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Post by atw on Nov 26, 2015 13:50:28 GMT -5
Very interesting - and just goes to show the quality we're getting in AZL's current models. Now I'm looking forward even more to the Tropicana release...
Adrian
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Post by catt on Nov 26, 2015 17:43:47 GMT -5
As requested,the other car is packed away (somewhere) but bodywise it looks as good as this Tropicana car.   |
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Post by dawdawes on Nov 26, 2015 17:54:45 GMT -5
I feel for the quality of the AZL product and the time and money they invest in the product,the cost to us is very reasonable.
At least with the American outline we get models that look and run great, look at a Marklin they always seem so small and there American outline is a joke on size.
Just a shame AZL doesn't do Swiss anymore as I would love to do a layout but won't purchase Marklin.
You can't compare Z with N on cost as Z is like a Bentley and N a Ford
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Post by markm on Nov 26, 2015 18:49:07 GMT -5
Catt,
Thanks. I rarely look at other scales these days, other than to notice price differences when people mention it. Your images are more informative to me than BLMA's.
Looking at the prototypes, the eave line is prominent in many images. But it does seem to me that the platform hardware is oversized compared with the door hardware for the BLMA models in both N and HO. I guess will have to wait until we see AZL production units. I generally expect the detail to be near scale for etched hardware and about $10-$20 more in price.
BTW: I see next year's run of BLMA N TPIX will be about 10% more costly.
Mark
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Post by catt on Nov 26, 2015 20:18:26 GMT -5
I really would like a couple of the AZL reefers but being on SS there are more important things to me than $50.00+ Z scale cars.Unfortunately there are a lot of younger models that feel the same way. AZL and MTL prices are definitely not helping the scale grow.  |
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Post by markm on Nov 26, 2015 21:53:15 GMT -5
Catt, Yeah, prices used to be a lot better and the cars did more than just go around in circles:  Unfortunately however...no refers. Mark |
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Post by ztrack on Nov 26, 2015 22:18:59 GMT -5
The flyer is from 1957. I went to this site that calculates for inflation. Here is the link: www.dollartimes.com/inflation/inflation.php?amount=1&year=1957The B&M boxcar was 6.00 in 1957. So after inflation adjustment the car would be $51.04. This was surprisingly to me! So nothing has really changed. Well except the scale, quality, detail, etc. Rob |
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Post by markm on Nov 26, 2015 23:43:31 GMT -5
Rob,
Consider also that California minimum wage was $1.00 ($10+ today), so you were working longer for that boxcar.
The deluxe E-like diesel A-A set with built-in horn, "true to life" diesel roar and remote uncoupling was $45. Shades of DCC to come.
Mark
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Post by markm on Nov 27, 2015 11:29:23 GMT -5
I apologize for pulling this thread off track, but I happened to read a history of N scale in the 11/2113 issue of the NMRA magazine. The author pointed out in 1972 Kadee (parent of MTL) brought out the first fine detail N rolling stock. At $3.25 ($18.06 2015 dollars) they were selling for a 33%-50% premium over the Atlas and ConCor stock.
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Post by zscalehobo on Nov 28, 2015 16:17:02 GMT -5
I really would like a couple of the AZL reefers but being on SS there are more important things to me than $50.00+ Z scale cars.Unfortunately there are a lot of younger models that feel the same way. AZL and MTL prices are definitely not helping the scale grow. There are at least 4 dealers offering these in the $40 range my pricing at $43.99. And while AZL cannot be mistaken for cheap pricing, they are definitely growing z scale in a big way with a variety of offerings. Their number of releases is mind boggling. MTL? There are 2-bay hoppers on my website as low as $16.75 brand new. Not sure how much lower the price point needs to be to become attractive. Are we looking for sub-$10 rolling stock? |
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Post by atw on Nov 28, 2015 16:55:34 GMT -5
Good point Frank. Besides, regardless of scale, I perceive a pronounced tendency over the past few years of moving towards more detail and accuracy. Obviously, this comes at a price, but few of us want "toy models" anymore, we want "prototypically accurate".
I think prices for Z are fair, given its overall market size and the viable production runs this dictates.
cheerZ
Adrian
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Post by shamoo737 on Nov 28, 2015 19:04:31 GMT -5
I hope the Tropicana reefers are next.
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Post by atw on Dec 20, 2015 6:30:47 GMT -5
I just got my first Tropicana reefers yesterday and I have to say I am both impressed and delighted - what a cool (pun intended) looking piece of rolling stock   The detail is simply amazing (apologies for my mediocre close-up photography skills...) and the cars roll very freely. My hat is off to you guys at AZL for this one. Now to sit back and relax and watch those AZL reefers roll by with a glass of oj in my hand   cheerZ Adrian |
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Post by ProgressRail on Dec 20, 2015 11:05:02 GMT -5
Now to sit back and relax with a glass of oj in my hand cheerZ Adrian |
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