Hi everyone. Just got the ok to let you know that the next loco after the GP9 is the SD-40!! Really excited about this release, but so far no delivery date or schemes can be announced, Design is underway and as soon as I have some photo's of plastic and chassis, I'll post them. Save your bucks, 07 and 08 ought to be big years for Z! Joe MTL
It had already been demonstrated that AZL didn't just do 6-axle. I admit that, like many people, I wondered if MTL would do a 6-axle unit in the near future.
Joe, this is of course good news for many people, except me, because I've allready 15 SD40's. Now serious, bringing a popular Diesel with a affordable price to the people is great. I wish you had choose the SD70ACe for the next MTL release or a Switcher but good things come to those who wait.
I guess they wanted do do something that covers a wider era than the SD70ACe and its ilk. But, if you think about it, more road diesels isn't the first thing Z needs. Where are more switchers, as you said? Where is the steam?
I hope to do a switcher next, but that is only a wish at this point. I have to look at what I want our catalog of Z to include and there are a number of "basics" necessary to move forward. We did have that small Steam Mogul, but that did very poorly and was too expensive. That's not to say we won't, things are moving and changing with respect to Z here and I can't say never. Steam represents a huge design effort, I mean really huge to do it right. I couldn't rely on Marklin Mech's since they wouldn't be the right wheel spacing, driver size and the like. I would want to start fresh and use a large Coreless motor, gear reduction and new drives...ground up. It would have to move as well as the GP-35 out of the box (well at least most of them ) ) Since we do all this here in the plant, I have limited resources and time in a day. I think at some point steam will be on the table when we can really do it justice. And as far as the SD40 being my choice for the next engine...I think it has the best possible application for other bodies and trucks in the future and being able to do more with less is my theme here. ...and Jurg, just think, now you can add a whole new fleet of Sd40's to your layout at half the cost!! )
I agree with Triplex. There are now SO many mid and large Diesels available or soon to be. If we really want variety, we can spend $500 and get a few more variations in brass from AZL. What we really need are more steam, yard or small switchers or passenger service. Yes, steam is going to be expensive. Marklin charges $250+ for most of theirs and some are decently detailed. But all we have for the US is literally the same boiler on top of a 2-8 or a 4-6 wheel base (that's not even close to being right. Then we jump to $1600 for a 488 that can barely negotiate 12" radius and only drives one set of drivers. It looks truly beautiful and I'd easily buy one but $1600 is at least one zero into my son's semister tuition. Up to $500 for a nice steam that has traction, true traction would be favored more for me. Buy spring, the BAZ BoyZ will have on their show module engine yard: C44, F45, SD40, SD45, SD70, GP35 and hopefully GP7s all in mulitple quantity. Throw in a GP9 by sometime this year and I'll need more than the 5 tracks over 3' long that I'm putting in now. The one token SW1 I have doesn't take up any room. STEAM and small yard switchers to really differentiate American Z
Joe, I was hoping more like a Third. A AZL SD40 cost about $600, so I am hoping that MTL SD40 "retails "for around $200. I have couple of questions about the SD40. Will all six axle drive. Can it use the GP35 drop in decoder. What is the minimum radius is design for. I want the initial release be in a leaser color scheme. First, it doesn't matter what color scheme MTL releases, most modeller is not going to be happy with it anyway because its not their favorite color scheme. With some of us, we are going to strip it anyway, but most of us can use a leaser in our fleet. Also, MTL can afford to take chances on the first releases. A MTL first release always sells out.
Great news! One more time, thank you Joe d'Amato! However, myself I've a question: will it be an SD40, or an SD40-2 (not the same chassis lenght)? Dominique
cp please let there be a cp one Joe I hope there will be a canadian pacific paint scheme and at least two or three different road numbers :embarassed: but I'll take a bunch of them anyway... best wishes, daniel
Ok...a third! Wasn't sure of the price of the AZL locomotive. We are a bit early to establish a price, but based on production costs of the 35 and the 9, it should be about the same or a bit more. The motor is the most expensive part on these guys and that price is the same. Cheers Joe
Well... I agree that there will be a lot of mid and large range diesels, but those are not priced low enough to get the guy without a healthy disposable income account. I make ok money, but $500 for an engine is too much of a stretch when I have to consider the needs of raising a family. AZL provides a great product, but the demand is limited by production and cost...brass has always been in that catagory. Now with ours and their mass produced engines, we are making dents into the "average" guy market where the bulk of the intrest is. As for Steam, sure it's imporant, but the cost to develop it is much higher and the return much lower. Face it, what ever engine you or I want, will not appeal to someone else cause' it wasn't used on their road or their region or time period. A switcher, because of it's size and engineering challenges represents a higher design cost as well. There just isn't enough room to put a Coreless motor between that wheel base unless you loose the flywheels or cut them down so much they don't really help the performance. Trust me, I'm trying to build a MP-15 and your talking a whole lot of stuff jammed into a very small space. That's not to say we aren't considering it, but right now I have to sell a project that fits into our production matrix and allows us to continue with the rest of the business in the plant. As much as I would love to only do Z for a couple of years to get caught up, it's not practical or a wise business decision. That's why I don't run the place....you need adults in charge that see the big picture ) As hard core, let the kids eat Ramen, model railroad buffs, a switcher is much needed. For the other 99% of the guys coming into the hobby, big flashy things are the ticket. That's why AZL's SD-70 was such a brilliant selection. If they can get production and distribution numbers up (based on sales and interest) an engine like that will attract new Z scalers more than a switcher will. Cheers Joe MTL
Great news, this was the one I was waiting for. I'm hoping it's the SD40-2. Let us know Joe. Thanks, Joe
I can like the SD45. especially in NP. I don't know about the SD40, probably BN had them so I can go that route. If -2, then the SD40-2 in CP Rail with the US Flag/Maple Leaf scheme would be fun.
Na, na, na! You guys have it all wrong it will be a CN SD40-2 since MTL had not produce any CN loco yet. Joke aside, it is really fun to read news from someone working at MTL. Ben
I'll take 2 CN or CPR, doesn't matter. CPR preferably in the Tuscan and Gray scheme. It'll keep me broke just chasing all these new locos. Hope they take drop-in decoders too.
