Z scale convention predictions

[tom mann]

What do you think is coming? 

MT:  New Engine, maybe a switcher?

AZL:  GP30, GP38, modern boxcar, centerbeam flat?

[Chris333]

I think there will be cool new products that I can't use.

[tom mann]

What about the AZL reefers?

[Chris333]

I could go for one or two reefers. I was mostly talking about the new stuff to be announced.

I do wish I had a need for GP30's.

[Sokramiketes]

Yeah, AZL has said there will be new announcement(s) at the show.  I'm hoping it's from a different factory, as we're still waiting for GP30, RDC's, GP38, NSC Stack Car, Reefers, UP Caboose, Dash-9... that have been announced already.  And things that have been released already, like the Autoracks, still need the tooling fixed to keep up with demand.  Announcing more stuff now that might be 3 years out seems a little excessive.  The Stack Car literature on their site still says "due 2008" on it.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I could go for one or two reefers. I was mostly talking about the new stuff to be announced.

I do wish I had a need for GP30's.

Didn't the OC have some? Get some local flavor going...

[Chris333]

OK maybe I was wrong:

Injection and diecast products:
-SP C-30-5 Bay Window Caboose (June 2010). Also available as SRR, UP and Chessie
-USRA 2-8-2 light Mikado (next year)
-USRA 2-8-2 havy Mikado next year)
-P-S 12-1 Heavyweight Sleeper Car (late this year)
-P-S Heavyweight Paired Window Coach (next winter)
-RTTX flat car wih Containers (this fall)
-Thrall 3267 Gondola (this fall)

Brass:
-UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy (next summer)

[tom mann]

I hope AZL can pull all that off. 

What did MT come out with?

[JoeD]

The only thing we "offically" announced was a Bridge Section for our Roadbed Track.  We've discussed the E8 and E9 A/B openly and are moving ahead on the tooling.  We have several other projects on the way, but we felt it best not to get too far out ahead as we are focused on the final last bits of the N Passenger Cars and other Freight finishing up.  That took most of our focus so far.  Learned our lesson on the SD40-2 and want to be realistic and upfront about schedules.

Joe
MTL

[James Costello]

-RTTX flat car wih Containers (this fall)

This should have trailers, not containers. RTTX flats have hitches, not container pedestals.

[Sokramiketes]

-RTTX flat car wih Containers (this fall)

This should have trailers, not containers. RTTX flats have hitches, not container pedestals.

Guess it depends which prototype they're doing:

[James Costello]

Guess it depends which prototype they're doing:

Guess so - thanks Mike, got a spare hand to help me remove my foot from my mouth?

Still, not the most common use for a RTTX flat - why not use a TTCX or TTWX flat and save the RTTX for the "triple 28" loads?

[Sokramiketes]

It's OK James, apparently AZL is really confused too.  Two separate prototypes are shown on their release flyer from AZL's "Resin Structure" division?

http://www.americanzline.com/Cur_Sheet_-_RTTX.pdf

[tom mann]

It's OK James, apparently AZL is really confused too.  Two separate prototypes are shown on their release flyer from AZL's "Resin Structure" division?

http://www.americanzline.com/Cur_Sheet_-_RTTX.pdf

I hope AZL does all they are committed to, but I appreciate MT's style of announcing only after most minor production/design/cost issues are worked out^*.  It seems like AZL presented more of a wish list**.


*my assumption
**as in, we wish to make all this stuff some day

[Sokramiketes]

It's OK James, apparently AZL is really confused too.  Two separate prototypes are shown on their release flyer from AZL's "Resin Structure" division?

http://www.americanzline.com/Cur_Sheet_-_RTTX.pdf

I hope AZL does all they are committed to, but I appreciate MT's style of announcing only after most minor production/design/cost issues are worked out^*.  It seems like AZL presented more of a wish list**.


*my assumption
**as in, we wish to make all this stuff some day

Agreed.  If the track record was different, it would be one thing.  But that announcement sheet for the NSC stack car still says "DUE IN 2008!"  I'm with MTL on this one, especially if some other manufacturer was interested in getting into Z scale, they're not going to want to compete in a smaller market, and AZL will have many potential projects tied up as announcements with delivery over the next several years.