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Post by Rob Albritton on Feb 3, 2015 18:46:18 GMT -5
Question about the future F-units. When you double head the F-units are they going to have missing pilots too? I hope not. I might have to skip the E-units because of this.  I could care less about a bonus truck that you can't do anything with. To me it doesn't make up for the missing pilot. I would rather have some kind of pilot on the doubled headed E-unit. Yes, the F units will have the same setup as the E units. If you really prefer the look of the pilots, then why not just double head with the pilots on? The Pilots have a solid coupler built into them that will hook up to any other AZL/MTL coupler. We included the truck mounted coupler because we think it runs better than the pilot mounted coupler, but there is nothing stopping you from using your trains as you see fit! Cheers, -Rob(A) AZL |
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Post by trainboy4 on Feb 3, 2015 19:13:22 GMT -5
Question about the future F-units. When you double head the F-units are they going to have missing pilots too? I hope not. I might have to skip the E-units because of this. I could care less about a bonus truck that you can't do anything with. To me it doesn't make up for the missing pilot. I would rather have some kind of pilot on the doubled headed E-unit. Yes, the F units will have the same setup as the E units. If you really prefer the look of the pilots, then why not just double head with the pilots on? The Pilots have a solid coupler built into them that will hook up to any other AZL/MTL coupler. We included the truck mounted coupler because we think it runs better than the pilot mounted coupler, but there is nothing stopping you from using your trains as you see fit! Cheers, -Rob(A) AZL I might just try a pair.  I was thinging that the pilot coupler was not functional. If it works I might buy alot of E&F units. |
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Post by davestubbs on Feb 6, 2015 20:50:42 GMT -5
Just my 2 cents. I really love the new chassis design. I bought 3 of the E8 and right out of the box they ran great. Very smooth and quite with almost no grinding sound as mentioned. they have great low speed properties and a better top end than the second gen SD70. Ran a break in on my figure 8 (don't think it is needed) than installed TCS decoders in all of them. what a great experience with a new engine all went very smoothly and I was playing with 3 DCC locos in no time. They also pull great I maxed out my fig 8 with 1 engine and around 30 cars. I have tossed the shells and am using the new chassis in my Brass SP E7 ABB set (got it right this time Rob and can not be happier with them. Can't wait to get some in a road that I model. |
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Post by jamestraction on Feb 6, 2015 21:20:41 GMT -5
Dave, shells are valuable. You might want to sell it. -James
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Post by davestubbs on Feb 6, 2015 22:08:30 GMT -5
Good point James tossed was a harsh word they are neatly put back in the jewel cases they came in, I swear. thinking Bloody nose SP unit as repaint. we will see what AZL offers
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Post by gprose on Feb 7, 2015 20:09:16 GMT -5
Hi, I think it's a shame an alternate pilot wasn't included with the optional truck for the E8. Personally I think an alternate pilot that allows a truck mounted coupler freedom of movement looks better than no pilot at all. MTL's F7 is like that and it seems to allow sufficient movement of he coupler.
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Feb 8, 2015 7:25:15 GMT -5
Alternate Pilots: It would increase the overall price of the engine to have this option, remember that there are two pilots, thus two alternate pilots would be needed. If we were to make alternate pilots would enough customers buy them? The price would probably be around $20 each.
It is probably possible to modify the pilots by removing a substantial area. Have not tried it yet, but I suspect that it would only work with large radius curves.
The whole idea is that the lead unit looks sharp and I think we accomplished that by including a complete pilot.
Sincerely, Hans
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Post by BAZman on Feb 9, 2015 12:25:24 GMT -5
Greg, that is almost as bad as the Lego AC-7 or the DDa40DX where the center of the loco *completely* clears the *opposite* side of the track !
But I understand AZL (and others) have to sell to the 80-90% market that runs on 'snap' track 195-220mm. For those of us 5% that run typical minimums of 12-15" (300-380mm), a pilot or body mount is perfect.
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Feb 10, 2015 16:49:16 GMT -5
Alternate Pilots (again) I did modify a pilot to see if it would work with a truck mounted coupler and the answer is "yes". Having said "yes", I would not recommend a curve radius less than 245 degrees. I would also file off a little bit more on the sides than I did and perhaps file of some of the coupler box edges as well. It should be possible to leave a strip at the bottom as well as the top. I just did a simple cut out to check the feasibility.  Sincerely, Hans Attachments:
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Post by trainboy4 on Feb 10, 2015 20:15:26 GMT -5
Alternate Pilots (again) I did modify a pilot to see if it would work with a truck mounted coupler and the answer is "yes". Having said "yes", I would not recommend a curve radius less than 245 degrees. I would also file off a little bit more on the sides than I did and perhaps file of some of the coupler box edges as well. It should be possible to leave a strip at the bottom as well as the top. I just did a simple cut out to check the feasibility. View AttachmentSincerely, Hans I would be happy if it came with something like that. F-units too. |
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Post by trainboy4 on Feb 10, 2015 20:16:22 GMT -5
I like the amtrak E-unit
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Post by amtk908 on May 1, 2015 9:26:36 GMT -5
So the front coupler with pilot is fixed and can't swivel? Hi Gerd, the front coupler on the pilot does swivel some, although it was designed to be the front pilot on the train, so I have not tested it yet with rolling stock or paired up on locomotives. I suspect it will work well, but we had a ton of other things to work on to get the release out, so I put secondary, non-design use testing at the back of the to do list. I'm away for the weekend, so maybe Rob K can do a quick test to see how well the pilot couples. If not, I'll look at it next week. Besides, we were thinking of you knowing that you would want something to improve! (kidding - sort of) As everyone from Team AZL has said several times, we're including both trucks, so plenty of parts for folks to experiment with. Best, -Rob(A) AZL I was curious if anyone has tried using the "dummy" coupler on the pilot either in an "elephant style" doubleheading situation or with the "dummy" coupler pilot against the train. I have not tried it for fear of damaging the pilot. Anyone have any experience with this yet? Thanks and regards, Cliff |
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Post by ztrack on May 1, 2015 11:39:06 GMT -5
Cliff in testing, we found that when another engine would couple up with the dummy coupler, it would eventually cause one of the locomotives to derail. There is just no give on the coupler so something has to give on the curves. If you have very broad curves (270mm?) and above, you may be good. But on the 220mm and below, it did not work for me.
Rob
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Post by amtk908 on May 1, 2015 13:58:32 GMT -5
Cliff in testing, we found that when another engine would couple up with the dummy coupler, it would eventually cause one of the locomotives to derail. There is just no give on the coupler so something has to give on the curves. If you have very broad curves (270mm?) and above, you may be good. But on the 220mm and below, it did not work for me. Rob Thanks Rob. I suspected that was probably the case but thought I'd ask before I fouled-up the pilot doing some of my own experimentation. Thanks again, Cliff |
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Joes
Fireman
Posts: 84
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Post by Joes on May 12, 2015 18:06:02 GMT -5
I do not own one of these locomotives yet. But the AZL dummy couplers for the snap in pilots on my GP7's and 30's sometimes swivel stiff out of the package. So if you gently remove the coupler from the pilot itself and use a diamond file (rounded) and gently enlarge the hole of the coupler that attaches it to that post on the pilot you can improve swivel dramatically and negotiate s curves on 195 with them easily once snapped back in place. Go slow, do not take too much off. If this pilot has them attached the way it might work.
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I was thinging that the pilot coupler was not functional.
