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Post by bnsf22montana on Dec 12, 2018 14:26:54 GMT -5
Wouldn't it be wise of AZL to look at doing a C44w-9 as their next big six axle locomotive? Just about every rail road running presently has them and or the AC version on roster. I know someone had brought up doing a GP40. If I am not mistaken doesn't micro train have the tooling for the old rogue GP38-2. Has anyone/s thought of bugging micro train about that possibility?
TT
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Post by DAZed on Dec 12, 2018 16:27:52 GMT -5
I agree, the C44-9W would be the best choice in my opinion. Great variety of schemes could be done. I would buy UP and every variation of ATSF and BNSF, and a foobie NS if they did one. (hey, good enough for Kato in N so I'd hope AZL would go for it)
I am not 100% familiar with Z history but I was under the understanding that the Rogue GP38-2 was where the AZL GP38-2 came from. But again I could be completely wrong about that.
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Post by gerd on Dec 12, 2018 21:01:24 GMT -5
First they have to find somebody to make stuff from existing tooling and than somebody to actually design new models. Waiting for a new announcement when things continue and how. Don't expect anything new in 2019 (except what's already hidden in Rob's drawers...)
Rogue GP38-2 tooling is owned by AZL, not MTL
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Post by ztrack on Dec 12, 2018 21:49:19 GMT -5
Hey now... stay out of my drawers...
Wait are your referring to the other Rob??
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Post by gerd on Dec 13, 2018 16:32:43 GMT -5
Hey now... stay out of my drawers... Wait are your referring to the other Rob?? Rob is Rob, all the same 😂 |
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Post by DAZed on Dec 13, 2018 19:12:44 GMT -5
First they have to find somebody to make stuff from existing tooling and than somebody to actually design new models. Waiting for a new announcement when things continue and how. Don't expect anything new in 2019 (except what's already hidden in Rob's drawers...) I don't think anybody said we wanted it by Friday. Or even 2019.  Just "future".  Doesn't really tie to a specific time frame, just whatever comes next, whenever it comes. I would say the options with the easiest path for AZL would be... -C44-9W (already have the mech, and plans, and "research") -GP40 (or another geep in that series that fits the current GP38-2 mech) -SD40 (Not the Dash 2. The straight 40 should work on the SD45 mech) -RS-3 (I think this one can borrow elements from a GP mech, which I think is what Kato/Atlas did in N) -AC4400 (personally think this is too close to the ES44ACs compared to the more ubiquitous Dash 9) And yeah, we don't want to know what you find in Rob's drawers.  |
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Post by Rob Albritton on Dec 13, 2018 21:48:53 GMT -5
I'm seriously enjoying this thread!
I should have an update in about a week.
But in the meantime, my drawers are just fine, thank you very much.
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Post by mgatdog on Dec 13, 2018 23:12:24 GMT -5
I'm seriously enjoying this thread! I should have an update in about a week. But in the meantime, my drawers are just fine, thank you very much. That’s great to hear Rob. Also nice to hear your drawers are just fine and you keep a tidy desk. Had me worried that maybe you had chocolate stains showing on back of pants 😳🤠|
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Post by ciccino on Dec 14, 2018 2:05:09 GMT -5
I hope the N&W J class comes before anything else. After all, it was already in an advanced stage of production, was it not? :-P
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Post by bnsf22montana on Dec 14, 2018 10:52:17 GMT -5
Another path of least resistance would or could be limited runs of BNSF locomotives, Grain cars and Coal porters. These all are sold out and fetch a premium on the open market (ebay) for one. Not much risk $$$ cause in a limited releases they would snatched quickly.
TT
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Post by markm on Dec 14, 2018 13:09:13 GMT -5
I don't know if I have any specific future recommends as there are so many possibilities out there for z but here's my thoughts, no particular order.
Finish up on all the announced locomotives: the rest of the F units, J class, etc.
Replenish low stock models, GP38-2 is the only one that comes to mind.
A general use (USRA?) passenger steam locomotive: 4-6-2, 4-8-2.
Oil tenders for existing and future steam locomotives (remember: "oil west of Winnemucca")
A yard switcher, running at least 10VDC.
Period diesels (early, mid, modern) 4- and six-axle. Selection should be models used by a large number of U.S. common carriers. My thoughts include: U30C, U25B, U30B, GP40(-2), SD9, SD40, RS-3.
While I hate to discourage any locomotive, I don't have warm feelings for the C44-9W or AC4400 suggested. While both have been built in large quantities, both number on a small number of roads, dominated by one road.
Forgive me for a bit of a diversion here. Regarding the "open market" I watch the bay, at least monthly, and have noticed a number of patterns. About 80% of the posts are from a couple of sellers, who are pushing the prices up on BNSF and Chessie and seem to have an inordinately large inventory of these roads. I question how open that market really is. I also have a bit of concern regarding the recent appearance of rare locomotives coming from Hong Kong. When did AZL use pink vacuform for locomotive nests?
Mark
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Post by DAZed on Dec 14, 2018 15:24:02 GMT -5
Yeah, I definitely agree with "finish up with announced", for sure. I guess I have a different definition of "future" than a lot of you....I would think "future" would imply that nothing already announced would suddenly go away. I guess AZL sort of did that with the AC4400 by swapping out mid-stream with the ES44AC to respond to the market for the NS heritage locos. But (aside from leaving out the BNSF Heritage-II scheme) I doubt many folks got impacted by that move, and it made a ton of sense.
I agree the AC4400 would be a less-desirable choice at this juncture, but if AZL got a significant amount of the work done on it already, it might be prudent to eventually move forward with it. (but yes, they need to ramp up production of the coalporters--especially BN and some of the other BNSF schemes--and more grain cars including the Trinity 5161's would be nice.)
The C44-9W's on the other hand.... Almost all of the major Class 1's had them, especially if you count the NS C40-9W's. The obvious popularity of BNSF and especially the silver warbonnet scheme takes more of the risk out of the equation.
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Post by markm on Dec 14, 2018 16:54:45 GMT -5
Doug,
If I count the c44-9 + C40-9 domestic and export I get:
NS 1180
BNSF 1696
CN 210
CNW 127
SP 101
UP 40
export 128
Six roads really not a large selection. If one isn't modelling NS or BNSF the likelihood of seeing one in prototype is small. On the other hand, the RS-3 was run by 78 roads, more than enough to cover the roads modelled in Z. I'm not discounting the C40/44-9 or AC4400, but they wouldn't be high of my priorities. Although maybe a poll is in order: How many 4-packs of BNSF C44-9 locomotives would you be willing to buy?
As far as the popularity of one road over another, I really don't see it. one time BNSF sells out first another times UP. There are still a lot of coalporters in the market, likewise grain hoppers.
I guess my interests are more in line with new rolling stock silhouettes in Z than variations on what we already have.
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Post by DAZed on Dec 14, 2018 17:58:32 GMT -5
I think an RS-3 would far-and-away be a revolutionary announcement in Z. I would be shocked if that isn't one of the next locomotives that *somebody* chooses to produce in Z. Yet, I would buy zero, as it isn't of interest era-wise or locale-wise. My "easiest path" list wasn't being selfish...I truly think those might be the quickest way to a new loco for AZL.
The six (or 8 or 10) roads is pretty well going to be the norm from anything mid-90's on. The ACe's and ES44's benefited from the NS/UP heritage fleet units, of course...but otherwise the similar list of roads. But for UP and BNSF at least there are 5 or 6 different Dash 9 schemes considering previous merger fodder.
Yes, new "rolling stock silhouettes" would be nice.
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Post by ciccino on Dec 15, 2018 4:44:50 GMT -5
I also have a bit of concern regarding the recent appearance of rare locomotives coming from Hong Kong. When did AZL use pink vacuform for locomotive nests? Mark When cheap chinese counterfeits start popping-up, it is the highest form of recognition for any brand :-P Seriously, every time I see the prices that old AZL brass commands on the secondary market, I cannot help wondering why AZL herself, or other Z scale manufacturers, do not focus on that business :-) |
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Just "future". 
Doesn't really tie to a specific time frame, just whatever comes next, whenever it comes.
