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Post by ztrack on Mar 20, 2023 20:01:06 GMT -5
AMERICAN Z LINE March 2023 New Releases Part 3 NEW BODY STYLE! Trinity RAF 53’ Spine Cars with 53’ Trailers – ROADWAY!  905205-1 TTAX Trinity RAF 53C Spine Cars - 5 unit set 555233 53' Trailers – Roadway All new tooling by AZL! The cars are metal with both etched metal and plastic add-on details. The cars are articulated and ride on modified AZL 90001 roller-bearing trucks. They are lettered for TTAX (old logo). Each set will come with trailers. The 53' trailers are all new tooling from AZL. The trailers feature wheels that turn, the ability to reposition the wheels. The cars come with a number of add-on and optional parts. These are: -5x Trailer hitches (up position) -5x Trailer hitches (down position) -5x set of 4 container hole adaptors - for when the container is on the car -5x set of 4 container posts - for when the container is not on the car -5x Trailer legs retracted (for when the trailer is on the tractor) can be swapped with legs installed on the trailer. Note some assembly required, specially adding the hitches. It is recommended the trailers are secured to the cars for optimal performance. For more information on these cars please see the following video: 53’ Trailers – ROADWAY!  Want a few extra trailers? We have them! 954005-1 Roadway 2 x 53' Trailer Two pack of 53’ trailers. The 53' trailers are all new tooling from AZL. The trailers feature wheels that turn, the ability to reposition the wheels. Set comes with 2x Trailer legs retracted (for when the trailer is on the tractor) can be swapped with legs installed on the trailer. Orders now can be placed on AZL Direct: azldirect.comRob Kluz Ztrack Distribution |
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Post by DAZed on Mar 20, 2023 20:20:50 GMT -5
No offense, but your choice of loads for your intermodal cars is just about as "off" as it can possibly be.
Stack cars: Where many railroads have dozens of cars in a row with container after container of identical JBH, Scneider, Swift, Hub, Pacer Stacktrain, UMAX containers.....you use random, dis-similar mis-matched dog's breakfast of containers.
Spine cars: Where lots of random trailers makeup almost every train....5 identical trailers.
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Post by Rob Albritton on Mar 20, 2023 20:30:59 GMT -5
No offense, but your choice of loads for your intermodal cars is just about as "off" as it can possibly be. … and we thank you for your support!  To keep the record straight, we did make several “all one load” of the Maxi-IV including JB Hunt, Pacer Stacktrain, and FEC. www.americanzline.com/wp-content/gallery/maxi-iv/906556-3.jpgwww.americanzline.com/wp-content/gallery/maxi-iv/906551-1.jpgwww.americanzline.com/wp-content/gallery/maxi-iv/906555-1.jpgIf you study them, the other Maxi-IV sets tend to follow themes. 40’ containers will be oriented to Pacific, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Florida/Caribbean, or Hawaiiian ocean trade. 53’ containers are based on Eastern, Western, Canadian, or Mexican trade routes. These are not absolute, or hard and fast rules because there are many intermodal trains that are a mixed bag. We also find customers who like to add color to their models, and this is a great way to do it. We hope you enjoy the models as much as we enjoyed creating them. Cheers -Rob(A) AZL |
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Post by Scott on Mar 20, 2023 21:02:25 GMT -5
AZL = Worth the wait. … Always. I’ve seen these. Walked a dog on a street separated by a ditch next to a train of these. Forget the decade. … ’90s?
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Post by DAZed on Mar 20, 2023 22:40:58 GMT -5
Sort of my point. Three out of 35 Maxi-IV's with solid sets. And now, a set screaming for color...with a bunch of identical white trailers. You don't have to have any great depth of intermodal expertise at all to know about BNSF's over-30-year relationship (counting the first few years as ATSF of course) with J B Hunt, and dang near that long with Schneider. So at very least have one set each for those. Same with some of the other boxes on TTX cars for UP, NS, CSX, et al....they all have affiliations that aren't very big secrets. And 40ft containers on 53ft cars happens more often than railroads want it to, but still a very, very small fraction of the time. Perhaps you were shorted 53's and needed to sell the cars, that would make good business sense. Hopefully the 53's will show up eventually....we need 'em!  (and separate 40s, too!) I know, I know....your next retort will be the age old MTL defense... "most our customers don't really care about prototypical accuracy". My take is, if they don't care that it's not accurate, they probably won't care if it is (more) accurate, either. (and still with the pretty colors.) I'm not expecting even close to perfection here. Far from it. But when I buy four Maxi-IV's (TTX and BNSF) that are the absolute "best case" mix of containers I could find, and I'm STILL selling off almost 70% of the containers to get in the ballpark of believable... Well, I stand by my original statement. "Off". It's your prerogative of course to mix it up however you want. I'm just one customer (who does support you in a large way, despite what you apparently believe) expressing an opinion. Others probably just vote with their wallet. |
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Post by cwrr on Mar 20, 2023 22:50:15 GMT -5
That's pretty cool, but yeah-I'd put some random UPS or FedEx trailers on there, and assortment of others too.
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Post by bloodynose on Mar 20, 2023 23:05:36 GMT -5
These are totally awesome!
When it comes to the spine cars, I'd prefer all UPS or FedEx, although I have seen UP with 15 to 30 ROADWAY trailers grouped together and I've seen 50 UPS trailers together.
As this is the first release (I'll wait for the UPS release) hopefully there will be many more with more carriers so we can mix and match! Maybe some sets with mixed Walmart, England, Prime, etc.
With the container car sets I'd prefer mixed carriers and lengths. I have seen 40' containers in 40' cars with 48' and 53' containers stacked on top and vice-versa.
This is what I usually see with UP here in southern AZ.
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Post by zman on Mar 21, 2023 6:07:54 GMT -5
Way to go AZL! If I had a larger layout I definitely would have them populating it. Keep up the great work! 90% of your audience is impressed. The 10% whiners are will never be happy!
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Post by DAZed on Mar 21, 2023 9:51:59 GMT -5
Way to go AZL! If I had a larger layout I definitely would have them populating it. Keep up the great work! 90% of your audience is impressed. The 10% whiners are will never be happy! Well, us "whiners" are actually buying the product so... See how happy you are when you spend $260 on an item and then have to turn around and sell 1/4 of it, at a loss. I would encourage you to remove the last part of your comment. Some people don't take too kindly to threats of violence. |
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Post by Rob Albritton on Mar 21, 2023 12:44:56 GMT -5
Way to go AZL! If I had a larger layout I definitely would have them populating it. Keep up the great work! 90% of your audience is impressed. The 10% whiners are will never be happy! Even with a new rope!!! Many thanks for the kind words. This is just my perspective, but I find comments on this forum to be very helpful as we design new products. Valid criticism is crucial to improving our models and that’s what we seek to do. The vast majority of the time we try to make things as prototypical as possible. (On rare occasion we do a fantasy car.) I think Doug has a good point: the major railroads do run big unit 53’ trains. I would add UPS and FedEx to his fairly accurate list. “K” Line does the same thing with 40’ containers. There was another dynamic at play when I allocated the containers to the runs: I was trying to mix and match in a way that we could get all of the new containers released in the Maxi-IV run. I’m also aware that some folks don’t have huge layouts and like some variety of size and color. Remember that these are new tooling containers for us, so having them available in product was a priority. I hope that expanded info helps fill in the logic gaps. Cheers -Rob(A) AZL |
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Post by Rob Albritton on Mar 21, 2023 12:58:03 GMT -5
And now, a set screaming for color...with a bunch of identical white trailers. I know what you mean, but actually containers as a whole are a more colorful bunch than 53’ trailers. Most of the trailers are white with a logo. Most of the containers are painted a vivid solid color (or brown) with a logo. You know your stuff and what you’re talking about, so the only thing I can think of is perhaps all of these containers running around the roads on frames gives the false impression that they are actually 53’ trailers? It’s funny how the mind works. You never notice how many red Toyota trucks there are until you buy one. Then everything you see is a red Toyota truck. So, I know this will drive you nuts, but they have all been produced, so not going to change at this point: all of the spine car sets have identical trailers on them. But you can also get 2 packs of the trailers, so mix and match isn’t all that much more. In fact, we tried our best to keep the trailer cost down, so I hope everyone sees them as a bit of a bargain. Enjoy your Z -Rob(A) AZL |
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Post by DAZed on Mar 21, 2023 14:17:24 GMT -5
And now, a set screaming for color...with a bunch of identical white trailers. I know what you mean, but actually containers as a whole are a more colorful bunch than 53’ trailers. Most of the trailers are white with a logo. Most of the containers are painted a vivid solid color (or brown) with a logo. You know your stuff and what you’re talking about, so the only thing I can think of is perhaps all of these containers running around the roads on frames gives the false impression that they are actually 53’ trailers? It’s funny how the mind works. You never notice how many red Toyota trucks there are until you buy one. Then everything you see is a red Toyota truck. So, I know this will drive you nuts, but they have all been produced, so not going to change at this point: all of the spine car sets have identical trailers on them. But you can also get 2 packs of the trailers, so mix and match isn’t all that much more. In fact, we tried our best to keep the trailer cost down, so I hope everyone sees them as a bit of a bargain. Enjoy your Z -Rob(A) AZL Rob, Thank you for the respectful reply. The primary point is that they were identical, since yeah I get it the trailers are predominantly white. But you happened to pick one with virtually no color, versus some with splashy logos etc....whatever, not that important. The duplication of trailers was really the issue, and now I learn it's worse than I thought. As an aside, I would seldom ever confuse a trailer with a container-on-chassis. Especially not from photographs or high-rez video. Some of the early JBH and Schneider platewall trailers and containers were sometimes hard to discern in a moving train. (and complicated by former Schneider Roadrailer units) I do agree that the price point for the trailers is reasonable, so at least there's that. |
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Post by Guba on Mar 21, 2023 20:45:11 GMT -5
I'm absolutely thrilled with this release. But, the same loads?...
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Post by zman215 on Mar 21, 2023 21:40:59 GMT -5
Rob,
Could you let us know which trailers are going to be offered in the 3 car sets?
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Post by Rob Albritton on Mar 21, 2023 22:45:58 GMT -5
Rob, Could you let us know which trailers are going to be offered in the 3 car sets? Yes I can! 5 car sets: Roadway JB Hunt UPS Amazon FedEx Freight (White) FedEx Mulitmodal (Grey) 3 cars sets: Xtra Intermodal ABF NS Triple Crown Schneider England US Express Martin Swift Ryder Two Packs of the spare trailers will be released at the same time as the Spine car sets. (We charge the same price for two that others charge for one) Cheers! -Rob(A) AZL |
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(and separate 40s, too!)
