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Post by jspech on Oct 24, 2021 19:06:36 GMT -5
Greetings,
Is there a way to add lights to AZL passenger cars like you can with Kato N scale? I know it is silly but I think this is one of the biggest things keeping me from making the jump to Z scale.
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Post by husafreak on Oct 25, 2021 10:50:07 GMT -5
This is not a topic I have seen addressed much in my short tenure in Z scale. With Marklin cars there is more activity in lighted cars either from the manufacturer or as an add on. An indeed I love running my lighted Marklin cars. Have you tried searching for older threads here or on Trainboard?
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Post by jspech on Oct 25, 2021 12:28:37 GMT -5
husafreak - I have searched and am unable to find anything. I know there are products for the AZL Amtrak fleet, but what about the Super Chief, or other light passenger cars. I'm sure there is a way but want to see it for myself before i make the leap.
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Post by BAZman on Oct 25, 2021 12:29:24 GMT -5
It would take modifications to the trucks/axles for power pick up. The trucks and axles do not have the more robust design of märklin’ so would alter running reliably. A few of us have done this. Then there is the issues of making your own board and lighting electronics or purchasing some from Alex @ Zmodell. See Alex’s post for the AZL Amfleet for details of this page (scroll down a bit) azlforum.com/thread/1650/digital-decoders-amtrak-amfleet-viewlinerWhile it can be done, those boards (components and all) add quite a bit of weight, mostly top-heavy. |
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Post by dazed on Oct 25, 2021 13:17:30 GMT -5
There's no "Eazy Peazy" type board like there is in N which would be nice. Of course many folks don't love the battery approach...I'm on the fence. I have big plans for lighting my cars...but it never seems to be a priority.
I wish AZL would develop truck pickups for their cars, especially the Superliners. I bought some kits to do pickups for the MTL cars but again...haven't done anything with them. I also want to light up my Bombardier cars too eventually.
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Post by scanrail on Oct 25, 2021 17:21:46 GMT -5
Jeff already wrote what I was going to. I can add the following: - Digital interior lighting boards for Superliner, Surfliner, Bombardier Bi-Level and matching control cars are in development
- Universal digital interior lighting board suitable for Lightweight and Heavyweight passenger cars is in development too
- Brass sliding contacts/power pickup kits for Amfleet, Viewliner, Lightweights, Surfliner, Bombardier and Superliner are available directly from me right away (on sale separately; will be offered for free in digital interior lighting kits. Wipers for Viewliner, Lightweight and Superliner are the same)
- Digital interior lighting kits for Amfleet, Viewliner and one Märklin car are on sale here: www.zscalemonster.com/zmodell/
- Something is available here too: zscalehobo.com/zmodell/zmodell.html
- I also developed digital interior lighting kits for old Märklin US passenger cars: azlforum.com/thread/1785/zmodell-digital-decoders-rklin-passenger
Greetings, Alex |
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Post by husafreak on Oct 26, 2021 21:21:51 GMT -5
That is very good news for us, the future is bright indeed! I would like to do an AZL Amtrak train.
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Post by husafreak on Oct 26, 2021 21:26:22 GMT -5
My bad, I want to do the “commuter railroad” train.
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Post by neverland on Nov 4, 2021 17:27:43 GMT -5
I bought a modified Marklin passenger car fitted with an LED light strip. It ran okay in a 5-car consist on the flats, but the light strip added enough weight so that on even a modest grade the loco bogged down. It was a great idea but no brass ring. It now sits on a side track as my local diner. 😟
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Post by husafreak on Nov 9, 2021 21:40:05 GMT -5
Sounds good to me! I run my Marklin trains on DC so my Marklin Entertainment Car, which is modified with scanrails zmodell DCC lighting board, sits on a siding on my DCC track. It's the first thing I turn on before running my North American trains. There's nothing remotely correct about it from a scale modeling standpoint but I cannot resist its charms!
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