AZL Releases Bettendorf Trucks!

I'm going to go ahead and expend my 1,000 post to once again, attempt to correct the record here. Two gross misconceptions, one, folks who operate on modules don't want or utilize an uncoupling feature on their cars and second, that MTL couplers are not capable of holding together 50 plus cars. What universe are you operating in Rob? Look, there's plenty of room for two or more options. You want couplers that "latch" together so you can run a train on a layout all day...there's that option, you want to "operate" your train utilizing hands free features...there's that option. I don't think it's necessary to denegrate someone elses product to sell yours. If it can't stand on it's own for it's uniqueness and application, it's not going to go very far by pitting it against someone elses.

As for the containers, at the time there was a real possiblity that Marklin was giving up the ghost on American Z Prototypes...and the container they offered had some size challenges for us. As a manufacturer you are playing chicken with your future if you rely on a the availability of a product you don't produce. There's no guarantee that they are going to be in business next week and you need to have your product stand alone since you have control over it. Marklin doesn't even offer an American Prototype Well car, so why should we adapt our design to a container that may or may not be available? One might ask why FR didn't make his pins line up with ours? What if Marklin decides the container isn't profitable any more or God forbid the mold breaks...then what does FR do? That's why I think it's smart that AZL makes their own couplers...


Joe
MTL

 

Hey Joe ! Congratulations on your 1,000 post !!!

Welcome to the club !
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I just noticed my posting number so I had to post one more. Now I have . . .

Post number 1234.
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All together now sing along:
"1234 what are we fighting for; don't ask me, I just don't give a dam, next stop is zdowntown ..........Yuppie we're all happy now."

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBdeCxJmcAo"]:tb-wink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBdeCxJmcAo[/ame]

 

I didn't see MTL mentioned anywhere in Rob's post...

But, 50 cars seems to be about right, that's when the draft angle starts to come into play on Z scale couplers and they slide up/down on each other and pop apart. I'm looking forward to the new AZL couplers if they've addressed this in their design. In N scale MTL fixed this problem with the RDA couplers.

Another problem, which David K. Smith documeted on his site, is the strange mold mark that catches the couler face when coupling. Has MTL fixed the mold on that problem yet?

Who uses magnetic uncoupling anyway? I haven't run into any operators in Z (or N for that matter) that rely on magnets... always picks. Is anyone here on Trainboard using magnetic uncoupling regularly or in serious operating sessions?

 

i wouldn't be without magna-matic uncoupling. if i were just "running trains" roundy-roundy, i might not need MTL couplers. but i like to mix consists and switch. i love operations.

i also have some AZLs and like them. i like the metal wheels with small axles especially. i just figured out a way to get electrical pickup (both sides) using them on a Hallmark UP Turbine tender.

i'm looking forward to getting some of the new " latch" couplers on the new AZL trucks to see if they can be modified to do remote uncoupling. i've experimented with the idea several times about using a low power actuator/servo through DCC so that a coupler could be uncoupled by DCC command -- without pulling over magnets. we'll see how they fare.
dave f.

 

Cool Jeff, but I'll bet you will never be able to make it five in a row, 12345 unless you know of a fountain of youth and your computer key board doesn't give out

Loren

 

Uncoupling picks are the other option, but good to hear that two of you use magnetic uncoupling consistantly. I just haven't run into many people that do.

 

We sell a boat load of them every month, so unless folks are using them to hold up notes on their Refrigerators, I suspect they are used a lot for the intended purpose.

 

Model train basics:
Coupler: to couple and un-couple

Not capable to un-couple device in model railroading is not a coupler. Call it a hook? What is the point to give ammo to the sceptics? How many times this silly hook need to be re-designed until it grows up to the level of acceptable model railroad coupler? No wonder, Z-scale has no accepted and working NMRA standards.

Lajos

 

Please see my open open letter to the Z forum as it pertains to this subject.

Rob

 

Rob, which Z-forum?

Lajos

 

This one, he opened a new thread.

 

Hi Rob
There is a lot of standardization, it's called NEM. But the NA producers are ignoring the NEM. That's why You can't change the wheelsets between MTL and AZL. Live could be so easy!

 

Boy Joe. First Athearn does the same car as you guys (N scale bay window) and now this...

I do like MT couplers even though I cut the trip pins off and use a Rix Pic. I don't have the AZL trucks and maybe they would work for me just as well, but...

The AZL coupler box sticks out just as far as the MT so if I bought the AZLs and mounted them to a 40' MT boxcar I would then want to clip off the coupler all together and body mount a 905 with the rear of the box cut off.

When Robert mentions extended boxes I'm sure he means on the Roller bearing trucks where they would be prototypical for modern equipment.

 

Larry,

why should US manufacturer apply a european standard?

 

Hi Gerd

Simply: because they jumped on a existing scale.

If a german producer wants to release a product in G-scale, he should accept the standarts of this scale. Otherwise we will call him stupid.

 

Larry,
only because there is a standard doesn't mean it's good...

 

Okay Gerd, then tell me please the advantage of having different axles/wheelsets.