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Post by dazed on Aug 8, 2018 21:04:44 GMT -5
Well if I had any use for it I would take you up on that. As it stands, I'm selling off my Z at the moment. (not all of it, but most)
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Post by dazed on Aug 8, 2018 15:58:07 GMT -5
Hmmm, not sure who wanted the furnace kit, but it wasn't me. It does look cool though. How much was it when it came out?
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Post by dazed on Aug 7, 2018 18:50:43 GMT -5
Re: The Poll I gave everyone two (2) votes. Three-quarters of those who have voted, so far, have only voted once Come on people. Pretend you're from Chicago, here!!😷 You're no Chicago. I tried logging in as my dead grandmother and it wouldn't even let me vote.
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Post by dazed on Aug 7, 2018 18:36:11 GMT -5
Assessment, huh...wow, you're really brave...let me pull up a couch. lol
I'm sort of at a crossroads. (again) I have only been in Z for a few years. And I came to Z *because* there's "never been a better time", so using that as a measuring stick doesn't really help put Z any higher up on a pedestal, for me.
I voted: -Considering leaving Z for another scale. -Continuing, just as I have done in the past. So, clearly....crossroads.
The AFFA thing is a mixed blessing. On one hand, it will likely slow the roll of product...which will help my situation immensely. (the pressure in Z to "buy it now or its gone" is pretty high, and even in N was fairly significant) On the other hand, it will likely push back a product (a key locomotive) who's announcement several years ago was one of the catalysts for me making the move to Z...then AZL dropped the ball.
So I'm disappointed that it's likely 3 or 4 years before my locomotive roster will "make sense" in my mind. Also, I have also been frustrated by my inability to get a layout to any sort of completion, and this goes back to before I was in N, 20+ years ago, and through at least 4 n-scale layouts in the past 15 years or so. I used to just think it was because I was "busy", but now I wonder. My job in IT has been very demanding with long hours over the years but it has finally subsided a little. My goal was to be very conservative in Z, and really focus my time, energy, and money to getting a layout going. But then as I sold off my N I had tons of hobby funds at my disposal and of course I didn't stick to my goals there. I have actually done much better than in the past, but alas my layout is still stuck in "plywood central" (foam central, as it were) stage. I also have a flaw where I'm never happy with anything I do, which is a big part of the problem...I easily get frustrated with layout progress and give up working on it for long periods. (and, in hindsight, most work I have done on layouts is very good...but in the moment I don't feel that way.)
I am now selling off my Z in droves (and still some N) and I'll see where I'm at once I have pared back down to some reasonable collection for my small layout. If I keep moving forward in model railroading, it will indeed most likely be with my small Z layout for the foreseeable future. We'll be empty nesters in 6-7 years and then I'll see what my next move is.
That next move will likely be to HO. It will be a shift from the mainline modeling that I love to more of a switching layout modeling a proto-lanced regional line, along the lines of MRL. That goal is something that has been on the backburner for some time, and will be less resource-intensive. I have been able to do pretty well finding "deals" in Z, but it isn't easy. A lot of watching for sales or buying 4 of something and reselling 3...it's a lot of work and a lot of time to do all of that. I don't really want to be an eBay preferred seller...it's not on my list of life goals. :-) And the handwriting on the wall tells me that Z is climbing back to its roots of $100 freight cars and $600 locos and I just cannot sustain that. I want to have just literally a couple of locos and only cars necessary for ops and just enjoy the nice sound and the variety of relatively inexpensive products that HO offers.
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Post by dazed on Jul 10, 2018 23:24:19 GMT -5
I just spoke with Mr. Drees of Archistories. He said his usual built pricing is 4 times MSRP. So, for him to build a Marienfehn Z windmill is 47.9Euro * 4 = 191.6 Euro plus shipping from Germany to USA. Archistories' Goldtree station is not available from Mr. Drees directly in any form - built or not. z.scale.hobo will be offering built versions as time permits ... again for 4x the US$ pricing listed at my site. If Frank is too busy and anyone wants one quicker...and if Frank is ok with it...I would make the same offer to build one (Or any of the comparable Archistories models that Frank has in stock.) at that 4x price plus one shipping charge...I won’t charge for both shipments. And I’ll guarantee you’re happy with it. (You would only have to pay to ship it back at that point). I just had unexpected dental surgery and can use the funds. Doug
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Post by dazed on Jun 29, 2018 15:16:05 GMT -5
Will there be announcements for new products to come ? Dom Same question. Also, will there be samples of the Maxi-I cars there?
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Post by dazed on Jun 29, 2018 10:22:46 GMT -5
Yeah, this was brought up a few posts into the thread. It has been the reality for some time now (at least since the 1980's) for the larger railroads to use "road switchers" (namely "Geeps" like the GP38-2, GP40, et al) for yard work and local industry switching. There are still true switchers in play as well--particularly in very large yards--but it is definitely not the majority.
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Post by dazed on Jun 27, 2018 14:32:12 GMT -5
I would not use superglue to repair...it will likely fog the clear lens.
Use "canopy cement" or any glue that states it is safe for clear parts.
And, you're welcome.
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Post by dazed on Jun 27, 2018 12:05:52 GMT -5
My experience is with an SD75I, and those are older than some of the SD70M's so they may have different methods. BUT, I'll post a few notes from my experience... 1. Best advice is take your time, be patient, be careful. 2. I used toothpicks to gently wedge and pry and coax. 3. I seem to recall that the front glass has to come out first. Or at least makes it easier. So the front windshield for sure. The hard part is the side windows. I just kept working them slowly, prying ever so carefully along the edges, and thinking it was never gonna come off....but then it did. 4. And BTW, the cab is a separate piece from the rest of the shell and does come off. That may or may not make it easier for you but I preferred it. Attachments:
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Post by dazed on Jun 22, 2018 15:00:15 GMT -5
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Post by dazed on Jun 22, 2018 14:51:35 GMT -5
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Post by dazed on Jun 22, 2018 14:34:00 GMT -5
Yeah, that might be the easiest (no) paint job ever. Assuming that is black and not dark blue, correct? If so, anyone needs that conversion done let me know.
And, there still are NW freight cars around. For sure the AZL PS-2CD's are still around, and I bet there's at least a few of the boxcars still as well.
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Post by dazed on Jun 20, 2018 15:26:38 GMT -5
Well they sure look nice. I paid for one 4-5 years ago and no delivery so far. Also no reply to emails. Heard that other have similar stories. I understand there are similar stories with an AZL service technician as well. So I guess you know how your customers feel.
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Post by dazed on Jun 18, 2018 13:49:44 GMT -5
The Hayes stops are just that....stops. They are clamped on using large bolts. If they are sliding, something has gone terribly wrong.
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Post by dazed on Jun 18, 2018 12:49:58 GMT -5
1. I think you have it pretty much figured out. Leave out the signal/"white cross" piece and paint. 2. As Mark says..."rust", but red/orange/yellow too but a REALLY faded version of those colors...so more like pink/peach/off-white. And a thin rusty overcoat at the very least. 3. They are often beat up pretty badly as well...so dents and one or both arms bent are not unusual. 4. From my experience, far and away the most common of the stops is the Hayes version. (show as one of the products in Mark's link) I usually see them orange/peach or yellow/white. They are pretty easy to scratchbuild from styrene or brass sheet. EDIT: Here's a good clean pic of the Hayes style stop. www.railsco.com/~wheel_stops.htm Most I've seen are solid, so no cutout triangle area in the middle....and much easier to model that way.)
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