Mixed feelings about AZL quality vs Marklin
May 11, 2021 16:27:02 GMT -5
smr and Commodore like this
Post by rick on May 11, 2021 16:27:02 GMT -5
Hi
Today I have received my second batch of purchases from a German supplier who specialises in Z and sells AZL in Europe.
My first purchase was 2 AZL locos with decoders fitted for which I paid for ‘factory fitting’ (at nearly €50 a pop).
One worked fine out of the box.
The other wouldn’t work at all.
After hours of trying to re-seat the decoder (the supplier whom admittedly was very helpful thought it was a bad contact) I finally got a response having ‘reset’ the decoder. My first foray into programming CV’s.
Both now run fine on DCC though one is so slow I wonder if it really is fine.
Apparently AZL USA models are much slower than their German counterparts but blimey, one is that slow it hurts to watch.
Spurred on by what is almost becoming an addiction I purchased another AZL imported loco but this time with the decoder separately (after all I’m practically an expert now ;-) ).
Figuring I’d need at least a few wagons, because none of my Marklin stock is compatible, I purchased a 5 pack of AZL flat beds with 40’ containers.
One of the flat beds was missing it’s bogey and fixing pin. Luckily I spotted it loose in the cheap and nasty packaging.
However hard I try I can’t get the pin into the wagon. It just falls out. It almost looks as if its sheared and isn’t long enough.
Dispirited I try the 4 remaining wagons loaded with the containers.
It’s a disaster. I can’t even make one circuit of my track. The things just de-rail all the time. At the turn-outs, on a bend, even on a straight sometimes.
You might suggest that my track isn’t perfect but this doesn’t happen with any of my Marklin stock, even the cheap old stuff I’ve purchased on Ebay.
I can only assume there is an incompatibility between AZL wagons (these particular ones anyway) and Marklin track.
I’m hoping the supplier will refund me as basically they are not fit for purpose. If not it’s another €170 thrown at this (fast becoming) expensive hobby.
I’m not trying to be troll here or be disrespectful but I make a few points
- Firstly I was disappointed to see ‘Made in China’ over all the AZL boxes.
I really don’t know if Marklin is made in China or not but it doesn’t feel that way. Marklin packaging isn’t brilliant but it’s still way above the quality of my AZL container wagons boxing, and the Marklin actual product has a distinctly German feel about it (i.e. high end).
- The AZL locos are well made, feel nice and are Marklin comparable but my container wagons are anything but.
The packaging is reminiscent of the cheapest of toy products. They arrived broken and they don’t run on my branded track. The coupling system is too simple, fiddly and sensitive.
I have a furniture business and in an effort to be competitive with a newly opened Ikea locally I tried some Chinese imported garden furniture. It was a disaster. Cheap granted but you really do get what you pay for.
We now only sell EU manufactured furniture; Spanish and Italian. The quality shines.
The problem with the AZL container wagons is that they weren’t cheap. Barely a few Euros less than the equivalent Marklin set would have been.
Perhaps I’ve been unlucky.
I’ll now be looking for a way of coupling some of my Marklin wagons to my new AZL locos. At least this hobby keeps you busy.
Rick
Today I have received my second batch of purchases from a German supplier who specialises in Z and sells AZL in Europe.
My first purchase was 2 AZL locos with decoders fitted for which I paid for ‘factory fitting’ (at nearly €50 a pop).
One worked fine out of the box.
The other wouldn’t work at all.
After hours of trying to re-seat the decoder (the supplier whom admittedly was very helpful thought it was a bad contact) I finally got a response having ‘reset’ the decoder. My first foray into programming CV’s.
Both now run fine on DCC though one is so slow I wonder if it really is fine.
Apparently AZL USA models are much slower than their German counterparts but blimey, one is that slow it hurts to watch.
Spurred on by what is almost becoming an addiction I purchased another AZL imported loco but this time with the decoder separately (after all I’m practically an expert now ;-) ).
Figuring I’d need at least a few wagons, because none of my Marklin stock is compatible, I purchased a 5 pack of AZL flat beds with 40’ containers.
One of the flat beds was missing it’s bogey and fixing pin. Luckily I spotted it loose in the cheap and nasty packaging.
However hard I try I can’t get the pin into the wagon. It just falls out. It almost looks as if its sheared and isn’t long enough.
Dispirited I try the 4 remaining wagons loaded with the containers.
It’s a disaster. I can’t even make one circuit of my track. The things just de-rail all the time. At the turn-outs, on a bend, even on a straight sometimes.
You might suggest that my track isn’t perfect but this doesn’t happen with any of my Marklin stock, even the cheap old stuff I’ve purchased on Ebay.
I can only assume there is an incompatibility between AZL wagons (these particular ones anyway) and Marklin track.
I’m hoping the supplier will refund me as basically they are not fit for purpose. If not it’s another €170 thrown at this (fast becoming) expensive hobby.
I’m not trying to be troll here or be disrespectful but I make a few points
- Firstly I was disappointed to see ‘Made in China’ over all the AZL boxes.
I really don’t know if Marklin is made in China or not but it doesn’t feel that way. Marklin packaging isn’t brilliant but it’s still way above the quality of my AZL container wagons boxing, and the Marklin actual product has a distinctly German feel about it (i.e. high end).
- The AZL locos are well made, feel nice and are Marklin comparable but my container wagons are anything but.
The packaging is reminiscent of the cheapest of toy products. They arrived broken and they don’t run on my branded track. The coupling system is too simple, fiddly and sensitive.
I have a furniture business and in an effort to be competitive with a newly opened Ikea locally I tried some Chinese imported garden furniture. It was a disaster. Cheap granted but you really do get what you pay for.
We now only sell EU manufactured furniture; Spanish and Italian. The quality shines.
The problem with the AZL container wagons is that they weren’t cheap. Barely a few Euros less than the equivalent Marklin set would have been.
Perhaps I’ve been unlucky.
I’ll now be looking for a way of coupling some of my Marklin wagons to my new AZL locos. At least this hobby keeps you busy.
Rick
