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Post by scanrail on Jul 17, 2017 14:27:55 GMT -5
Please make SD40-2 in blue Maersk livery, I beg you! It's the most desired scheme for me. I've already contacted you through your site about this, but I'd like to repeat my request here. I know the reason why you refused to include Maersk into SD40-2 assortment, but I agree to pay more for this complex scheme. Furthermore, if you make a set of Maersk deep well flatcars with containers, this will become a true dream! Regards, Alex
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Post by scanrail on Jul 17, 2017 12:16:59 GMT -5
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Post by scanrail on Jul 17, 2017 8:35:35 GMT -5
Just a quick search
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Post by scanrail on Jul 17, 2017 5:36:13 GMT -5
Hi Alberich, I don't have AZL F3, but I have a lot of MTL F7's, both A and B units. They aren't bad (I mean updated version). It's probably not a problem for MTL F7 A unit to tow even more cars. But MTL F7 has no traction tyres, you just should take this into account. So, if I had to choose between MTL F7 and AZL F3, I'd choose AZL. AZL is near silent, has more prototypically correct front coupler mounting and what is important to me, AZL is DCC-ready. MTL F7's have no drop-in DCC solution and in general it's hard to install decoders into these locos. Furthermore, you should glue all windows to MTL loco manually. Windows in AZL F3's are pre-installed. PS. Have you thought about AZL E8/E9? These are excellent locos, A units available separately, again silent, DCC-ready, very heavy and have traction tyres. One AZL E8/E9 A unit can pull almost any number of cars Best, Alex
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Post by scanrail on Jul 14, 2017 5:02:11 GMT -5
Hi friends, thank you very much for interest in my upgrade kits! Yes, I tried to use all available space inside loco. Using of thicker steel is impossible due to the structure of loco shell, also further extension to the ends is limited by headlight inserts. So I think that I did my best and additional 16 grams is a very good result. Further weighting is possible only using materials heavier than steel - Uranium, for example My calculations show that if I make these parts from Uranium, they will weight 19.5 grams (39 grams for pair), and final weight of GG1 will be 77 grams! Regarding pricing and shipment: since I live outside US, shipping costs will be too high if I send separate parcels to each customer. Therefore, I consider the only reasonable way is to find someone in the US who will agree to distribute these sets and to send him a whole batch. So give me some time and I'll ask my friends here if they can do this. Best, Alex
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Post by scanrail on Jul 14, 2017 4:01:23 GMT -5
shamoo, BR182 has a specific, easily recognizable design, so unfortunately it's not a case:
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Post by scanrail on Jul 13, 2017 17:09:28 GMT -5
tjdreams, of course I made enough quantity of these parts to sell them. If there will be a sufficient demand for them, I think it will be reasonable for me to find someone in the US who will distribute them here.
Alex
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Post by scanrail on Jul 13, 2017 16:52:14 GMT -5
shamoo, Marklin made German BR152 a few years ago, but it's much closer to ALP-46 rather than to ACS64. In terms of design ACS64 is relatively close to new German BR147/BR187 electric locos (which aren't made in Z scale yet). BR152 vs ALP-46: BR187 vs ACS64:
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Post by scanrail on Jul 13, 2017 14:56:49 GMT -5
Hi everyone, Recently I've made an upgrade kits for Marklin PRR GG1 electric locomotives (art. #88490, #88491 and #88492) - additional weight inserts. GG1's are interesting and unique models in Märklin Z scale assortment - it's the only model of US electric locomotive in whole Z scale family (not only Marklin but among all Z scale manufacturers in the world) and largest single-unit electric locomotive ever. Additionally, they have special type of pantograph which is not used in any other class of locomotives: Märklin 88490 Märklin 88491 Märklin 88492 However these locomotives have known weakness. Despite very big size and a lot of axles (6 powered), they have too low weight which leads to very poor towing capacity and unstable power pickup. Very specific construction of locomotive is also playing bad role - only part of total weight presses on driving wheels because separately attached metal pilot trucks don't participate in this. Result is predictable: towing capability of GG1 is comparable with small 4-axle locomotives like SBB RE 4/4 IV and significantly lower than one of Märklin's big 6-axle locomotives like BR 151, BR 103 etc. Märklin refused to use advantages of big size of GG1 and made too small and light metal chassis with insufficient weight (see attached pictures). I decided to fix this and developed additional weight inserts for these locomotives. They made from 5 mm thick stainless steel sheets on industrial CNC cutting machine and painted with black paint for better look and electric insulation. For easy installation weight inserts have applied adhesive tape on bottom side. Each piece weights 8 grams; one GG1 needs two pieces which gives additional 16 grams. Single GG1 locomotive weights 38 grams, and total weight with two metal inserts rises up to 54 grams. Practical tests show very nice results: improvement of GG1's pulling power after installing of additional weights is significant. For example, without additional weights GG1 can barely pull one Märklin 86501 track cleaning car (which is equal to approx. 10 4-axle "normal" freight cars). And after installing of weight inserts GG1 easily pulls two Märklin 86501 (equal to approx. 20 4-axle freight cars) without any problems at full speed. Please take a look at attached photos. Any comments are appreciated Notice: GG1 locomotives are depicted here with VELMO LDS609646 digital decoders installed. 1. Unpainted weight inserts directly from cutting machine: 2. Painted pieces, top: 3. Painted pieces with double-sided adhesive tape on the bottom side: 4. GG1 locomotive with (upper one) and without (lower one) weight inserts, side view: 5. GG1 locomotive with (upper one) and without (lower one) weight inserts, top view: 6. Pair of weight inserts on high precision scales: 7. GG1 locomotive without additional weights on scales: 8. GG1 locomotive and pair of additional weights on scales: 9. Pulling power without additional weights is insufficient to pull even single Märklin 86501 track cleaning car: 10. After installing of additional weights GG1 can easily pull even two Märklin 86501 track cleaning cars:
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Post by scanrail on Jul 13, 2017 14:39:55 GMT -5
Greg, I explored your site little more and I'm totally impressed what a huge work you did with decoders, especially with CT Elektronik! Information picked in a one place on your site is truly invaluable.
I didn't programmed their sound decoders yet; I meant programming CVs only, of course for updating firmware and uploading of sound projects a dedicated programmer should be used. I use Tran decoders only where drop-in solution isn't available, mainly in steam locos. In all other cases I prefer drop-in decoders from Velmo and Digitrax.
Alex
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Post by scanrail on Jul 13, 2017 5:49:29 GMT -5
Mark, yes, you're right, Rokuhan wanted to enter European market and they searched for a local distributor there. However I have to say that I bought my BR181's from other major dealer in Germany for significantly lower prices - 179 Euro (compared to 219 Euro from Noch).
Greg, thanks for the link and very well structured information there! I сan't say anything about their programmer because I program all my decoders with Marklin Central Station and I have no problems with it...
Alex
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Post by scanrail on Jul 12, 2017 14:47:25 GMT -5
Mark, thank you! I'd like to see ACS64 or AEM-7 first for several reasons: because suitable passenger cars for these locomotives are already exist (I mean Amfleet), and also because I like modern streamlined design more than old angular one... But anyway it's interesting to hear from AZL about their plans on electrics (of course if they have them). I have Rokuhan models you mentioned - German BR181 and Shinkansen JR500. New German loco was accepted very warmly in Europe, it's strange that Rokuhan refused to announce other European locomotives after such successful start. Dom, of course it's a very brief list, I agree that there're many other models we all would like to see in Z scale Greg, I use decoders from CT Elektronik for digitizing of some of my Marklin Z scale steamers. CT Elektronik make world's smallest decoders. DCX77z is only 7.6x5x1.8mm size, DCX77L is 9.5x4x1.8mm. I use both models. They fit under the cab hood of Marklin Z steam locos without any problems. I've installed DCX77z into Marklin's unique NYC J-2 steamer (art. #88075).
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Post by scanrail on Jul 12, 2017 7:13:06 GMT -5
Hi everyone,
I'm not sure if this question has been already discussed, but I'd like to ask it - is AZL going to produce models of electric locomotives in the near future? Only Marklin made GG1 and that's all, but I think it's not enough - there are many interesting models of electric locos and I think that they are very lacking in Z scale...
What about AEM-7, ALP-46, HHP-8, GE E60, ACS64 and, finally, Acela Express?
I understand that each manufacturer plans its assortment based on dealers/customers requests and popularity of models. It's also clear for me that manufacturers produce exactly as many products as the market can accept. But currently there are no models of electric locomotives in US Z scale market at all! Whether this means that electric locos are so unpopular here?
Best, Alex
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