AZL November 2021 New Items Part 1

[haasmarc]

From what I've observed and from some discussion from them on their m.o., it seems like AZL does their entire run all at once.   They get a shipment with their entire allotment of roadnames, and then they release them when they release them.   Might be 2 years after having them in hand.

Ok, so did they make Reading F units?

[Rivet Miscounter]

Ok, so did they make Reading F units?

I'm not aware of any, but often this kind of information takes wading through pages of AZL forum drivel.  And particularly with F units that's not something I have any interest in so I wouldn't have caught it.   The current first "round" of F7's does not include Reading, at least according to anything I've seen.   F3's might be a different story.

[ztrack]

Doug you got it. Yes AZL produces a run in mass. It is more cost effective to do so. Then we work out a release plan the can span a few years. No joke here. But we do that not to flood the market. We want to be very conscientious of peoples budgets and what our dealers can absorb. Not to knock IM, but when they flooded the market with their cylindrical, sales were definitely affected. After the shine of the new item wore off, many of us were stuck with inventory for years.

Now AZL also has a few surprises up their sleeve. Sometimes they produce items years in advance in preparation for corresponding items. Think Zephyr sets with corresponding EMD F3s. The F3s were produced years before the Zephyrs arrived!

AZL is in a fortunate position that they can stock and hold inventory for years. I know this sounds crazy in the model train world, but this model works for us. We also try to over-produce so that folks getting into Z still have options for items that were release years prior. Again, crazy... but it is helping drive the growth of Z scale. Also we don't have to worry about shipping delays. For instance, the SW run has 20 road names as part of the release. All of these locos are here in the US. Even if international shipping get worse, we have products to release for over year without being affected. Nice?

So what does AZL have planned? As mentioned SD40-2s are planned. So are PA1s. These are going to be important releases for us. Trust, me we have some big time releases coming.

Sorry no Reading on the first round of F7s.

Rob

[learmoia]

Wish we could get this kind of love in N scale.... 

The SD40-2 variations are now starting to add up:
-Phases (1 or 2)
-Headlight position
-Nose Brake (Rachet or Wheel)
-Dynamic Brake option
-Dynamic Brake Bulge option
-Bell position
-Cab windows
-Cab Sunshades
-2 different Snowplows
-Fuel Tank size options
-Different Roof Antennas and Equipment
-Beacon Light option
-Airhorn options
-Airhorn placement options
-Radiator styles (Open Grid or Corrugated)
-Different Cooling Fans
-Roof AC option
-Bay Window option
-Winterization Hatch option
-Ditch light option
-Ditch light placement
-Marker Lights option
-Blower Housing (two styles)
-Exhaust Silencer option
-Anticlimbers options
-Trucks (HT-C or 3 axle Flexicoil)
-Nose lengths differences
-Pilot differences (not yet agreed with factory)
and probably a few more details.......

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Well *****. Yeah, I agree! I'd love that type of situation in N!

[Chris333]

ANL ?

[learmoia]

ANL ?

 .  What a great name for a model company..

[Ed Kapuscinski]

.  What a great name for a model company..

"There's a first time for everything"

[wazzou]

ANL ?

Lol.

[Rivet Miscounter]

ANL ?

OK that seriously made me spit out my coffee.   

[learmoia]

ANL ?

Gently penetrating the N scale market.. 

[ztrack]

ANL.... you guys are seriously trying to kill me??? I have a hard enough time keeping up with AZL!

And I just read that back in my mind...