I received this update from AZL today. Be prepared for a few surprises! Brass Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 Challenger Steam Locomotive (progress report) AJIN Train Model is preparing a painted sample for April. We are hoping for October delivery! -UP black version coal -UP black version oil -UP grey and black version oil with smoke deflectors -D&RGW version Injection & Die Cast 23,000 Gallon Funnel Flow Tank Car (progress report) Design is completed and the first artwork is approved. (June 2009) 53' foot Container Well Car (progress report) Sanda Kan is taking some bugs out of the tools at the moment. 53' and 48' Containers done. Tooling for a 40' container is started as well. (September 2009) Auto Rack (Progress report) Ready to go (May 2009) ACF 4 Bay Covered Hopper (progress report) Ready to go (May 2009) PFE 40' Wood Reefer (progress report) Half-way through tooling! This car we have contracted with Bowser (October 2009). First sets will be made to match our Challenger release. This is also the first release using our new Bettendorf trucks. 4750 PS2-cd Covered Hopper (progress report) Half-way through tooling! Should be ready by October. Budd RDC Railcar, RDC-1 and RDC-2 (progress report) We will receive the first injection parts for inspection next week. Look for photos on Trainboard. (September 2009) EMD GP30 (progress report) We will receive the first injection parts for inspection in a couple of weeks. Look for photos on Trainboard. (October 2009) First roadnames will include ATSF and UP. Well, is there any more news? Stay tuned to the rest of the story! Announcement 1: After collecting dust in the basement for a very long time, we have decided to give the old Rogue EMD GP38 a new life. Expect to see an inexpensive Z scale entry product. We need to do some changes to the mold, but it should be ready for Christmas. It will feature a new chassis based on our GP7. Announcement 2: We just signed off a new locomotive with Sanda Kan, actually two locomotives. In 2010 we will offer the GE C44-9W (an old brass friend) and the GE AC4400! More details will come later. As usual we will offer many roadname specific details. Other Business: AZL will continue to offer more paint schemes of the 3 Bay Hopper and the BethGons for 2009. Both the GP7 and SD70 will resurface with new paint schemes and roadnames. Resin Structures: ATSF Mission style Depot and Freight House We are awaiting these buildings within a month. Download the PDF announcement with images at: http://www.ztrack.com/AZL/AZL_Spring2009_News.pdf Rob Kluz
Sounds like 2009 is the year for Z! I cant wait for the GE loco! That's going to be great! And Funnel Flows! I need a large string of those!
Rob, I saw the pictures. All I have to say is that I am going to do my part to stimulate the economy.
Perfect!!! I can't wait. :tb-biggrin: Any chance the NEW Dash 9 in BNSF will have the correct 4-window cabs? Will you do Union Pacific as a road name on the AC4400. (With or with out the flag) The only thing I see on the list that I won't be ordering is the RDC.
I'll take your RDC Eddie! I'm very excited about RDC's for the Boston and Maine. Perfect for my transition layout. ron
GP 38's huh? When atlas came out with the NS gp 38 with the high hood that made me buy modern N back when I was doing that scale. It was so hard to resist because I see that style all the time. Now if that comes out in Z. Boy, they just might get me to want to do modern.
Yes, the AC4400 and C44s are going to be injection molded. AZL has not announced road names at this time. CSX is planned for the SD70s and I am fairly confident that it will be on the list for the AC4400s. Rob
I would like to add another vote for a Boston & Maine version AZL's RDC. The B&M did, after all, own the largest fleet RDCs. My own connection is from having grown up at the junction of the B&M and the Canadian Pacific and from having made my first rail trip on an RDC. I can't honestly say to which road it belonged as both B&M and CP units traveled the route. This is my first post so I suppose a brief introduction is due. Like many others, I had some interest in model trains in my youth but didn't actively pursue it until I wondered by a train shop in 1990 that happened to have a substantial display of Marklin Z scale trains. I was intrigued and bought a starter set soon thereafter. I would still consider Z scale to be my focus but I'm also interested in vintage model/toy trains and therefore run trains of other scales too. My first trains were European prototypes but I seem to have gravitated more toward U. S. trains in the past few years. The improved selection has certainly been a factor. I'm also intrigued by the development of Japanese Z scale. I have one of ProZ's EF65 passenger sets and am very impressed by both the esthetics and performance. I've been reading the forum for a couple of months but all recent talk of new products for 2009 compelled me to finally sign up and jump it. I found it to be a very informative group and look forward to future participation. Regards, Alan
