|
Post by davestubbs on May 18, 2015 17:00:31 GMT -5
Looks like the Marklin E8 are starting to show up. Have seen the SP, UP, and Pennsy just put up for sale in Germany on our fav bidding site. Not a fan of the fish hook coupler so I'll wait for AZL version but they really look nice. Nice that AZL could help marklin out with that release and update a old chassis design.
|
|
|
Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on May 19, 2015 5:10:18 GMT -5
We (AZL) have been holding back with the UP, SP and PRR release of our versions of the E8s until Marklin had theirs. The AZL UP, SP and PRR E8s/E9s will be released over the next couple of months with different road numbers. And the first F3A & F3B should appear as well. Sincerely, Hans (AZL)
|
|
|
Post by amtk908 on May 19, 2015 9:29:11 GMT -5
Hello Hans,
I was just looking on the "bidding site" and the photos of the Marklin SP E units that are being offered there do not appear to have the dynamic brake fan in the center of the carbody. Will the AZL released SP E Units have the correct shell with the dynamic brake fan?
Thanks and regards, Cliff
|
|
|
Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on May 19, 2015 11:33:59 GMT -5
No I am afraid we missed that one. Our photos were not good enough (at the time) and made a mistake. Sincerely, Hans (AZL)
|
|
|
Post by amtk908 on May 19, 2015 18:03:34 GMT -5
No I am afraid we missed that one. Our photos were not good enough (at the time) and made a mistake. Sincerely, Hans (AZL) Hello Hans, Thanks very much for the information. That is unfortunate as it is a significant visible feature of the SP E8 and E9s. Just a thought... Perhaps when you are developing your plans for a new locomotive, it would be helpful to you to contact the applicable railroad historical societies and/or individuals with professional knowledge of the prototype units. I can appreciate the necessity for keeping development plans "close to the vest." However, a number of manufacturers have utilized those resources quite successfully without compromising their development or marketing plans. Just a respectful suggestion for your future consideration. Thanks and regards, Cliff
|
|
|
Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on May 20, 2015 3:52:52 GMT -5
The photo we used as reference did not clearly show the fan, due to a lot of dirt build up on the black roof. I just took a look at the photo which is the SP 6018 (the only E8A). It looks like this locomotive did not have the Dynamic Brake fan. What sealed the fate, was that the same SP locomotive from another manufacturer did not included the dynamic brake. Not going to do this mistake again! Sincerely, Hans (AZL)
|
|
|
Post by gerd on May 20, 2015 6:19:08 GMT -5
Unfortunately prototype research and the review process are one of the biggest weaknesses of many of the model train manufacturers or brands, even for companies with claim high prototypical accuracy. Especially, as Cliff mentioned, free advise from historical societies is available, because "paid" advise in what ever form is not on their agenda. Of course copying from other manufacturers and or other gauges are "in", saves "research" and as a bonus you copy the errors for free. Lots of errors could be avoided just by choosing a different road#... In this case the dynamic brake fan between the two stacks is evident on many photos, but you have to use the secret research tool: GOOGLE
|
|
|
Post by amtk908 on May 20, 2015 14:54:14 GMT -5
The photo we used as reference did not clearly show the fan, due to a lot of dirt build up on the black roof. I just took a look at the photo which is the SP 6018 (the only E8A). It looks like this locomotive did not have the Dynamic Brake fan. What sealed the fate, was that the same SP locomotive from another manufacturer did not included the dynamic brake. Not going to do this mistake again! Sincerely, Hans (AZL) Hello Hans, I understand. The explanation was not necessary but it is appreciated and interesting to know. Thanks again! My regards, Cliff
|
|
|
Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on May 20, 2015 16:09:07 GMT -5
SP E8A 6018 seems to be the culprit! The only E8A SP had and was one of the GM demonstrator E8s.
|
|
|
Post by amtk908 on May 20, 2015 20:05:44 GMT -5
SP E8A 6018 seems to be the culprit! The only E8A SP had and was one of the GM demonstrator E8s. Hi Hans, Just a point of correction. Based upon a number of sources and reference works, it appears that SP 6018 was not the EMD demonstrator 952 (SP assigned number 5600A while demonstrating on the SP). Demonstrator 952 was apparently sold to the Rock Island becoming their 643 in 1950. In November 1948, SP ordered 28 E8 units, seven sets of A-B-B-A. The order was placed even before the first E8 demonstrator actually existed. EMD was jammed-up with orders for various locomotive classes and were slow to ramp-up production of E8s and could not deliver to meet SP's desired delivery timeframe. In 1949 SP reduced their order for E8s from 28 to 1. SP 6018 was finally built new in 1950, the only unit in the order. All other EMD E Units on the SP were E9s and there were only 9 of those. SP 6018 went to GE as a trade-in credit in October 1967. Regardless, it is a shame that you only had the one photo resource as SP E8 6018 and all SP E9s were definitely equipped with Dynamic Brake. On a related note... I hate to be the bearer of more bad news but your Milwaukee Road E9s also are missing the Dynamic Brake fan. The Milwaukee E9s were all equipped with Dynamic Brake. They were ordered in 1955 to meet the pool power requirements when the UP City trains and the Challenger were moved over to operate on the MILW from the C&NW between Omaha and Chicago. The MILW units were ordered and built to UP specifications, which included Dynamic Brake. They were delivered in A-B-A configuration as MILW 200 ABC through 205 ABC and renumbered in 1959 to MILW 30 ABC through 35 ABC. Most flowed-over to Amtrak with, I believe, one unit 33C being reconfigured by MILW to shaft driven HEP for their commuter services. Perhaps at some point in the future if you rerun the SP and MILW units, you can use the same shell that you are using for the UP units. The few photos that I have seen of your forthcoming UP E units seem to have the Dynamic Brake fan. My regards, Cliff .
|
|
pmx
New Member
Posts: 40
|
Post by pmx on May 21, 2015 18:43:32 GMT -5
On a related note... I hate to be the bearer of more bad news but your Milwaukee Road E9s also are missing the Dynamic Brake fan... Perhaps at some point in the future if you rerun the SP and MILW units, you can use the same shell that you are using for the UP units. The few photos that I have seen of your forthcoming UP E units seem to have the Dynamic Brake fan. Not the first time that this has been mentioned AZL March 2015 New Items Part 2Sweet, Milwaukee Road A-B-A sets! Now if they only had the Dynamic Brake unit like their prototypes and as seen on the AZL UP E8/9 during NTS. Maybe the DB units will be available as spare parts.
|
|
|
Post by amtk908 on May 22, 2015 2:19:14 GMT -5
Thanks for pointing it out PMX. Sorry, had missed that post entirely. I certainly didn't intend to belabor a point. Regards, Cliff
|
|
|
Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on May 23, 2015 4:44:19 GMT -5
Hi Cliff, You got me (again), but only half way. Milwaukee E9 37A-B-C - 39 A-B-C did not have the Dynamic Brake. And Amtrak E9A 434 (former Milwaukee 32A) does not have it either. Think the Dynamic Brake was removed for one reason on this engine. So we should have used different road numbers, but this one slipped under the radar. As for spare parts, we can easily supply the Dynamic Brake, but I tried to remove a roof panel on one of our prototypes and it is glued in strong. Afraid a removal of the roof panel might damage the locomotive body, but we will make the part available later. Sincerely, Hans (AZL)
|
|
|
Post by amtk908 on May 23, 2015 6:11:44 GMT -5
Hi Cliff, You got me (again), but only half way. Milwaukee E9 37A-B-C - 39 A-B-C did not have the Dynamic Brake. And Amtrak E9A 434 (former Milwaukee 32A) does not have it either. Think the Dynamic Brake was removed for one reason on this engine. So we should have used different road numbers, but this one slipped under the radar. As for spare parts, we can easily supply the Dynamic Brake, but I tried to remove a roof panel on one of our prototypes and it is glued in strong. Afraid a removal of the roof panel might damage the locomotive body, but we will make the part available later. Sincerely, Hans (AZL) Hello Hans, You are correct, MILW 36 A-C through 38 A-C, they were A Units only no B Units, did not have dynamic brake. They also did not have steam generators but had a Cummins/Marathon 480V HEP set to supply hotel power. If you had used that road number series, you then would have the incorrect rear carbody hatch where the steam generator intake and exhaust are located and there were no B Units in that number series. In my opinion, you made the better choice to release the road numbers that you did. MILW 36 A-C through 38 A-C were built in April 1961 specifically for commuter service to operate with the new Budd galley cars. All of these units, plus the 33C mentioned earlier, flowed-over to the North Suburban Mass Transit District the forerunner of the RTA and METRA. Amtrak 434 was indeed ex-MILW 32A ex 202A. According to my documents though it shows as coming over dynamic equipped. The dynamic brake apparatus appears to have been removed in April 1974 when the unit was rebuilt as the September 1974 documentation shows it as a non-dynamic equipped unit. It appears that post 04/1974 would be correct for lack of a dynamic brake fan on AMTK 434. Sorry again if it appears that I am picking-nits; that is not my intention. I am just a bit of a details guy when it comes to diesel-electric locomotives and, perhaps, too much of a stickler for historical roster accuracy. When the parts become available, I may take a crack at adding the fan to an SP unit. They are great Z Scale models and thanks again for producing them! My regards, Cliff
|
|
|
Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on May 23, 2015 7:42:10 GMT -5
We will clearly look twice when we do not have good photos for reference. For info our E8s and E9s are set up to be made with the following options: 1. Different Airhorns and Airhorn location 2. With and without Dynamic Brake 3. With or without standard Steam Generators 4. One or two Headlights 5. Freight or Passenger Pilots 6. Cooling Shields (some UP and Amtrak engines have it) Other options will not be offered at this time. Sincerely, Hans
|
|