American Z Line AZL New Releases from NZC

ztrack May 9, 2012

  1. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    American Z Line showed off a number of new products during the National Z Convention. Let's start with GP38-2s. AZL released the 'Don Bouchard' SP GP38-2s during the show. Shipments to those who pre-ordered and were not at the convention will go out this week. Unfortunately, the BN 'Don Bouchard' GP38-2s did not arrive in time. We will be honoring prices and ship as they arrive.

    AZL also showed off GP38-2s in ATSF, GT, UP, NS, CSX, CN, CP, SOO, MILW and BNSF. AZL will begin releasing these after the Don Bouchard special locos are sold out.

    New SD70s have have been announced. These will have spartan cabs. Four road names have been announced. They are CN, IC, NS and Conrail.

    AZL showed off samples of their 73' centerbeam cars. Roads included CRLE, TTZX, CHTT, SOO, and BNSF. There is some amazing printing on the inside end panels of these cars!

    A UP light Mikado was on display. AZL is working to improve the front and trailing trucks a bit for better performance.

    The heavy weight passenger cars were on display. These cars in are in the final stages of development.

    RTTX 89' flats were on display as were the complete line of 2420 waffle gondolas and 60' beer cars. Also, all upcoming releases of the NSC well cars were shown.

    [​IMG]

    Shown above is a number of different GP7 and GP9 shells. AZL is bringing these back. Note all of the different details on these shells! This is simply amazing to think about this kind of detailing on injection locomotives. Also, note the road names listed on the cabs. AZL also mentioned that these shells will have up to 7 different side panels!

    Last, but not least, AZL slipped and mentioned that they will be bringing SD45s to Z in injection. These were released previously by AZL as a brass locomotive.

    I think that is all!

    Rob Kluz
     
  2. J o e

    J o e TrainBoard Member

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    Rob, any more pics you can post, especially the GP38's and specifically CSX :)
     
  3. Ajayrav

    Ajayrav TrainBoard Member

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    Wow torpedo tubes....Just look at GP7/9 variants....Just wow! Does any one have any more info on the newly announced decoders for AZL locos?

    Ajay
     
  4. pmx

    pmx TrainBoard Member

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    Here are some of the photos I managed to snap at the AZL booth.

    Some pics of the various GP38-2s
    IMG_1435.jpg IMG_1457.jpg

    More Autoracks
    IMG_1437.jpg

    89' Flatcars and 73' Centerbeams
    IMG_1439.jpg IMG_1440.jpg IMG_1444.jpg

    ~Paul E.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. pmx

    pmx TrainBoard Member

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    And some of the 2420 waffle gondolas
    IMG_1447.jpg IMG_1449.jpg IMG_1450.jpg IMG_1451.jpg IMG_1452.jpg IMG_1454.jpg

    ~Paul E.
     
  6. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    The Digitrax decoder is a DZ123ZØ (that's still a Zero on the end). It is not on the Digitrax website. We ran it in a GP30 all afternoon with no issues. Unfortunately, it is still a 2 function decoder. I will look at the board to see if it is just missing the parts for the other 2 functions or firmware limited. I'll try and talk to them before the N scale convention at the end of June in Medford.
    .
     
  7. JamesTraction

    JamesTraction TrainBoard Supporter

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    Ajay,
    I got to drive the loco with the decoder, lucky me! Rob A just brought it over and said to run it (Thanks again Rob!). It performed very well, a smooth running loco. It didn't go super fast, but I was a bit nervous to push it and so this might have been just me. We had a couple of switches that had issues and so some locos hung up on them, including the GP30, but no "magic smoke" left the decoder when it did, so it's not super delicate, circuit wise. You could tell this particular loco wasn't just anyones - check out the lettering:
    IMG_0693.jpg

    I really have to give these guys have to deal with all sorts of issues when working with the overseas manufacturers.
    JamesTraction
     
  8. John Bartolotto

    John Bartolotto TrainBoard Supporter

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    Rob,

    What is the body length of the AZL 2420 waffle gondola?

    John
     
  9. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    These little guys look definitly good! Just can't wait the undecs! On another hand, what's the blue shell sporting 3 aft fans on the left picture's upper end? A standard cab SD70M 's?

    Dom
     
  10. jim29t

    jim29t TrainBoard Member

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    I was fortunate to be able to see new AZL releases at Rob's house. The real sleeper for me was the GP 38 Norfolk Southern. Wow!!!! Of course I was impressed with the Mikado and the Heavyweights. Double Wow!!!
     
  11. Robbman

    Robbman TrainBoard Member

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    [​IMG]

    If AZL is going to 'borrow' artwork from BLMA, at least put it on the correct car. ;)

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    The only F89Js that have been modifed to carry containers are in captive service in Utah hauling trash containers. They have to have risers to get the containers to sit over the bowl-deck sides.
     
  12. JamesTraction

    JamesTraction TrainBoard Supporter

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    Robb,
    I know I would love to see BLMA come out with Z Scale F89Js to "correctly" do this configuration, not that I'm bashing AZL, but only to get BLMA more into Z. I bet others do too. -JamesTraction
     
  13. pmx

    pmx TrainBoard Member

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    Dom, it's is a CR SD70 vise SD70M so yes its a standard cab. They also had an IC SD70, but I failed to take a pic of that it seems.

    ~Paul E.
     
  14. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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  15. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    Wow! The Mikado's are fantastic looking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Other stuff is kinda nice too. ;)
     
  16. up mike

    up mike E-Mail Bounces

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    Rob any word when the UP Autoracks are coming and how soon will we see the 89' flats?
     
  17. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    Mike, the UP autoracks are coming this summer. I don't have word on when the 89' flats will be released.

    Rob
     
  18. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    So great news! All this stuff is really promising! And glad to discover that the SD45 will be back to town in the future, with a plastic shell! On another hand, a while ago we heard of AC4400'S and Dash 9's. Any update about these?

    Dom
     
  19. david f.

    david f. TrainBoard Supporter

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    The details on the GP-38s are spartan, as these shells are the original works, so I added a few. The the front coupler needs to be cut off to use the provided detail face and plow, but you have to trim some part to get it on and drill holes for the plow. I wanted more detail on the roof so I trimmed the stacks and replaced them with ones from an MTL GP-9. I also added BLMA grab irons to the front and rear. Because the nose has no brake detail I used a break wheel rather than cut a square and build one in. many SP GP38s had them, though the lease units (like 167) did not. I'll do some weathering on it next.
    I'll try to get a picture up. Never done it with an iPhone before. ok, had to go to the computer to get thse uploaded.
    [​IMG]

    the next one shows the BLMA fans i added and the MTL stacks. i also added the vent thing on the front filter box from an MTL GP.
    [​IMG]
    the last is supposed to show the rear grab details, but it's not all that clear.
    [​IMG]

    i added an MTL coupler to the rear which was very easy to do: just removed the AZL coupler and lid, trimmed the front and sides of the AZL platform, drilled a hole for the screw and attached the MTL coupler in its box. perfect alignment.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 13, 2012
  20. pyr4m3d

    pyr4m3d New Member

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    Looks good!
    Quick question though. Is the lettering backwards on the one side or am I missing something?
     

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