AZL Releases CHTT, BNSF, UP Coal Porters!

ztrack Nov 29, 2007

  1. david f.

    david f. TrainBoard Supporter

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    john, maybe you should try using something stronger than soft music and a hard glance.
    heh heh heh
    dave f.
     
  2. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    I have been looking over the different BN and BNSF Bethgon schemes out there, and this green BNSF one is my favorite, but I also want some of the BN ones that are black bottom with the green and silver ends, and some brown and silver BNSF ones. Repainting in eminent, and it would be a shame to strip the ponies, but hey, if you guys can come up with a trade plan, then you can have the NS ones. :D
     
  3. shamoo737

    shamoo737 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    David, I used industrial strenght water, and nothing. With the horses I used weak alcohol, and it came off just like that. Heh, heh, heh


     
  4. RobertAllbritton

    RobertAllbritton TrainBoard Member

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    A minor correction...

    Greetings from AZL master control!

    Rob Kluz gets it right 99% of the time, but this is an example of the 1% - We are now offering roller bearing trucks (in a 6 pack) that were, in fact, made by our new supplier in China. They were gauged correctly for MTL turnouts – the first batch of roller bearing trucks were produced *before* MTL released their turnouts – they worked fine on Marklin turnouts, but MTL changed the rules a bit on us.

    In addition, the new trucks roll better than the Ajin made trucks (the mold was reworked a bit) and the wheels are blackened. Rob has already pointed out that the plastic used for the coupler is of a higher grade, so the coupler has some extra strength to it.
    On a personal note, my favorite of the new Bethgons is the BNSF – the lettering is really well done! For more nonsense, see the new AZL website at www.americanzline.com

    We now return to your regularly scheduled programming already in progress….
     
  5. Fred Ladd

    Fred Ladd TrainBoard Member

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    I might have missed it. Are the markings - which end goes first towards the engine- specific?

    T.G.I.F. --- This Goes In Front

    Also understand they turn the cars over to unload-- I wonder if there are any pictures. whatz under the car, seems if it's a turn over???? also what is the "Thaw" stuff.
    I thought Dragon lady new everything but even she is at a loss for wordz--- keep it up!!
    Fred
    Great looking cars
     
  6. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    So close to 100%... so close...

    Well I stand corrected! The trucks I have here are from the new run. Ignore everything I have said! I do have these in stock and can ship them immediately. Ztrack price is $9.99 per set plus shipping and handling. These will be added to our online ordering. But if you like to order beforehand, email me at ztrack@aol.com. There are 6 trucks per package plus pins.

    Rob
     
  7. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    I just read over the AZL Manufacturers site, and I am really impressed with AZL's commitment to improvement and quality. It sound like the steps taken will bring both high quality and timely product deliveries to their already very beautiful looking product line!
    Three cheers for AZL! [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  8. Joe D'Amato

    Joe D'Amato TrainBoard Member

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    Switch Response

    "the first batch of roller bearing trucks were produced *before* MTL released their turnouts – they worked fine on Marklin turnouts, but MTL changed the rules a bit on us."

    Not sure if this is the place to get into a spitting match with you Rob, but the lack of engineering and quality control by Ajin (I suspect) has nothing to do with our switches. What "worked" on Marklin is not the standard to embrace because the problems with those switches are legendary. Once AZL wheel sets are brought into NMRA compliance they work pretty well actually, but that's out of my control. When the problems with your locomotives first arose, my first reaction was to let folks know that if they adjusted the wheel base to NMRA Standards they would work...and I think history has born that out. My first reaction was not point fingers and accuse you or Hans of a lack of Quality Control. I knew what the problem was and realized it was in some ways out of your control and not something you anticipated. We didn't design our product not to work with yours...we found the problem early on, thinking it was an isolated case, adjusted the wheel sets and they worked fine on our prototypes. As you can tell, I'm sort of over the finger pointing, you lacked quality control at the factory and were ill served by them, you took steps to correct it, and did and that bodes well for you.

    Blaming us over and over again doesn't make a false statement true. I think a better way of saying the above is: "the first batch of roller bearing trucks were produced *before* we found a credible manufacturer– they worked fine on Marklin turnouts, and now they will work on all turnouts designed to work with NMRA Standards and Practices currently available"

    Joe






     
  9. bambuko

    bambuko TrainBoard Member

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    yeah, definitely the wrong place :) to argue
    and perhaps instead of you guys squabbling here, you should be working with NMRA on improving the current standards?
    because as they are, you could produce something within standard limits and it might (or might not) work
    not to mention the fact that various equipment is not exactly interchangeable...
    Chris
     
  10. RobertAllbritton

    RobertAllbritton TrainBoard Member

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    No Spitting Zone

    Amen!

    Whoooa, there big fella!

    Yikes, looks like I hit a nerve *big time*!!!

    I’m not trying to get in a spitting contest with you. I’ve seen you spit. You’ll beat me. <grin>

    Let me try to defuse this whole silly thing: I never blamed you or MTL for the whole turnout fiasco, all I said is that we had produced the roller bearing trucks *before* you guys released your turnouts.

    That is a true statement.

    Both AZL and MTL seem to have been developing products simultaneously for two different standards. It was bad timing. That’s all ancient history – everything’s happy now. No blame, no finger pointing, just tryin’ to make some nice trains man!

    Peace,
    -Rob

    "Long live AZL! Long Live MTL! All Hail the Glorious Z scale Revolution! All Hail President Riddervold! All Hail President Smith!" (Hans makes me chant that every morning at dawn - kinda freaky if you ask me, but whatever floats his boat...)
     
  11. Joe D'Amato

    Joe D'Amato TrainBoard Member

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    Ok...Hugs and Kisses :eek:)

    Joe
     
  12. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    Dang, I was hoping for a steel cage death match to the end! :D I hope you guys know I'm teasing. :)
     
  13. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    Heck, we all know how to make it all run together. And faster :)
     
  14. RSmidt

    RSmidt TrainBoard Member

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    NS/BNSF trade


    Robert, I should be discussing with Bryan tomorrow. I think between the two of us we can cover both sets. Trade new BNSF for the NS.

    You don't have any Conrails that you want to part with as well do you? ;-)

    randy
     
  15. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    All I have are the NS, but a trade for the new BNSF is good for me. I can just mask part of the cars to paint them in the brown scheme, and save that logo! :D
     
  16. Kez

    Kez TrainBoard Member

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    I'll get your BNSF sets tomorrow (assuming RobA still has some!) and get them in the mail next week. You want 3 different 4-packs of all BNSF, correct?

    We'll take care of it. Just don't hurt the ponies........ ;)
     
  17. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    It don't matter the numbers, as I ordered all 12 already, and the next sets get the brown BNSF treatment with new numbers anyways! I just want to save the silver panel with the BNSF logo, as it will go a long way towards matching the sets. :D

    -Robert
     
  18. Fred Ladd

    Fred Ladd TrainBoard Member

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    Letz try again- is there a front and back to these cars. I noticed on the first three releases there seemed to be no special paint scheme to indicate a specific end. On the new releases one end dominates. also from all the trainboard fotos, is there a picture of turning the cars over as ROB A. mentions.
    an inquireing mind wantz to know.
    Fred
     
  19. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    Yes, there is a 'front' and 'back' to these car. The rotary coupler is the end that is painted on these car. The UP has a yellow band to designate the correct side. The CHTT has a red end. The BNSF is rather remarkable. It has a green end. In the end is a white band. On the sides, end and even on top of the car, printed in white, is the words 'rotary coupler end'. Also, the two sides of the car are very different. If you are running these in unit trains, keep the car is the same position.

     
  20. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    Though not exactly coal porters, I found this image that shows pretty well how unit trains are run on the BNSF. Note how all the green and brown ends are facing the same direction.

    [​IMG]

    Rob
     

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