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Post by scanrail on Oct 9, 2021 18:03:54 GMT -5
This is the most questionable thing. Whether SW's are not supposed to be converted to digital at all? No doubts, the fact itself of making such a tiny loco in Z scale is worth of admiration, but I am just curious, what AZL thinks about those who digitized all fleet and who are going to buy these switchers and run them on their digital layouts?!
I think it is worth to compare SW1500 with recent Class V36/236 diesel locomotive from Märklin (Art. No. 88770, 88771). It is very small too, and there is a very little space inside as well. But it can be disassembled, serviced and digitized without any problems!
Greetings,
Alex
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Post by Rob Albritton on Oct 9, 2021 18:21:43 GMT -5
This is the most questionable thing. Whether SW's are not supposed to be converted to digital at all? No doubts, the fact itself of making such a tiny loco in Z scale is worth of admiration, but I am just curious, what AZL thinks about those who digitized all fleet and who are going to buy these switchers and run them on their digital layouts?! I think it is worth to compare SW1500 with recent Class V36/236 diesel locomotive from Märklin (Art. No. 88770, 88771). It is very small too, and there is a very little space inside as well. But it can be disassembled, serviced and digitized without any problems! Greetings, Alex The SW1500 shell can be removed; however, it requires a very different technique than our previous products. Until we can create detailed instructions we are advising people: DO NOT attempt disassembly. We destroyed more than a few shells before we discovered the correct technique. We don’t want the same thing to happen to our valued customers. |
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Post by davejones on Oct 9, 2021 19:10:29 GMT -5
Wow. These are amazing. Have my 905 couplers waiting.
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Post by bloodynose on Oct 9, 2021 19:28:56 GMT -5
I don't see anywhere in the description, do they have directional lighting?
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Post by scanrail on Oct 9, 2021 20:34:11 GMT -5
The SW1500 shell can be removed; however, it requires a very different technique than our previous products. Until we can create detailed instructions we are advising people: DO NOT attempt disassembly. We destroyed more than a few shells before we discovered the correct technique. We don’t want the same thing to happen to our valued customers. This sounds much better, thank you very much! I hope you will find some time in the nearest future to create detailed instructions for disassembling this locomotive - at least a downloadable PDF. I already received numerous requests for digital decoder for this locomotive, so if it was not possible to disassemble it at all, it would not make too much sense to me to develop a digital board for it... Best regards, Alex |
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Post by Rob Albritton on Oct 9, 2021 20:37:03 GMT -5
I don't see anywhere in the description, do they have directional lighting? Yes they do have directional lighting. And they can pull a Super Chief 8 car set, no problem. Couplers can be changed to MTL 903 or 905 with the enclosed adaptor parts. You will need to cut off the back of the MTL coupler box. Detailed Instructions can be found HERE |
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Post by BAZman on Oct 9, 2021 21:51:31 GMT -5
heh, now we know someone's favorite loco. Nice instructions. Everyone is very excited, yet have nothing to see, touch or work with. Now, with pre-instructions (no one should have one in there hands yet), you can read, imagine, visualize your mind and with tools laid out, wait for it to get unwrapped and chopped, drill, cut, squeezed and (oh whoops, look in the pocket to check for alignment), place that coupler in and screw it in place. Grabbing the the camera to be the first to post their coupler mod.
Great thanks to the 'AZL Labs'
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Post by davejones on Oct 9, 2021 21:57:22 GMT -5
SP on sale already at Zscale Monster Trains.
Hope it's not too long a wait for PC
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Post by bloodynose on Oct 9, 2021 22:16:00 GMT -5
I don't see anywhere in the description, do they have directional lighting? Yes they do have directional lighting. And they can pull a Super Chief 8 car set, no problem. Couplers can be changed to MTL 903 or 905 with the enclosed adaptor parts. You will need to cut off the back of the MTL coupler box. Detailed Instructions can be found HEREAwesome! These little gems are a little pricey... no lighting might have been a deal killer! Thanks Rob! Order placed, can't wait to see them run! |
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Post by markm on Oct 9, 2021 22:19:12 GMT -5
I'm pleased to see the light bar looks pretty much like the prototype. I'm anxious to see it work.
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Post by ptitrainrouge on Oct 10, 2021 0:58:29 GMT -5
 I would love to have one of these SP, but without dcc, I will wait until a dcc solution is possible, and there will be no more on the market 
never the less they are a jewel of Z scale
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Post by tjdreams on Oct 10, 2021 6:44:16 GMT -5
Is there room for a decoder? YES ?  NO ? Maybe ?  More to come later today?  |
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Post by DAZed on Oct 10, 2021 10:05:04 GMT -5
So I just looked at the instructions for the MTL coupler mod. (if you haven't, it's worth a look) The great part about it...it doesn't stick out a mile. It really looks very good, and kudos to AZL for coming up with this solution. I've always loved the EMD switchers, even though they aren't a great fit for my primary modeling focus. Aside from that, my major issues with the AZL announced details were the fact that they wouldn't have the capability the MTL couplers afford MOST BENEFICIAL for switchers, plus the DCC dilemna. Today's announcement of the SW1500 is a milestone in Z-scale, but this side-announcement of the MTL coupler compatibility is a VERY sweet cherry on the top of that announcement. And this feature likely sold a few units. I went from being on the fence for 1-2 to solidily wanting 3. Now if we can just figure out the DCC part. (oh, and the cheat codes for removing the shell...   ) |
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Post by domi on Oct 10, 2021 10:13:32 GMT -5
This is really excellent news ! First the availability of a Z scale switcher and above all the (nearly complete) compatibility with MTL's magnematic coupler, as the first role of a switcher is to... switch, what AZL's coupler doesn't allow.
However, I've a few questions today :
-First, is there any indication of how how much lenght the MTL coupler box has to be trimmed ? BTW I already tried that with a few MTL coupler boxes in the past (for AZL GP38 and MTL GP9/35 use) and all ended the same : all the inside stuff, hinged parts and spring went off and the coupler box was wasted.
-2nd : for MTL coupler box trimming : is it advisable to use a dremmel with a very thin disk, rather than the hobby knife the procedure sheet speaks about ?
-And finally 3rd : will the adapter be sold as a spare part (for example at AZL Direct's) for use on any other AZL locomotive ? I'm thinking about my GP38-2s (only one is retrofitted - with non trimmed MTL coupler boxes which I definitly think they protrude too far) and above all about my GP30, which has rather short chassis / carbody beyond trucks...
Dom
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Post by Rob Albritton on Oct 10, 2021 15:55:12 GMT -5
This is really excellent news ! First the availability of a Z scale switcher and above all the (nearly complete) compatibility with MTL's magnematic coupler, as the first role of a switcher is to... switch, what AZL's coupler doesn't allow. However, I've a few questions today : -First, is there any indication of how how much lenght the MTL coupler box has to be trimmed ? BTW I already tried that with a few MTL coupler boxes in the past (for AZL GP38 and MTL GP9/35 use) and all ended the same : all the inside stuff, hinged parts and spring went off and the coupler box was wasted. -2nd : for MTL coupler box trimming : is it advisable to use a dremmel with a very thin disk, rather than the hobby knife the procedure sheet speaks about ? -And finally 3rd : will the adapter be sold as a spare part (for example at AZL Direct's) for use on any other AZL locomotive ? I'm thinking about my GP38-2s (only one is retrofitted - with non trimmed MTL coupler boxes which I definitly think they protrude too far) and above all about my GP30, which has rather short chassis / carbody beyond trucks... Dom First: you need to trim off the back wall of the coupler box (draft gear box) I just measured that as 0.5mm in depth. Try holding the coupler box together while you cut off the back as shown in the pictures. That should keep everything in one piece and will help prevent bits from flying apart. Second: DO NOT USE A DREMMEL. The friction of the sanding disc will create enough heat to melt the coupler. You will wind up with a mess of goo. USE A SHARP HOBBY KNIFE. Third: We can send you some extra adaptors, but they are designed for the SW1500 and will not fit our other locomotives. |
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I would love to have one of these SP, but without dcc, I will wait until a dcc solution is possible, and there will be no more on the market 
)
