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AC-12
Apr 27, 2015 7:54:02 GMT -5
Post by markm on Apr 27, 2015 7:54:02 GMT -5
Well, I finally broke down a got me a unit. Detail is fantastic and since I've spent a good deal of time with the prototype in Sacramento, I'd think I know. I'm impressed with the cab detail and that it is so visible considering the scale. A bit disappointed there's no backup light, but I guess in the real world AC-12 didn't go backwards much.
My unit runs reasonably well right out of the box on a 220mm oval. I haven't had time to give it a proper break-in. While it runs well on the 220mm curve, it really looks silly.
Now a question. My unit came with a bag of screws. Do these have a specific purpose or are they spares? I'm not accustomed to having extra screws until after I overhaul a loco.
Mark
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AC-12
Apr 27, 2015 11:58:54 GMT -5
smr likes this
Post by ztrack on Apr 27, 2015 11:58:54 GMT -5
Mark congratulations on the new AC12! I am with you that broader curves were do look better with this locomotive. The screws are spares for the 'just in case' scenario.
Rob
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AC-12
Apr 27, 2015 20:26:35 GMT -5
smr likes this
Post by markm on Apr 27, 2015 20:26:35 GMT -5
Rob, Thanks. I just wanted to confirm there wasn't an AZL Easter egg I was missing. Since we've been doing prototype images, here's what I'm interested in doing with the AC-12: www.elivermore.com/photos/Hist_lvr_railroad5.htm This track was the extension of the Transcontinental railroad from Sacramento into the SF bay area. The track at the far left is the WP/UP line. The road to the right and above the station is the original Lincoln Highway route into the Bay Area. I'd also like to do the Overland passenger train which used the AC-12s over Donner Pass, but I need a couple of SP/UP front-end cars and a diner in two-tone grey (hint, hint). Mark
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AC-12
Apr 28, 2015 0:14:56 GMT -5
Post by bloodynose on Apr 28, 2015 0:14:56 GMT -5
Well, I finally broke down a got me a unit. Detail is fantastic and since I've spent a good deal of time with the prototype in Sacramento, I'd think I know. I'm impressed with the cab detail and that it is so visible considering the scale. A bit disappointed there's no backup light, but I guess in the real world AC-12 didn't go backwards much. My unit runs reasonably well right out of the box on a 220mm oval. I haven't had time to give it a proper break-in. While it runs well on the 220mm curve, it really looks silly. Now a question. My unit came with a bag of screws. Do these have a specific purpose or are they spares? I'm not accustomed to having extra screws until after I overhaul a loco. Mark Mark,
At first I rejected the thought of owning one of these ugly ducklings, I wanted something more glamorous like a GS-4. But after I did some research about the cab forwards that were used pretty much exclusively by SP (thanks to you giving me bits of info about them triggering more interest) and for good reason, I am glad that I purchased one of these very limited z scale models of a very unique machine that was almost completely removed from history except for photographic record. If it weren't for the 4294 that is preserved in the museum at Sacramento there would be no physical evidence of their existence! I will get out there some time soon to put my hand on it! I am impressed with my AZL AC-12 #4294! It looks really good with SP heavyweights in tow and yes the mallet articulated design does cause it to look a little silly on small radius (220mm) curves! I am pleased with my purchase and considering another.
Mark
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AC-12
May 8, 2015 4:41:50 GMT -5
Post by charlie on May 8, 2015 4:41:50 GMT -5
Hello, I also felt for these loc' after hesitating almost 4years. I don't remember having spare screws in the box! I'm such in admiration with this one, beautiful, amazing details, wow! I noticed there is no power pick up on the tender, I hope it runs smoothly! Unfortunately I haven't tried it yet, the layout is not yet under construction... Curves will be 17" and above in order to run Challenger, BB and AC12!! so excited! Is it fine pulling all the heavyweights? Charlie
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AC-12
May 8, 2015 11:22:39 GMT -5
Post by markm on May 8, 2015 11:22:39 GMT -5
Charlie, As I recall, the Challenger & BB will work well with 245-270mm (about 10"). A class 1 prototype railroad would scale down to 400mm (15") so 17" should look and operate great. I haven't had the time to put my AC through it's paces, but right out of the box, mine ran smoothly after about 5 minutes of operation on a 220mm oval. I'm building a 270mm oval now and am anxious to see the AC12 perform on that this weekend. The AC-12 was used for passenger service on the SP: the Overland and at least occasionally for the Sunset Limited into LA. The Challengers in part pulled the passenger train of the same name, although the Challenger car design was different from the AZL heavyweights. I'm not aware of any passenger service for the BB.
Mark
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AC-12
May 9, 2015 14:31:43 GMT -5
Post by charlie on May 9, 2015 14:31:43 GMT -5
Mark, thanks for your reply. I guess it will run fine as well, as all my AZL loco did so far About pulling the heavyweights, I meant if the AC-12 was strong enough to pull them all ! But your answer also deals with informations I was looking for! Unfortunately I'm not sure there is still some "SP-sunset limited heavyweights"available for sale! Will have to find another type of convey. Charlie
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AC-12
May 9, 2015 19:23:11 GMT -5
Post by markm on May 9, 2015 19:23:11 GMT -5
Charlie, Remember the AC-12 is an older production run and have been sitting for a while. They will need a little more time for break-in than the newer AZL locos. I've pulled the entire Sunset Limited set with a Mikado with no problems. Haven't done the AC-12 yet. Check out this discussion on the heavyweights: www.azlforum.com/thread/419/heavyweight-weightsThe cars are heavy, but it seems that you can remove the weights from the cars and they still run well. While it does look like the Sunset Limited set may be sold out, appropriate cars in the SP Olive Green are still available. BTW: the Overland was two-tone grey. Mark
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AC-12
May 11, 2015 23:59:38 GMT -5
Post by bloodynose on May 11, 2015 23:59:38 GMT -5
Mark, thanks for your reply. I guess it will run fine as well, as all my AZL loco did so far About pulling the heavyweights, I meant if the AC-12 was strong enough to pull them all ! But your answer also deals with informations I was looking for! Unfortunately I'm not sure there is still some "SP-sunset limited heavyweights"available for sale! Will have to find another type of convey. Charlie Charlie, Like you, my layout is under construction and right now I keep a test track active for testing new purchases. My test track resembles an hour glass instead of a figure 8 and is made up of 220mm radius curves. When I was planning my layout I had at one time a figure 8 inside of a large oval with switches and discovered that the Rokuhan 90 deg. cross was causing more problems than any other track intersection so now my test track does not have a cross (I have never seen a cross on a real railroad anyways) and I am planning to use bridges instead of crossings. My AC-12 looks really good pulling the SP heavyweights and although it really isn't broken in yet, it was pulling 5 of them like they weren't there! My layout is going to be 3 levels with several bridges and a few switches to accommodate parallel trackage and connections to future modules. As markm said you can always reduce the amount of weight in the cars and I will probably do that with mine as my layout will have up to 2 percent grades. Another thing to point out is that the Sunset Limited heavyweight set that AZL offered that is now sold out was modeled on cars from the 1920's to 1930's which was before the AC-12 went into service. AZL did build and I believe are still available as singles cars that were from the same ERA as the AC-12. Go here to see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_Limited
And some are still some available: www.zscalemonster.com/azl/71000/70004.htm
Mark
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AC-12
May 12, 2015 14:08:28 GMT -5
Post by markm on May 12, 2015 14:08:28 GMT -5
Yeah, AC's and heavyweights together are a very limited era: 1944-1948 for the most part. Went looking for the image I have of what I think is an AC-12 with the Sunset Limited and of course I can't find it when I want it. But I did find that AC-11s and AC-12s were also used for the heavyweight Owl at least in the 1944-45 era. Mark, Sounds like a great layout design. You've never seen a 90 degree crossing on the prototypes, you poor unfortunate. Here's a small sample on the SP from my area: Herald, CA: SP Ione branch crossed the WP/UP line (crossing recently removed) Stockton, CA: Santa Fe crosses SP & WP lines (search for Stockton Tower and Ken Rattenne for a layout) www.rattenne.com/Gallery/SJ_Gallery/ATK232_StocktonTower_4-20-80.htm Lathrop, CA: SP crosses WP/UP just south of the Army supply depot. Niles, CA: WP & SP crossing into Niles Canyon (search Niles Tower) In S scale as a kid, I liked doing a folded figure-8, not at all prototypical but very interesting action. Mark
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Post by smr on Jun 6, 2015 17:49:27 GMT -5
Hi Mark, You are absolutely right with the OWL. During heavy periods, the OWL regularly ran even with two cab-forwards. Foto shows the OWL dropping down Soledad Canyon near Russ in the later years of steam operation. Comment of the picture author Don Sims: "Where else but on the San Joaquin Division Mountain District of the Southern Pacific could one witness the spectacle of two sixteen-drivered articulateds being routinely double-headed across an entire district on a passenger run?" Looking at this means, we have to buy a second one ;-) !! All the best, Sven
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AC-12
Jun 7, 2015 0:44:25 GMT -5
Post by bloodynose on Jun 7, 2015 0:44:25 GMT -5
Sven,
Wow very impressive! You may cost me another $1300!
Mark
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AC-12
Jun 7, 2015 5:46:31 GMT -5
Post by smr on Jun 7, 2015 5:46:31 GMT -5
In addition, Cab Forwards were standard power for such trains as the Overland Limited (Trains # 26 and 27) and the Gold Coast Commonly referred to as the "Cold Roast" between Roseville and Sparks. // Especially the Overland Limited is of interest to us AZL fans because it can be pulled by a challenger, too, and the two tone greys are available (without the lettering of course). // All cars are heavyweight cars of the Union Pacific, Southern Pacific and Chicago & North Western railroads. All cars feature 6 wheel trucks. They are all painted in the two tone grey Overland scheme: black roof, light grey letterboard with white lettering, thin white line between letterboard and windowband, dark grey windowband, thin white line between windowband and lower carbody, light grey lower carbody, black trucks. During that time it was still a steam powered train, being pulled by H class 4-8-4´s on the C&NW from Chicago to Omaha, FEF class 4-8-4´s or Challenger 4-6-6-4´s on the UP from Omaha to Ogden and AC (mostly AC-10 to AC-12) class Cab Forward 4-8-8-2´s from Ogden to Oakland on the SP. From 1947 to 1950 the train was gradually streamlined and the streamliner cars were also painted into that two tone grey Overland scheme to match. Starting in 1952, the Overland scheme was abandoned and the cars (UP as well as SP and C&NW) were painted into the classic Union Pacific Armor Yellow and light grey with red stripes. In 1955 Southern Pacific added dome lounge cars between Oakland and Ogden to the consist, painted into UP yellow as well. As far as I know the train was discontinued in 1964. Hope this information helps you to justify your investment further. ;-)
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AC-12
Jun 7, 2015 6:04:48 GMT -5
Post by charlie on Jun 7, 2015 6:04:48 GMT -5
Hi guys, thanks for these interesting details and the nice pictures. My layout is planned to be on the 1945-1955 era, with all these big steams, some F3, GP7 and maybe E8, all from UP, SP, WP and D&RGW and maybe ATSF. It seems that we can mix up companies for theses passenger conveys, good to read that I'm quite interested in passenger cars from DRGW, only one baggage car is out at the moment from AZL apparently a complete set soon will see!
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AC-12
Jun 7, 2015 13:38:53 GMT -5
Post by smr on Jun 7, 2015 13:38:53 GMT -5
Hi Charlie, If you look at the DRGW train consists, e.g. the Prospector, then all the passenger cars are lightweight pullman cars, I could`t find any heavyweights..... In the meanwhile, I help myself and use the baggage car as interface to the California Zephyr from Märklin. It is quite prototypically I guess (see picture by Donald Beneke). Best regards, Sven
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