AZL Spring News... and surprises!

[ztrack]

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

[Sokramiketes]

Holy crap.  Micro-trains what?

[tom mann]

Great:

The tank cars look like HO scale!

Even better:

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.

So, why is AZL ramping up?

[DKS]

Mmmm... GP30... yummy! Can't wait for these.

[ztrack]

Tom,

Good question. I think it is about timing and where Z is going. AZL has been actively releasing Z scale items for 9 years. The owners have seen the trends and have a good idea of the market. The focus is on more modern locos and rolling stock, and this is where AZL's market share has been growing. It makes sense since the average age in Z scale is the mid to upper 40s.

I also like AZL's approach of pushing details and prototype specific details on injection releases. This concept was born with their brass releases and I am happy they are keeping up with it in their injection runs. I like to think at the end of next year, AZL will have a dynamic line that will feature premier products from a number of eras, but have a strength in more modern locos and rolling stock.

It is going to be an exciting few years for the Z community!
Rob

[scaro]

If the Rogue GP38 is an inexpensive entry level product, it will be interesting as it may mean people make a choice which line to go with right off at the start . . . as the Rogue unit has, from what I can see, a prototypically correct hood width, and the MT GP35 is going to look noticeably different beside it.

Ben