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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Mar 19, 2020 20:17:27 GMT -5
Hope everyone is healthy! Robert and I are working from home as are many of you. So the good news is that we have a little more time than usual to work on new projects.
We will shortly have two new threads on a new locomotive and also new passenger cars. For both products readers will be able to follow the entire development, pre-production and production process. Should be exiting for you! We plan on frequent updates so stay tuned.
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Post by cwrr on Mar 19, 2020 23:51:16 GMT -5
The SD40-2 news is great!!
I'll be looking for some Milwaukee Road versions!
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Post by modelwarships on Mar 20, 2020 5:38:20 GMT -5
Awesome news I will take a half dozen green ones to start. Finally proper power for my coal trains.
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Post by markm on Mar 20, 2020 22:30:35 GMT -5
I think these read-only threads will make for interesting reading not only for the creative process, but for the manufacturing process. Part of the process I'd be interested in is: why?
For Hans why an SD40-2 rather than some other locomotive of similar industry popularity or one of the oft requested ones like the E7 or a U-boat?
For Robert, he's admitted a why, at least in part. While I don't know much about the Super Chief, I seem to recall that it ran with just about everybody's equipment: Pullman HV and LW, ACF, Budd single and bilevel. So why the eras you are suggesting?
Inquiring minds...
mark
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Post by korgs130 on Mar 21, 2020 10:50:33 GMT -5
Hans,
Thanks for keeping the fantastic products coming our way. Putting in a formal request for a Wisconsin Central SD-40-2.
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Post by DAZed on Mar 21, 2020 23:24:06 GMT -5
Putting in a formal request for ditch lights. I don't see that in the feature set, and that would be a huge boon to this release for us post-90's guys. I do like that you will be paying attention to the headlight placement.
In the (almost) 50-year history of the SD40-2, many had ditch lights longer than they didn't. Basically if you model mid-90's or later, they were present. AZL has done a fantastic job with the ditchlights on their more modern locomotives, and I get it that those locomotives had ditch lights from the git-go...so it's a little different. I'm not saying they should all have them, not by any stretch. But if they could be tooled with the capability to customize certain schemes it would really be awesome.
The roads I would be in for: BNSF H-1, BN, BN Whiteface, ATSF for sure...likely UP...and possibly NS as well if they are done.
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Post by scanrail on Mar 22, 2020 12:25:02 GMT -5
I am really excited with announcement of SD40-2 from AZL. You did it finally! So, are you going to make what MTL refused to make (despite many requests, including from me personally) - Mærsk version? Together with Maxi-I Mærsk set it will make for me a Z scale train of my dream!
Regards,
Alex
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Post by rburton on Mar 22, 2020 18:07:32 GMT -5
maybe I ask too much, but it would be too nice to have some SD40-2W ...
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Post by rburton on Mar 22, 2020 18:08:11 GMT -5
maybe I ask too much, but it would be too nice to have some SD40-2W ...
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Post by cwrr on Apr 23, 2020 12:40:30 GMT -5
The SD40-2 news is great!! I'll be looking for some Milwaukee Road versions! Quoting my own post, I got to thinking about the fuel tanks. Milwaukee Road, they opted for the shorter 4,000 gallon version when they ordered all they're SD40-2's from EMD. Will they're be fuel tank options for the AZL releases? |
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Post by mrbarlow on Apr 23, 2020 12:52:21 GMT -5
Just curious, with MTL having already made the SD40-2, why is AZL going to make the same locomotive ?
Wouldn't it be wiser to make a GP40-2?
I would think this would sell better with a ton of road name possibilities.
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Post by markm on Apr 23, 2020 14:18:00 GMT -5
mrbarlow,
Welcome to the forum.
As a modeler not associated with either company, I can suggest a few things. About 3 times as many prototype SD40-2 were produced than GP40-2s for nearly twice as many railroads. While the MTL model is nice and I own several, from both production runs, due to some close tolerances, they can have an operating "personality" that may be frustrating. It is a "one size fits all" model, not incorporating the various prototype options like AZLs planned unit. And as Hans mentioned in the read-only thread, they have the research.
That said, I would have preferred to see a GP40-2. But who knows, AZL has a history of bringing some suprises.
Mark
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Post by DAZed on Apr 23, 2020 17:33:35 GMT -5
I would have preferred to see a GP40-2. But who knows, AZL has a history of bringing some suprises. You guys might want to check out Hans' latest SD40-2 update.  Personally, I love the idea of a "state-of-the-art" SD40-2. I have defended MTL's--I have a few and like them for what they are--but I certainly welcome AZL's and they will eventually replace my fleet. The SD40-2 is one of my all time favorite locomotives, and while I model an era where their mainstream use was waning, I will still have them. And, probably a lot of them...I daresay a disproportionate amount in normal service for a 2005-ish timeframe.   Likewise, there are brass C44-9W's, yet that is my number one (plastic) locomotive request. Focusing on what is popular is never a bad business strategy. Regarding the GP40-2, that isn't quite as exciting to me, but I would expect to eventually have a few. |
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Post by markm on Apr 23, 2020 20:49:43 GMT -5
You guys might want to check out Hans' latest SD40-2 update. Being on a wish list is a long way from having, just ask Santa Claus. |
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Post by DAZed on Apr 23, 2020 22:02:17 GMT -5
You guys might want to check out Hans' latest SD40-2 update. Being on a wish list is a long way from having, just ask Santa Claus. No need for the snarky remark. I just thought it was cool that Hans acknowledged the interchange, that's all. Don't see anything about my comment that guarantees anyone a GP40-2. |
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