NEW FROM AZL FOR JULY! American Z Line is excited to announce the release of Bethgon Coal Porters. This is AZL's first injection molded freight car release. The initial roadname is Norfolk Southern. The cars come four to a package. Three sets are available. Each set has cars with different roadnumbers. The cars come with AZL's roller bearing trucks with metal wheels and AZL couplers. AZL couplers are compatible with MTL's couplers. The wheels are blackened. An imitation coal load is included. The sets are: 9011-1 Set 1. Roadnumbers: 10180, 10195, 10210, 10277 9011-2 Set 2. Roadnumbers: 10181, 10196, 10211, 10275 9011-3 Set 3. Roadnumbers: 10182, 10198, 10209, 10272 MSRP is $119.00. Ztrack Magazine subscribers are entitled to purchase direct. Ztrack Magazine price is $95.00 per set. Not a Ztrack subscriber? Please contact your authorized AZL dealer to order. Ztrack will have online ordering available late next week. You can order direct via email; ztrack@aol.com. Shipping is to commence after July 4th. Rob Kluz Note: AZL roller bearing trucks used in this release were developed and delivered prior to the release of MTL's turnouts. For this reason, customers may experience the cars riding up on the frog of the turnout. In testing, derailments did not occur. At a later date, AZL does plan on offering roller bearing trucks with wheel gauging that accommodates MTL's turnout tolerances.
Rob, Do you have them in your hands?? Please say yes, and then reserve me about 60 please. OK, not really 60, but at least a few. We need to talk.
I need 3 sets to strip down, so pick the most popular East Coast road name for me! This will be doing all you East Coast guys a favor by keeping the resale prices up!
Bryan, I do have a set right here in front of me! The bulk of the sets should be here Tuesday of next week. I will start processing orders as soon as the they arrive. I anticiapte shipping to customers Thursday. They are sweat! And yes, I can put 60 aside! Hmmm CSX in August. Now that would be interesting Rob
The metal wheels are close to MTL, but they are not an exact replacement for MTL. I have not tried, but modification to the trucks may allow you to use AZL wheels with MTL trucks. No guarantees though. Rob
More Modern Rollingstock!!! Now this is what I am always talking about!!!! Someone has seen the light!!!! Modern!!! Modern Rollingstock coming your way!!!!!! I am with you Jurg, awaiting those BNSF Coalporters!!!!! 2007 is indeed a good year for "Z"!!! When those Autoracks, 60' TBOX, and 3 bay Centerflow Covered Hoppers get here we will really be celebrating!!!!!! Way to go AZL!!! Hobo Tim lane: FYI; For those of you who do not know, or have not heard in quite some time, I am a strong advocate for Modern Rollingstock to be produced in Z scale. Call me a Z scale Modern Lobbyist!!!
I was just wondering if these aren't the same wheel guage as MTL wheelsets, will I have trouble with fast track turnouts? If so, can these trucks be replaced by MTL trucks until AZL releases the new wheelsets.
AZL vs MTL Truck Sets From what I recall Rob Kluz saying is the AZL trucks are compatible and can be interchanged, but the wheel sets are of a slightly different size and they are not interchange-able. You can swap the trucks but you can't swap the wheels. --------- On another note, I recall the BNSF coalporters are going to be the silver with green ends. Those are great!!! But, I might want to get a few to strip and change the BNSF paint scheme to perhaps some of the Newer BNSF Swoosh Scheme!!! I am contemplating getting some of the LESS POPULAR roadnames, stripping them and re-painting/decaling!! Perhaps this NS or the soon to be released CSX would be excellent choices for this magnificent project!!! :teeth: Woo Hoo!!!!!! That's Entertainment!!!! Hobo Tim
This is a first... usually when someone brings out a Coalporter for NS, they invariably use some of the Trinity Aluminator numbers on them... in this case every number is... not a one is in the 10300-10630 range that is correct for NS' G87s.
