What is this?
I thought the blue box kits were all only made in the USA. Were there later runs made in China? It looks like so.
-Kevin
I read it as the couplers being made in China. Not the kits.
Ed
Got this off HO Seeker.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
Turned 84 in July, aging is definitely not for wimps.
So Athearn was still selling kits in 2007?
Any idea what they were?
Ed
To me the unfortunate thing is Athearn quit making kits, regardless of where they’re made. The old ‘blue box’ car kits are now only available as RTR “Roundhouse” cars.
I bought an Athearn streamline observation kit manufactured in 2009 according to the instruction sheet.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
Turned 84 in July, aging is definitely not for wimps.
Go to any flea market. Blue Box kits are still in abundant supply.
For that matter, Scale Model Supply and Becker’s both had a good bunch last time I was in.
It’s not at all surprising, as many model train manufacturers are taking advantage of the cheaper labour available in China. Bachmann has long been there, and Rapido depends on them, too. Rapido often shows videos of Jason Shron visiting the factories and chatting with the assemblers, mostly young women.
There was a time when much stuff out of China was junk, but they’re very capable of making high quality items, and at a lower cost than manufacturers in North America can offer.
Wayne
China will make whatever you want. If you want or accept junk, they will make it for you. Dollar Stores are full of that. But China also makes top notch stuff too, and high tech. After all CHina has a space program, they even have a space station in orbit.
Got me curious. I have quite a few Athearn BB PS2 55’ hopper kits, stil in the box.
Hip gets better each day. I’ll have to see what I have.
Mike.
A reminder if nothing else that Horizon Hobbies did indeed try to keep the Blue Box kit era alive for a while after they acquired Athearn. I looked around and all my Blue Box boxes say made in USA and most of them have the “old” artwork on the cover at that.
Dave Nelson
Yes, Horizon moved the BB manufacturing to China. The margins on those kits were low so paying SoCal wages was making it hard.
It didn’t take them long to realize that having the factory handle assembly would only add a few pennys and then they could charge a few bucks more for a fully assembled car. And so we are where we are.
OK then. I guess I need to stop saying that all Blue Box kits were made in the USA.
Thanks for all fo the information everyone.
-Kevin