Ztrack Now Accepting Challenger Reservations

ztrack Mar 10, 2010

  1. Garth-H

    Garth-H TrainBoard Supporter

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    For those of us who can not afford to purchase such a beast as one of these Beautiful Challengers, what is the beef? I certainly can't afford one. Does it really matter what they look like if you can not afford to buy one. You are being saved from the off chance that you might like the look of one and be tempted to sacrifice the family to possess one. This way those with the discretionary income can reserve what is available and they with reason can complain if they don't like something.

    I hear your pain and frustration but it doesn't change anything. This is brass where the rules are different. You can own ten D51's for the cost of this mother and I can afford a few of them and by the time I but two of them together I probably have the same pulling power.

    I got my asbestos suit on!!

    cheerz Garth
     
  2. HOexplorer

    HOexplorer TrainBoard Supporter

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    Garth, Many good points. No one wants one of these locos more than me. I have the layout for it, no curves less than 490mm or 17.5 inches. Alas, I haven't the funds for one. I don't begrudge AZL for the price. I'm just sorry I can't get one. Next time I would like to see a $500 Consolidation or Praire. Cheers, Jim CCRR
     
  3. Loren

    Loren TrainBoard Supporter

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    Jim,
    Once again I must point out the error of your thinking....
    You stated no one wanted a Challenger more than you do......that's not true.

    I want one twice as much as you do........so there !!

    Hey, why don't we go in on one together. I'll chip in half and you half.
    We'll work out a 10 year contract deal and I'll run it and show it for the first five years and then you can have it the second five years.

    Sound like a great deal?

    Now remember, it isn't polite to hit a man wearing glasses :eek:)
     
  4. Garth-H

    Garth-H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Want is a mute point when the deal is can not afford. I guess in this age of the I want I want the longing is normal.

    dream on
    cheerz
    Garth
     
  5. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    haha! I am one of those who could afford one, but it's just not the way I want it. I want an NP Challanger. That means a single stack Challenger, with a longer firebox and smokebox. With all the modifications I would need to do, It would end up looking like one of my other Marklin hacks.

    So I bought 7 Tenshodo Mikes instead, and hopefully I will be able to hack at least one of them into a convincing NP 0-8-0. :D
     
  6. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    For me it's quite the same... I was able a few years ago to afford a GS4 which is a pretty nice loco, but my rough track profile (14" radius curves, 3% grades) is not very convenient for it. Where my diesels and following trains swallow turnouts flawlessly I have some derailments here and there with my GS4. Maybe the front truck is too loose, I don't know. But I don't want to spend $ 1500 or 1600 for an articulated that will be possibly a lil' bit upset with my track profile. Even if UP #3985 would be quite at home on a branchline running from Cadiz Junction to Reno, at least not far from home.

    But a few days ago I was not far from clicking on the "Process" button when wandering on the Tenshodo D51 page of Z Track Center.....:mwacko::mwink: Not sure that the next time I'll go there I won't give in....:perr:

    Dom
     
  7. DSZ&N

    DSZ&N TrainBoard Member

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    While I agree more pictures would be nice I'm really thankful to get the heads up that they will soon be here. It is just a reservation and gives me some time to get the money together. I can understand the excitment of wanting to share with us whats comming and posting whatever they could. I'm sure as pictures become avalible they will be posted and all questions will be answered.
     
  8. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    Like the cab forward and the GS4, these are works of art. In brass, in Z no less. Having seen them in person they truely look fabulous. Brass has always been expensive. But you get what you pay for. Look, I know that my moguls from MT are brass and were about $500 bucks. I treasure mine. They are without a doubt the best thing I have in Z. I can tear them down, clean the brushes, the motor, wheels, and reassemble lubed up in no time. I know them that well. If I have company, they are riding the rails. What I am saying is this, brass in not for everybody nor was it intended to be. If you see that one dream loco out there that you want in brass, you find a way to get it. I don't know how else to say it other than to hold it, feel it, see it, and run it in person is not like anything else. If I was told to start over with Z I could give up everything....except my brass moguls. I hope this makes sense. :D
     
  9. HoboTim

    HoboTim TrainBoard Supporter

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    If......

    If.........

    If AZL was releasing one of Santa Fe's big behemoths, then I would have reserved mine along time ago. I doubt it would cost as much as one of these Challenger's, but I could be wrong.

    Price for me, when working, is no big deal. One of these Challenger's with rollingstock would be covered in one paycheck with gas and groceries as extra's, but my forte is not in the collecting of UP steam locomotives!!! Wow Tim, your job must......... No, my job pays for the medical that my wife needs and leaves little to play with (I wish I had more Z). Even if I desired one of these Challenger's I wouldn't be able to afford it. At times I feel as though life has dealt me a bad hand. I want to turn in my cards and see what the next hand looks like, but the next might be worse.

    As far as these Challenger's, I think they look wonderful. The detail is awesome. Thank GOD that Santa Fe didn't have any or I would be drooling over this release knowing I couldn't have one!!! Best that it is not AT&SF!

    AZL, you have a great looking steamer there. Simply Wonderful!

    Hobo Tim

    p.s. AZL, just asking, but is there any AT&SF steamers in your future?
     
  10. minzemaennchen

    minzemaennchen TrainBoard Member

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    The good news for all guys can't afford this loco: they will be availble for years to come through dealers, look at GS and Cab Forward, too little Z heads with too many $$$.
    I just wait, got my GS-3 for 1/2 price and Ebay, just wait for the day....
     
  11. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    Photos?

    [​IMG]

    UP Gray Version

    [​IMG]

    Rio Grande

    Additional images will be posted as we receive the samples.

    Rob
     
  12. Rio Grande

    Rio Grande TrainBoard Member

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    The picture of the Rio Grande is making it hard for me to resist, but there is so much more coming this year (hopefully) I want to buy.
    Mattias
     
  13. zfuture

    zfuture TrainBoard Member

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    Challenger pulling power

    Hi,
    We did a quick test with freight cars. Sorry, but we only had 27 cars to pull at the time and we do not know how many cars the Challenger will pull. It had no problem with the 27. Rob, please correct me if I am wrong.
     
  14. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    Hans, you are absolutely right. I tested 27 cars on the unfinished portion of my layout. The Challenger pulled these admirably through 220mm curves and above. Also through numerous Marklin turnouts. I purposefully choose some of our heavier cars for test. The train consisted of 12 ACF 3-Bays, 8 60' high-cubes and 7 23,000 gallon funnel flow tank cars. I definitely think the Challenger will be able to handle more cars, especially with the right track conditions. Note, I ran three Challengers with the same result.

    Rob
     
  15. DSZ&N

    DSZ&N TrainBoard Member

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    Man, Rob gets to have all the fun:tb-wink:
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 25, 2010
  16. Loren

    Loren TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yeah, that may be true to some extent, but just think of the terrible withdrawal tremors he experiences each time he has to put them away..... that's definitely no fun.

    I just hope he gets over his drooling problem before he tests the one I want to get :eek:)
     
  17. DSZ&N

    DSZ&N TrainBoard Member

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    Would the UP passenger cars from MTL be
    appropriate to use with the grayhound??
     
  18. zfuture

    zfuture TrainBoard Member

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    UP

    Hi,
    They are the only UP cars out there together with the Marsilius coaches and I would use any those for a passenger consist. Today UP with the 3985 (black livery) is occasionally pulling the UP business cars.
     
  19. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    One good point for those purchasing the oil tender version, roadnumber 3985. Well, I won't ruin the surprise, but let's just say you have some real options for freight cars to run behind the locomotive. Enjoy the video!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhgHrDbN4EU

    Rob
     
  20. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    Okay Loren is so right. I have been drooling over these.

    Here is one detail that I have to share. There is a small package of spare parts included with the locomotive. One was an oddly shaped peice of plastic. I soon realized that is was a coal load. Yes, the tenders are open, and the coal load is a separate piece, but why? That is easy to see the interior detailing of the tender... including the cork screw coal loading mechanism! How cool is that!

    Rob
     

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