Lillen wrote: I'm going to have a look at that, I just don't like shopping at eBay that's all. I don't know why but I don't. Magnus
I'm going to have a look at that, I just don't like shopping at eBay that's all. I don't know why but I don't.
Magnus
Look under HO trains and under Zephyr.
I know your feelings about Ebay. I don't use it any longer to actually purchase trains.
Cheers
CAZEPHYR wrote:Look under HO trains and under Zephyr. I know your feelings about Ebay. I don't use it any longer to actually purchase trains. Cheers
I will check them out. Are the couplers good on the cars or is it Kadee time before anything else again?
Lillen wrote: CAZEPHYR wrote:Look under HO trains and under Zephyr. I know your feelings about Ebay. I don't use it any longer to actually purchase trains. Cheers I will check them out. Are the couplers good on the cars or is it Kadee time before anything else again? Magnus
The couplers are good since they are Kadee's.
Kadee, Well that was just what I was hoping for. They will arrive on Monday, I'm quite thrilled about that.
Ok I got them yesterday and ran them today. Four of them anyways. I must say I like there looks and they run good. But there are issues with quality. The couplers are poor on at least two of the cars I tried today. One even fell out as soon as I put it one the track and another gets stuck in one extreme position a lot of the times causing the following to derail.
Also, I've noticed that they are VERY sensitive too vertical movement, basically slightest different in height and uneven track work. Now poor track is MY problem and not the cars but nothing else I got have problems with these spots.
But enough complaining. Is there a way to adjust how much spring there is on the couplers? I also noticed that the wheels seems to be just a little of gauge on pretty much all of them? But they are of a slightly different build then my heavyweight wheels so I guess it's the sloping insides of the wheels that makes them not fit the NMRA gauge all the way in?
But besides this, they look astonishing, I mean they are so detailed and they run so great when not coupled together but rather with something else. The PCM F3 is also the sweetest diesels I have yet to see and they ran great, not a single derailment or problem. It will take some getting used to with there slow start up and stopping speeds but that is just a positive if you ask me. They sound great too. I especially love the sound they make when they are getting ready to leave.
Lillen wrote: Ok I got them yesterday and ran them today. Four of them anyways. I must say I like there looks and they run good. But there are issues with quality. The couplers are poor on at least two of the cars I tried today. One even fell out as soon as I put it one the track and another gets stuck in one extreme position a lot of the times causing the following to derail. Also, I've noticed that they are VERY sensitive too vertical movement, basically slightest different in height and uneven track work. Now poor track is MY problem and not the cars but nothing else I got have problems with these spots.But enough complaining. Is there a way to adjust how much spring there is on the couplers? I also noticed that the wheels seems to be just a little of gauge on pretty much all of them? But they are of a slightly different build then my heavyweight wheels so I guess it's the sloping insides of the wheels that makes them not fit the NMRA gauge all the way in?But besides this, they look astonishing, I mean they are so detailed and they run so great when not coupled together but rather with something else. The PCM F3 is also the sweetest diesels I have yet to see and they ran great, not a single derailment or problem. It will take some getting used to with there slow start up and stopping speeds but that is just a positive if you ask me. They sound great too. I especially love the sound they make when they are getting ready to leave. Magnus
The first run of tht BLI Zephyr cars had problems with the wheel sets being out of gauge, but they can be corrected quickly. The second run of the cars was better according to many who reported on them.
The springs on the couplers themselves can be replaced if they are defective. The cars do not use the standard coupler boxes and might need some fine tuning.
One other problem I noticed is the baggage car needs extra weight added since it is too light. It might derail if you have sharp radius curves on grades.
Enjoy the beauty of the Zephyr train.
Thanks as always for the reply. How do you fix the wheels? Do you mean replace them? If so what should I get? Where can I get new springs? Because they sure do not spring back very well. I will try some of the others tomorrow and see if they are as bad. Because right now they are very finicky of the track. I thought Walthers heavyweights where among the worst and that I wouldn't have to go through this again but I guess I was wrong.
But man they are beautiful. The domes are so pretty when lit up that I almost want to cry. Of course, they are not as beautiful as B&O heavyweights but you can't have it all I guess.
Lillen wrote: Thanks as always for the reply. How do you fix the wheels? Do you mean replace them? If so what should I get? Where can I get new springs? Because they sure do not spring back very well. I will try some of the others tomorrow and see if they are as bad. Because right now they are very finicky of the track. I thought Walthers heavyweights where among the worst and that I wouldn't have to go through this again but I guess I was wrong. But man they are beautiful. The domes are so pretty when lit up that I almost want to cry. Of course, they are not as beautiful as B&O heavyweights but you can't have it all I guess. Magnus
You are right about the beauty of these cars. The LED lighting is very good and the look of the overall train is really great. At the head of my train is a set of Genesis F3's with Soundtrax installed. They really look great with the lighting and sound good too. A friend of mine has installed DCC in the observation and uses it to control the rear lights and red mars light. Is that great or what??? I will probably do my also with individual markers, drum head and mars light.
All you need is a NMRA gauge to check them and twist them into position with you fingers. It may a try or two to get them correct for the first sets, but you will get the hang of it. This is fairly common on many products since the wheels are press on and the quality check portion of most manufacturers is not perfect..
Let us know how it works out. You can correct this problem in just a few minutes.
The web site below has some history for the Californian Zephyr.
http://calzephyr.railfan.net/home.html
Sounds like you somehow got some of the original batch.
Lillen wrote:How do you fix the wheels? Do you mean replace them?
Where can I get new springs? Because they sure do not spring back very well. I will try some of the others tomorrow and see if they are as bad.
If you're still looking for a dome observation, I was in a local hobby shop yesterday and he had quite a few. He still has many of the other cars as well, the car I picked up was 49.95, not sure if it was a dome or not since they tend to be a bit more expensive.
http://www.traintimehobby.com/
Rick
Once again guys, thanks for the help. I will start reworking them as soon as I got the time. They are just a little off but that makes them sensitive as you already know. It's a shame since they are not exactly cheap.
RedGrey62 wrote: If you're still looking for a dome observation, I was in a local hobby shop yesterday and he had quite a few. He still has many of the other cars as well, the car I picked up was 49.95, not sure if it was a dome or not since they tend to be a bit more expensive.http://www.traintimehobby.com/Rick
I will look that place up, it would be great to get one since the train will look wrong without one. I really appreciate your help, link and everything.
I have recently become interested in the CZ myself. Trainworld in Brooklyn (they advertise in Model Railroader) sent me a list of their CZ items in stock a week ago.
http://www.trainworld.com/
08/06/07 14:23 G:\PRODLIST.LST
Date 8/ 6/2007 Product Listing [Mfg=BL Status=ACT]
Manuf
Prod
Status
Description
Inventory
BL
501
ACT 501
CZ CB&Q BAGGAGE SILVER BEAR
0
ACT 502
CZ CB&Q VISTADOME SILVER BRIDLE
15
ACT 503
CZ CB&Q VISTADOME SILVER LARIAT
17
ACT 504
CZ CB&Q VISTADOME SILVER RANCH
ACT 505
CZ CB&Q LOUNGE CAR SILVER CLUB
ACT 506
CZ CB&Q 48SEAT DINER SILVER DIN
25
ACT 507
CZ CB&Q 10-6 SLEEP.SILVER POINT
4
ACT 508
CZ CB&Q 10-6 SLEEP.SILVER SHORE
16
ACT 509
CZ CB&Q 10-6 SLEEP.SILVER BUTTE
18
ACT 510
CZ CB&Q 16SEC.SLEEP.SILVER MAPL
ACT 511
CZ CB&Q SLEEPER SILVER DOVE
14
ACT 512
CZ CB&Q OBSERV. SILVER HORIZON
ACT 536
CZ CB&Q VISTDOME SILVER SADDLE
12
ACT 513
CZ D&RGW BAGGAGE SILV.ANTELOPE
ACT 514
CZ D&RGW VISTADOME SILV.BRONCO
ACT 515
CZ D&RGW VISTADOME SILV.MUSTANG
26
ACT 516
CZ D&RGW LOUNGE SILVER SHOP
ACT 517
CZ D&RGW 48SEAT DINER SILV.BANQ
ACT 518
CZ D&RGW 10-6 SLEEP.SILVER PASS
ACT 519
CZ D&RGW 10-6 SLEEP.SILV.GORGE
11
ACT 520
CZ D&RGW 16SEC.SLEEP.SILV.ASPEN
ACT 521
CZ D&RGW SLEEPER SILVER GULL
ACT 537
CZ D&RGW VISTADOME SILVER PONY
ACT 523
CZ WP BAGGAGE SILVER BEAVER
ACT 524
CZ WP VISTADOME SILVER DOLLAR
ACT 525
CZ WP VISTADOME SILVER FEATHER
13
ACT 526
CZ WP VISTADOME SILVER PALACE
ACT 527
CZ WP LOUNGE SILVER CHALET
ACT 528
CZ WP 48SEAT DINER SILVER PLATT
ACT 529
CZ WP 10-6 SLEEP. SILVER ARROYO
20
ACT 530
CZ WP 10-6 SLEEP. SILVER CANYON
ACT 531
CZ WP 10-6 SLEEP. SILVER PALISA
10
ACT 532
CZ WP 16SEC.SLEEP. SILVER PALM
ACT 533
CZ WP SLEEPER SILVER CRANE
ACT 538
CZ WP VISTADOME SILVER SCOUT
22
ACT 1022
CZ VISTADOME UNLETT.& NO #
1
ACT 1023
CZ VISTA DOME CONDUCT.SPACE
ACT 1024
CZ VISTA DOME DORM/BUFF/LOUNGE
ACT 1025
CZ 48 SEAT DINER UNLETT.& NO #
9
ACT 1026
CZ 10 ROOMETTE,6DBL BEDRM SLEE
ACT 1027
CZ 16 SECT.SLEEPER UNLETT,NO #
2
ACT 1028
CZ 6-BEDRM 5-COMPART.SLEEPER
ACT 1029
CZ 1-DRAW ROOM 3VD BUFFET LOG
ACT 796
H.O. ZEPHYR CB&Q 13 CAR SET
ACT 797
H.O. ZEPHYR WP 13 CAR SET
ACT 798
H.O. ZEPHYR D&RGW 11 CAR SET
I removed the pricing because I think it might break the "no advertising" rule if I left them in. But I think advising others of availability of wanted items is OK.
(Edited)
Didn't have my head on straight - the only observation dome on the list (that I could find) has a zero in the inventory column.