The SW1500 was announced at the N scale Convention in Milwaukee. There wouldn't be any Z scale announced. Jason
That is correct, because it was already announced over a year ago at the Nation Z scale convention! Where is the Z switcher? I wonder which one will show up first.....
Speaking of SW1500, does anyone know whats going on with the SeaRails switcher? I think it started as some sort of SW switcher, became an SW1500 (which is weird to compete with MTL) and now says its an NW2, but with a test shell that is clearly a SW1500.
We have order couple of NW2 from Huet, but it takes about a year to make, so we are waiting. Also, I am one of the lucky ones to get a Gerd MP15.
Well the one nice thing is the have all the CAD work done (for the N) That means, they just need to tweak it to fit a new smaller chassis (and trucks), which they don't really have. So maybe . . . They lost the E8 due to the Sanda Kan closure. While the GP35 went smoothly thru, the SD40 did not. Since they are no longer producing them, I would guess to say that this will all be US produced based on their past bad experiences over there. It is pretty obvious they are going to be resource limited, producing all kinds of new themed products that knowingly sell better than our smaller market. But at least they got the CAD work done (for the N) !
It doesn't look like a SW1500 nor a NW2. The can has some SW1500 features but with windows that are too small, the hood looks like more like an NW2. Will see one day what the final result really is
Jeff, The drawing on the Micro Trains web site was actually done by the rail fan site Trainiax. Here are the two pages: http://trainiax.net/drawings/36-emd/sw1500/36-emd-sw1500-mp-ph3b.gif http://www.micro-trains.com/cs-N_14xx_SW1500.php so I far that the CAD work is not complete yet for N or Z (unless you have another source of information - which is entirely possible knowing your good connections!) Best -Rob(A)
Or perhaps MTL, having learned its lesson on the N Scale Bay Window Caboose, is making sure that they don't provide sufficient information to competitors to allow said competitors to try to beat them to market... ?!? If so, I'd call that a sound business practice.
If these were original works, or proprietary products I would agree. But in this case, we are all just trying to take a prototype and shrink it down to scale. We have released tons of CAD images of pre-production images in the past with no fear of duplication because we don't show the inner workings or mold designs. If you are worried about competitors getting ahead, just don't announce too far in advance. It takes a year or more to produce anything. But that's just my 2 cents. -Rob(A)
the real reason for the delay pf the Z SW1500 is that they are having issues finding a reliable motor small enough to fit into a switcher
I have a problem with that. You would think they would have that solve before they announce it. I wonder what kind of motors they would use when they announce it. To me, the only real solution is to use a motor made to their specification, but its that practical to do when taking the consideration of the cost. If AZL got a company to make a motor for them, I don't see why MTL cant do the same. I get the feeling MTL is doing too much of their business inside of the box. I got into this scale when MTL is my real option, and I hope they figure it out. I have not bought anything from MTL for a while and that's not because I am trying. I can only use so many boxcars.
Agreed, causes dissatisfaction for Z scalers who have to wait for everything but especially when the same locomotive is announced to the next scale up WITH a date. No mention of the same promised loco for those in Z who wait, and wait.... Agreed, and how many industries, besides model railroading of course, make promises with a specific new product so far in advance when they don't even have the the major function of said product figured out, let alone designed and sent to production? It will surprise me for sure if the N scalers see a DCC ready Switcher from MTL by spring of 2014.
Well that's a very clever way to try cover yourself but nobody has said it's going to be DCC ready. Jason
True, not here in this Z thread. But in another N scale forum a convention attendee posted this: "Speaking with MTL Rep at the convention Was told unit was DCC ready and a Digitrax DZxxxx decoder was mentioned as the one that fits. Wish I would of wrote down the Digitrax number." Because he did not say it on this forum I will not identify him, in fact don't even know him. And why would I feel the need to cover myself when in fact someone did say MTL claimed it would be DCC ready. I hope MTL comes through for the N guys, I have the opinion that past history dictates otherwise. So, when does anyone guess will we get the Z switcher?
The guy with 3 posts? Yeah hang your hat on that one. Maybe he's right, maybe not, but 'Reps' is just short for Rumor Spreaders. You could fill volumes with stuff reps have said that never happened. Chapters 1-3 could just be kato alone. The announcement is on the MTL site and there is no mention of DCC. Unlike Walthers who actually advertised a locomotive being DCC ready and then decided not to bother. Jason