[:(!][:(!][:(!][V][V]Has anyone seen the Athearn D&RGW RS3s? Why do they not match the picture on their web site? Why is a Phase I(?) paint scheme on a Phase II(?) shell? After waiting all this time for these locomotives, they are a real disappointment. Fortunately, the GN versions seem to be correct, at least after a first cursory level look-see. I hope other Rio Grande fans will email Athearn. First “headlight in the cab” GP40-2s and now this!! Can you spell Atlas, Proto 2000, and anyone else?!![:(][:(]
Athearn has really lagged behind lately. P2K, Atlas, Kato, BLI and the other more desirable manufacturers have made huge advancements in running quality and detail. Athearns attempts to follow along have been less than stellar. Athearn used to be some of the better stuff out there, but they lagged behind and are still playing catch-up. They have also done some dumb things in thier attempts to compete with the better manufacturers too. Mainly in thier Genesis line SD70s with warped trucks was one of the worse ones, also the 2-8-2 that couldnt pull itself up a grade. They even put an MRC sound decoder in thier top-of-the-line steamer. MRC!!! why would they do that!?! The decoders in the new F units arent that great either, but better than the one in the challenger. Until Athearn gets thier act together, Im going to stick with the other manufacturers.
I have been impressed with some of the recent production from athearn including the SD45t-2, SD50, and the SD60. They do need work to get to the quality and reliability of the P2K and Atlas units but for +/- $70, I can afford to make the improvements. I hope that with time that there products continue to improve.
I hope that the Genesis Line will lose some of the more novel approaches for lighting and consider a system other than individual light bulbs. The bulbs don’t fit quite right and to me they just don’t look quite right.
That and they have a bad habbit of burning out. And a serious pain in the [censored] to replace.
John k
I have a different idea for replacing them. When they burn out, break the wires off and use the burnt out bulbs as lenses. Then mount a bright 1.5 volt bulb on the frame to shine through the burnt out bulbs.(you may have to file the back of the small light bulbs down incase there’s something on them blocking the light) That’s what I’ll be doing hopefully pretty soon.[:D]
I was just running trains and I put a couple of Genesis 60’ boxcars in the train. niether of them will stay on the track. Save your $24.
BLI has not made great advancements in paint jobs, the SD40-2 CNW has incorrect painted walkways, and the insignia is wrong. I would pay for an athearn before I would shell out 200.00 + for an very incorrect paint job.
Yeah, BLI didnt do thier homework on the SD40-2. Incorrect paint is one problem. Incorrect sound is more disturbing to me.
Honestly, I don’t understand all the Athearn bashing that goes on, I was a little worried about the company when Horizon took over…but I’m not now .
I had a display layout in a restaurant that ran for three years, from 7am until 7pm, 6 days a week, in probably the worst possible conditions for a model railroad.
And probably 95% of that time it was Athearn locomotives in operation. Granted, I know how to prepare them, and I know how to maintain them, but these all had their stock motors! now, Kato and Atlas loco’s probably would have held up fine, at three or four times the cost of these mostly train show blue box Atherans. Are they perfect? no…what is?
But I know my new Athearn SD50 runs as smooth as silk, and has no complaints running with old blue box SD40-2’s. I’ve seen the P2K SD50, no thanks! Different gear ratio’s for every model? GP trucks that self destruct? and $120+ locomotives?? I’ll pass. $70 Athearns with great paint, and improved mechanisms look better and better every day. Sadly, I think P2K is a horribly managed also ran, I hope Walthers gets some control over that mess and straightens them out . I’d love to buy some P2K GP9 shells!
Kato is great, but at the trainshow’s around here it’s mostly a collector thing, I know a half dozen guys with a shelf of Kato’s that have never run them, I like to modify, bash, detail and repaint stuff, a collector I’m not.
Atlas, No complaints, I’m just too short of hobby funds to buy enough to do what I want to do!
NOTHING I run stays just the same as it came out of the box, for years, I thought that factory paint was cheating!
Actually, recently i’m very pleased with Athearn. I don’t know what Athearn’s intentions were about headlights, but they are putting seperate lights even in their RTR models.
My Athearn CF7 is the only locomotive of mine that can make my 10% grade with only half power carrying a 5 car work train! The only loco of mine that comes anywhere close can only pull 2 cars up the grade and that is at full power!
Guys,
There are always areas where a manufacturer falls short.
You’ve probably read my posts where my wife’s cousin paid $100+ six axle Genesis units that growl with one having a truck/gear problem. I’m very dissappointed that Athearn went with MRC for sound in the Genesis F units. Athearn, of all companies, should know by now that many modelers today appreciate efforts to get as close to prototype as possible, especially after the BLI SD40-2 flack. The MRC’s synthesized sounds, while clear and dynamic, are innacurate IMHO.
In Athearn’s defense, they do seem to be making an effort in quality control. Customer Service has improved a lot over the past year. But don’t just complain about it here, TELL Athearn. Collectively we are a large group, here and on other forums. When a model manufacturer receive’s a large number of complaints, they will take action as they know word of mouth (and forum) can quickly impact their business!
Look what happened with those MTH threads from 2004. Actually prompted MTH to respond. There’s a lot of power in the written word! Though I’m a little skeptical, I was told that one of the improvements BLI is making to their locomotives was based on one of my threads.
So contact Athearn; by e-mail, written letter, or phone and voice your concerns.
Well here’s my 2 cents worth of Athearn bashing. Their RTR line of loco’s is inconsistant. The CF7 and GP35 are very nice and truly DCC ready with directional lights and a plug. On the other hand the GP38-2 amd SD40-2 are just the BB originals with plastic handrails. I haven’t seen the GP40-2 yet so I won’t comment on it.
Bob DeWoody
I agree with you about BLI Todd. I just recently got my Rock Island SD40-2 and they screwed up the paint job and I wasn’t happy. What is the deal with BLI messing up paint jobs on their SD40-2’s?
You know what the funniest thing is on this new Athearn bashing thread? The original poster’s complaint is that it’s a Phase I scheme on a Phase II shell. Well, the Athearn/MDC shell is a Phase Ib shell, so one would assume that if it has a Phase I scheme on it, it would be correct. Funny, eh? [:)]
Oh, and these were only announced unofficially about 9 months ago (early March). I know, because I posted it.
As to why the D&RGW model may not match the website…perhaps the web photo is of the pre-production model, and Athearn changed the production model to make it more accurate?
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New Haven
trains33,Had you taken the time and really knew the different phases you would have seen this RS3 is a Phase Ib like Paul pointed out and that these RS3s will be:
Fully assembled and ready to operate
Based on Model Die Casting tooling with many upgrades
Factory installed metal grab irons
Factory installed Celcon handrails
See-through cab
Prototype specific headlight configuration
Prototype specific exhaust stack
Prototype specific pilot.
Also these will be the BEST looking RS3s body on the market.
Also everybody knows the GP40-2 is a RTR Blue Box GP40-2 and not a new or retooled engine.Advanced modelers simply remove the Athearn headlight assembly and use LEDs.
Do you know the next release of the GP38-2/ GP40-2 will come with factory installed grab irons? Do you also know that Atlas Trainman line GP38-2 will not have grab irons installed? Have you seen where the Prices of the P2K line is now above Athearn,Atlas and Kato prices?
A 10% grade!!![:0]
Apparently someone is modeling the Mount Everest Lines 
I’ve had Athearn engines for years, and have had very few problems with them, even the F7 that hit the floor a few years back. Even that one (after some regluing of cab windows, rebending the handrails, and reinstalling the motor) still runs great. The only mods I’ve made to my Athearn units, was to replace the top strap with a few pieces of wire.
Its an RS-3 in D&RGW paint. Given that Altas is the only other company that I know that has made an RS-3 in plastic (P-1K might have come out with an RS-3 Just recent but I only remember seeing RS-1s and RS-2s from them) I don’t think one should complain all that much. Besides, if you want a phase one redetail the shell. Thats what we all had to do befeore we started paying chinamen to do it for us.
Or has the model gone out of model railroading??
James
Yeh, that grade was built before I had learned the pulling limits of locos. I had actually labelled it as an abandoned line, but not anymore thanks to the CF7.
While the new developments of Athearns may have their inherit problems and may not be through the roof in visible quality, but they have the best foundation in locomotive design than any other, IMHO.
Funny thing is, athearn didnt put MRC decoders in the F units. The MRC decoders in the challengers were plagued with problems (sound wasnt great either IMO). They were returning so many of the MRC decoders in the challengers that MRC got fed up with them and said, “no more”. Athearn made thier own decoder for the F units and while the sound is, well, interesting… I’m not impressed.