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Post by markm on Aug 25, 2016 10:22:14 GMT -5
if the admin would create a locked thread entitled "Announced product status" where Hans and Rob would have a central location to post updates that wouldn't get lost in the forum?
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Post by DAZed on Aug 25, 2016 17:32:28 GMT -5
I think they would (should) be hesitant to do this. People would tend to refer that as gospel and AZL would get raked over the coals every time something didn't get here when someone thought it should. Or they would get blasted for no updates even when there were no updates to even provide. By embedding "micro-updates" in threads, they create a little bit of insulation from the "are we there yet" crowd. Just my thoughts on it.
I don't disagree that it would be nice from a budgeting standpoint. I just had to sit back and watch the ACe's fly out off the shelves since I didn't know they were coming so soon. (and knowing that Amtrak and ES44's were not far behind)
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Post by markm on Aug 25, 2016 18:25:56 GMT -5
I'm not suggesting AZL do anything that they're not already doing. I'm just suggesting that it be done in a fixed location free of the oohs and ahs and "are we there yet."
I have a pretty good idea that the Amtrak will be out 4Q16 and ES44 in 1Q17, but who would look under NTS 2016 to find that?
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Aug 26, 2016 16:39:05 GMT -5
It is actually a good point that we will take into consideration. Probably when we revamp the web site sometimes in the future. We will make sure that we have a Thread for all new products.
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Post by markm on Aug 26, 2016 18:05:41 GMT -5
Hans, I don't think you really need a thread. Really a sticky, locked post here in product announcements, just like Rob(A) did for customer support always on top. I know I can scan all the posts from you and Rob(A), but that takes time. As for a revamp of the forum that's up to you folks, as far as I'm concerned it's more than adequate, Although it does get a bit tiresome to see BNSF and it's predecessors on the banner all the time.  Mark |
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Post by Rob Albritton on Aug 26, 2016 18:22:01 GMT -5
I have a pretty good idea that the Amtrak will be out 4Q16 and ES44 in 1Q17 I think those are fair estimates. I have no better information at this time. |
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Post by markm on Aug 26, 2016 18:45:06 GMT -5
I have a pretty good idea that the Amtrak will be out 4Q16 and ES44 in 1Q17 I think those are fair estimates. I have no better information at this time. See we're nearly half way to the list already. If we add the remaining stuff that I watch for: ML-4000 probably before 2018 New run of heavyweights 1H2017 New run of RDC-1 1Q2017 New F3s 4Q2016 New run of GP30 3Q2016 Have I missed anything? Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with AZL (beyond owning too much) and I have absolutely no idea of their plans and schedules...only what I read in the forum. Mark |
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Post by Rob Albritton on Aug 27, 2016 2:23:03 GMT -5
If we add the remaining stuff that I watch for: ML-4000 probably before 2018 New run of heavyweights 1H2017 New run of RDC-1 1Q2017 New F3s 4Q2016 New run of GP30 3Q2016 Have I missed anything? Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with AZL (beyond owning too much) and I have absolutely no idea of their plans and schedules...only what I read in the forum. Wow. So much fun here. Stay tuned. List is fairly accurate, but dates are a bit off. |
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Post by shamoo737 on Aug 27, 2016 6:18:14 GMT -5
My estimate are whatever Rob A says, add six month. ;D
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Post by mgatdog on Aug 27, 2016 7:34:44 GMT -5
I have a pretty good idea that the Amtrak will be out 4Q16 and ES44 in 1Q17 I think those are fair estimates. I have no better information at this time. Bummer Was hoping for ES 44's to be released by nov and dec . Would made my Xmas better. Now all I have to look forward to is a thin wallet after Xmas and no Z loco's . Plus they will fly off the shelves like the UP Heritage units. The units that I want will be like the Katy and soon to be released D&RG grabbed up before you can blink an eye. Bob |
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Post by markm on Aug 27, 2016 10:54:01 GMT -5
If we add the remaining stuff that I watch for: ML-4000 probably before 2018 New run of heavyweights 1H2017 New run of RDC-1 1Q2017 New F3s 4Q2016 New run of GP30 3Q2016 Have I missed anything? Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with AZL (beyond owning too much) and I have absolutely no idea of their plans and schedules...only what I read in the forum. Wow. So much fun here. Stay tuned. List is fairly accurate, but dates are a bit off. "A good engineer is always a bit conservative...at least on paper." - Capt. Montgomery Scott I'm not stopping you from making any corrections.  I think those are fair estimates. I have no better information at this time. Bummer Was hoping for ES 44's to be released by nov and dec . Would made my Xmas better. Now all I have to look forward to is a thin wallet after Xmas and no Z loco's . Plus they will fly off the shelves like the UP Heritage units. The units that I want will be like the Katy and soon to be released D&RG grabbed up before you can blink an eye. Bob Some months back AZL announced they had flipped the schedule for Amtrak and the ES44. If you're afraid of losing out, you need to make friends with a train store/AZL dealer. I have a great relationship with mine: I tell them what I want and they see that I get it, sometimes at prices better than the internet. Mark |
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Post by fulingyu on Aug 27, 2016 13:30:18 GMT -5
If you're afraid of losing out, you need to make friends with a train store/AZL dealer. I have a great relationship with mine: I tell them what I want and they see that I get it, sometimes at prices better than the internet. Read more: azlforum.com/thread/723/nice#ixzz4IYiSgBmRMark Unfortunately, this doesn't always work out. I am registered with 3 different AZL dealers for the UP Heritage units that I really want. All of them have said in so many words "We'll see what we get from AZL." They had announced they were only making 50 of each heritage (70 for the SP) with the subscription for the complete set limited to 40 sets. That leaves only 10 of each heritage left. I recall Rob saying in the past that they sometimes hold some extras in reserve in case of defective units. If the "reserves" are in addition to the original 50, that still leaves only 10 to be spread amongst the 40+ authorized dealers on the official list. If the "reserves" are part of the original 50, that means less than 10 will be available for the dealers (and us). In either case, not every dealer will get some of the heritage units, in fact most dealers will not get ANY based on the numbers. So I can see why the dealers are hesitant to guarantee me the units I want. Oh, well. Still hoping AZL will do another run of the UP heritage units later so I have another chance to get my faves if I don't get lucky this time. |
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Post by mgatdog on Aug 27, 2016 14:17:01 GMT -5
Wish AZL would make another run on the best sellers of the UP heritage loco' s for Xmas . So for the rest of us who missed out on first 50 .
But don't know if that's possible.
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Post by markm on Aug 27, 2016 15:02:30 GMT -5
I'm not suggesting a local dealer is the be-all end-all, but part of being a dealer is being able to get the inside track from time-to-time. I wonder how many of those UP subscriptions went to dealers? I know my dealer was seriously considering one after the WP release.
As I've said before I know nothing about how AZL produces product, beyond that they use contract manufacturing, which is something I do know. Those manufacturers keep their production >95% capacity, and have a 6-9 month lead time, longer leading up to Christmas. So unless one is prepared to pay a 3-5X premium or Rob is married to the factory owner's sister I really can't see anything until middle of next year.
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Post by atw on Aug 27, 2016 16:12:21 GMT -5
Well, I don't mean to rub salt into your collective wounds, but fellas it's so easy - happiness is modelling a railroad called CSX But to get back to your idea, Mark - I too think it would be great to have a "tentative product announcement" thread which would be "closed" and hence wouldn't bounce off in all kinds of directions (like this one has too, in a way, I guess). And getting back to that topic - are a few more GP38-2s still in the pipeline somewhere down the road? The G&W was a great idea, and some dealers seem to have sold out of several road numbers and even a few railroads. But then given the constant flow of awesome new models I would be the first to understand if the GP38-2s got pushed back. cheerZ Adrian |
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