory is a financial killer. Z Scale is a niche market and I know I’m doing y part to keeping AZL profitable. Just looking for a little more info about the product I’m dumping my hard earned money into. Yeah, it is reasonable to want to know what goes into the process. I misunderstood that you were wanting the numbers produced for the upcoming UP Heritage models beforehand. Trust me, I would be first in line to know what goes into the decisionmaking, like roadnames and quantities. As you say, UP and BNSF typically sold out immediately with the ES44 and 70ACe releases. But I also know I wouldn't do anything underhanded with the information. And it's no secret about my disappointment with the ES44's not being produced in BNSF's Heritage-II scheme and that will end up being an EIGHT YEAR decision before it's all said and done. So would there have been anything that could have been done to pursuade AZL? Frankly it was such a "guaranteed, must-do" scheme in my mind that I simply didn't know I needed to campaign for it. But if I had, would it have affected the outcome? More recently there have been omissions of schemes, which spawned feedback from modelers, which then appears to have influenced the powers-that-be into adding them. (Oakway SD60s and GRR Ortners, and possibly a few others.) We won't know until they hit the shelves I guess. Maybe AZL can have a "Golden Spike Club" or something like that where they have periodic Zoom sessions to peel back the curtain. They have been surprisingly transparent of late, and I guess we would have to hope the information would make a positive mark to develop excitement for the scale and for the products. (versus, making it harder to get what we want.)
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Post by dazed on Mar 5, 2024 22:16:47 GMT -5
I personally think this is a bad idea. The locomotives are selling out, and AZL made an appropriate, more general comment about limited quantities as they dropped to let you know....get it now, or risk missing out. What else do you really need?
They followed it up with specific numbers, and that's their business. But I think it isn't great for their customers. If you want to release the numbers after the sellout, that is at least somewhat better.
Announcing numbers is just giving a group of speculators ammo to make it even harder for true modelers/collectors/MODEL RAILROADERS that truly enjoy model trains and that really want to buy one of these locos.
If I had the funds to do it, I would buy a handful just to handover at retail cost to guys that missed out like our buddy Tiest. I think he may have found one and hopefully he didn't have to pay too much of a premium.
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