RDC Units Alan, While Hans and I have not decided exactly when the various road names of our new RDC units will be released, I can tell you that our current plans are to produce both B&M and CP RDCs. Best, -Rob (A not K) at AZL
Eddie, Don't count yourself out on the AZL RDC quite so fast: WP is on the production list. Best, -Rob (A) at AZL
Rob, Thanks for letting me know. I look forward to their release. On a different topic, has SZL given any thought to producing plastic bodied locomotives? I love my Re 4/4 set but it is not a purchase that I can repeat on a regular basis. On the other hand, were the Re 4/4 or 6/6 produced at prices closer to AZL plastic prices (I recognize that electrics tend to cost a bit more than diesels) I'm sure that I would have more than one. Of course, what I'd really like to see in z is an Ae 4/7 but I can understand that from a manufacturers standpoint if would most likely be less profitable as there were not so many variations. Anyway, I appreciate what both AZL and SZL have brought to z-scale. Keep up the great work. Regards, Alan
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) I'd like to see BC Rail Budd cars. They sure were nice cars the last time I rode them!
Alan, on my last trip with a Re 6/6 to La Chaux de fonds I've found to Ae 4/7 on the Trainstation. Have a look here: News from Rosetown
Jurg, Thanks for sharing the photos of the Ae 4/7's as well as the Re 6/6 and Ae 6/6 cab rides. Looks like the trips were a lot of fun. My own connection to the Ae 4/7 goes back to a trip to Basel in 1991. My interest in trains was just developing and my knowledge very limited but somehow I stumbled across a couple of them moving around a rail yard there. I also visited Biel where, of course, I had to take photos of the buildings that Kibri produced in z scale. Regards, Alan
Alan, Many thanks. Yes we have thought of plastic body (less expensive) Swiss models (and some German ones, and even a French one!) but for right now, we don't have any projects underway with the SZL brand. The problem is volume. Sales quantity needs to be in the four digit range for an injection loco to make sense, otherwise it would cost as much as Brass (no tooling cost for Brass, thus cheaper for small runs.)We were working on an RDBe560 in brass, but that was put on hold due to quality and price issues. I would love an Ae 4/7 - in fact it is on my "future" list for Brass projects. While I think we could sell over 100 of them in Brass at $600, I just don't see how we could get close to 1000 injected at $300. There are just not enough people modeling Swiss Z for it to work in injection plastic. Right now we are waiting to see what happens with Marklin before making any European project decisions. I think we will know something by summertime. Best, -Rob
Rob, Thanks for explaining the economics of plastic vs. brass construction. I knew that tooling was the expensive part of plastic production but had no idea how it compared to brass. If you can keep the Ae 4/7 in the $600 range, I wouldn’t rule it out. Much higher would be difficult. I can certainly understand delaying major investment decisions until Marklin establishes some sort of direction with regard to z scale. Their releases for the past couple of years have been less than earth shattering but they have a way of releasing stuff in waves. One year, very little, the next year, more than one can afford. Thanks again. Regards, Alan
Rob, the RDBe560 is my every day train because it's the only one who stops on every Trainstation and I live in a small City
Jurg, Yes, I like the Kolibri too! In fact, I still have the hand made sample in Z, but it doesn't run very well. Oh well, better one on the shelf than none at all. I still hope we will be able to produce it one day, but the original company we contracted has gone out of business, and this project was lost in the shuffle to the sucessor. Best, -Rob PS: Back on the subject of AZL's Spring News, the attached picture was taken at a train show over the weekend. Hmmmm. I wonder what those are! Comming soon? Maybe yes!
