AZL July 2025 New Items Part 2

[ztrack]

AMERICAN Z LINE
July 2025 New Releases Part 2

Norfolk & Western J 4-8-4 – BRASS



AZL has gone back to their roots with an all-new brass locomotive run. The N&W J class 4-8-4 locomotives are here!

The J class streamlined steam locomotive built between 1941 and 1950. Only 14 examples were produced. These were used on such notable passenger trains such as the Powhatan Arrow.

Locomotives come with traction tires, separately applied hand rails, optional close coupled tender with smaller step plate and display base. Recommend 245mm curves and above.

Fourteen road numbers are available:

17072-1 N&W J Class 4-8-4 Locomotive 611 A Version
-   Museum version as operating today. Located in Virginia Museum of Transportation.

17072-2 N&W J Class 4-8-4 Locomotive 612 A Version
17072-3 N&W J Class 4-8-4 Locomotive 613 J Version
17072-4 N&W J Class 4-8-4 Locomotive 600 J Version
17072-5 N&W J Class 4-8-4 Locomotive 601 J Version
17072-6 N&W J Class 4-8-4 Locomotive 602 J Version
17072-7 N&W J Class 4-8-4 Locomotive 603 J Version
17072-8 N&W J Class 4-8-4 Locomotive 604 J Version
17072-9 N&W J Class 4-8-4 Locomotive 605 J Version
17072-10 N&W J Class 4-8-4 Locomotive 606 J Version
17072-11 N&W J Class 4-8-4 Locomotive 607 J Version
17072-12 N&W J Class 4-8-4 Locomotive 608 J Version
17072-13 N&W J Class 4-8-4 Locomotive 609 J Version
17072-14 N&W J Class 4-8-4 Locomotive 610 J Version

EMD SD40-2 – Norfolk & Southern



Three road numbers are available:

64211-1 NS SD40-2 3405
64211-2 NS SD40-2 3406
64211-3 NS SD40-2 3413

The NC SD40-2s feature:

Late Production
Cab Headlights
Automatic Brake
Dynamic Brake
Low Snowplow
4000 Gallon Fuel Tank
Leslie SST Airhorn
Corrugated Radiators
Original Fans
AC
Ditch Lights
Full width Anticlimber
HTC Trucks
88´Nose
Prototypical Antennas
and more.....

In addition, all AZL SD40-2s include directional controlled LED lighting, blackened metal wheels, traction tires, AZL AutoLatchTM couplers and optional pilots/plows.

ALCO RSD-5 – ATSF



Two road numbers are available:

63326-1 ATSF RSD5 2121 Phase I
63326-2 ATSF RSD5 2159 Phase I

EMD FP7 – C&O



Two road numbers are available:

65302-1 C&O EMD FP7 8000
65302-2 C&O EMD FP7 8003

The EMD FP7s feature AZL’s 7mm motor, dual flywheels, prototype specific details, metal stirrups, directional controlled LED lighting, optional front truck with mounted coupler, blackened metal wheels, AutoLatch couplers and they come DCC ready.

Bay Window Caboose – Frisco



Since we released a Frisco EMD F7 at the beginning of the month, we thought a caboose would be nice to have.  Two road numbers available.

92027-1 Frisco Bay Window Caboose 1731
92027-2 Frisco Bay Window Caboose 1735

Trinity 31K Gallon Modified Tank Car – TCBX



SMBC RAIL SERVICES LLC. Handrails instead of ladders on the car sides. A single and 2-pack are available:

905508-1 TCBX Trinity 31K Gallon Modified Tank Car 286012
915508-1 TCBX Trinity 31K Gallon Modified Tank Car 286043, 286145 2-pack

4180 AIRSLIDE COVERED HOPPERS – Rock Island



906008-1 RI 4180 Airslide Hopper 8955, 8960, 8961, 8972 Set
916038-1 RI 4180 Airslide Hopper 8956, 8970 2-pack

AZL is including optional NO-SWAY ™ bolster pins with each set. Due to the high amount of detail on the undercarriage, the cars may sway slightly. By replacing one bolster on each car with the NO-SWAY ™ pin, the sway will be eliminated.

AZL – 48’ Container – ITEL



95008 ITEL 48’ Container  Single

https://azldirect.com

Rob Kluz
Ztrack Distribution

[Rivet Miscounter]

The J looks impressive.   Someone could (and probably will) build a nice mountain-heavy layout around it.   

Interesting detail on the TCBX cars with the handrails.

Please bring us more of the non-shield tank cars.

And bring on the Dash 9's!!!!!   

[bbussey]

Very impressive on the J.

[peteski]

Yes, that J-class is a li'l gem. Even thought I'm not modeling in Z scale, if I had a $1000 to burn I would pick one up.  And I thought that brass models were basically dead.

[Rivet Miscounter]

Yes, that J-class is a li'l gem. Even thought I'm not modeling in Z scale, if I had a $1000 to burn I would pick one up.  And I thought that brass models were basically dead.

Good point.   I'm not really sure why AZL chooses to do brass still.   They do both...the upcoming GS4 will be plastic.   The obvious answer is that the GS4 probably has 10x or more commercial appeal and I guess the economics work out to choose the brass method to do a very small run like the J.

Admittedly, I'm not sure how a brass locomotive model is built.   Is the boiler machined or do they etch it and wrap it to a frame or ???   It seems like other than the boiler and the body of the tender, the build process would be very much the same.   But I get it that avoiding building a tool for the injection molding is not an insignificant dollar amount.

I guess after thinking about it, maybe the reason brass is still a thing in Z is that you maybe cannot just 3D print the boiler and get the resin thin-strong enough to be able to fit the motor in it. (and I suppose...heat impacting the resin vs the injection plastic???)

[peteski]

Good point.   I'm not really sure why AZL chooses to do brass still.   They do both...the upcoming GS4 will be plastic.   The obvious answer is that the GS4 probably has 10x or more commercial appeal and I guess the economics work out to choose the brass method to do a very small run like the J.

Admittedly, I'm not sure how a brass locomotive model is built.   Is the boiler machined or do they etch it and wrap it to a frame or ???   It seems like other than the boiler and the body of the tender, the build process would be very much the same.   But I get it that avoiding building a tool for the injection molding is not an insignificant dollar amount.

I guess after thinking about it, maybe the reason brass is still a thing in Z is that you maybe cannot just 3D print the boiler and get the resin thin-strong enough to be able to fit the motor in it. (and I suppose...heat impacting the resin vs the injection plastic???)

Another possibility is that brass is quite dense. Not quite lead, but denser than lets say steel.  If the models made from thin brass material, it also leaves more internal room than 3D printed or injection molded shell for adding weight.

[dem34]

Its also easy to work with if you are doing a limited run of hand made models.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Being 611, I'm surprised it's not done in silicone...



I had to make at least one joke. But seriously, that looks like a really great model.