While most of my rolling stock is Athearn blue box, I don’t use any Athearn engines at all. Sure, I still own 3 Athearn PA’s and a pair of SW7’s (SW1200’s), but these have all been replaced on my layout with Proto units. The P2K’s are better in every way but price… And since Athearn doesn’t make anything else for New Haven, I don’t own anything else from them. However, I can’t wait for the MDC RS-3’s to be made by Athearn…
But cars…I don’t really care if they are super accurate or not, as long as they run, that they fit my era, and that they are affordable. I don’t like shorty passenger cars, but that’s not a problem with freight.
BTW, tell those guys at your club that you’ll run Atlas, Proto, Kato or brass…as long as they buy it for you. [:D]
ericsp wrote:
Depends. Are you a model builder or a model railroader? [;)] IMHO, it doesn’t matter if you build your own models or pay someone to build them for you. It’s all in how you run them. If you are putting them in a circle and watch them zoom around, then you’re playing trains (nothing wrong with that, but don’t tell me you’re modeling the real thing). If you try to accurately recreate actual operations of a prototype railroad, then you are a railroad modeler. What differance does it make if you build the models yourself?
If you like the blue box kits, you’d better buy them now. If history is any guide, when a manufacturer is sold the line diminishes, then disappears. Anyone remember the Central Valley line of cars, the Ulrich metal cars, and many others.
I’d run blue box but Athearn doesn’t make S scale. None-the-less I recently bought 4 of the blue box kits just to have a few a round. (I think I crossed a line here from modeler to collector [:)])
Enjoy
Paul
I was raised with the creedo that there’s two ways to have the tallest building in the neighborhood; build yours up or tear all the others down. The difference is that when you set to tearing down you mark yourself as a target for the same and will soon certainly fail in your quest.
Were I modelling for the sake of ego gratification my pike would be in a glass walled room out near the sidewalk and every piece of rolling stock and motive power would have a gaudy price tag fluttering in a simulated breeze. I’m involved with this hobby for fun and personal satisfaction that comes from clean operation and accomplishment.
The folks that knock your collection are either just jazzing you or have weaknesses that they don’t want you to see. They want you absorbed with self-doubt and on the defensive 'cause they don’t want you looking for the cracks in their own plaster.
There are some in this world who would join a group of people who take long walks in their bare feet and they would hassle some of the other members because the thickness of their callousses (sp?) just doesn’t display a “proper” dedication to the hobby.
I say smile, tell them that in the greater scheme of things they may well be right and then screw 'em all!! [}:)] When you’ve sorted and built seven trains, delivered and recovered one hundred cars from your variety of businesses and everything is back in the barn with your derailments and miscues able to be counted on one hand; the Mfg. of your equipment isn’t a matter for consideration. HAVE FUN!!!
BTW: Got the initial benchwork done on the KKWRR during this four day break and hope to start laying track after the 4X12’s I start tomorrow night. Gotta get something done, the seven ATHEARN locos I’ve collected over the last couple months need a sand box to play in. [:D]
Paul said:Um, Brakie, IIRC, David Harrison said good things about the Kato’s dependibility on the long distance torture tests he runs at that museum, didn’t he?
Sure did…He also stated that they used some newer Athearn SD40-2s with good results.
And while LL certainly copied the Athearn drive, they made it better…
Sure did…Only by adding the weight that Athearn failed to add over the years except for the super powered F7.But we won’t mention the gears,trucks,motors and drive shafts are interchangeable.Nor will we mention the crack gear issue of the P2Ks,the warped handrails that came with the SW9/1200 and other noted problems such as the locomotive side frames being to thick on the SD60 as well as some other minor detail flaws.
And while Atlas may or may not have helped Kato, the fact remains that the Katos are still some of the best drives around while Atlas does have it’s little bumps in the road from time to time (remember the new RS-1’s?).
Yup…I also recall the Kato complaints on the Atlas forum as well.Paint to thick,wrong details etc but,we won’t recall those posts will we? Kato is far from the best of the best…
Paul,That is a little known fact that Atlas help design the proved Atlas/Kato drive.
Reading the complaints found on the Atlas forum about all brands I can’t help but wonder if the high dollar locomotives is worth buying?
About 90 per cent of my rolling stock fleet consists of Athearn blue box cars. I like them because they are durable, and above all, cheap. As for locomotives, I have about a dozen blue box units and they all run reasonably well. The only Athearn blue box locos I didn’t like were the switchers. They ran too fast and stalled on switch frogs, so I replaced all my Athearn SWs with Life-Like units.
Athearn Blue Box kits is why I’m back into the hobby. I’ve got around 10 UP Blue Box Locos and easily over 50 box car kits. Sure the Atlas, Kato’s and Proto’s are better detailed but for the best bang for the buck you can’t beat the Athearn kits. As for the wannabe model railroader comment from your club members, tell them we all are. It doesn’t matter what you run just as long as your running something.
Most of my locomotive roster is Athearn Blue Box kits as are most of my freight cars and half of my passenger cars. I have a few Roundhouse kits as well. Once the locos are tuned, detailed and a proper decoder installed they run as well as my PK2s. I have Bachmann and BLI steamers too. If I had to buy nothing but high end Atlas, Kato, Rivirossi and PK2 locomotives, my railroad would be severely power poor!. As it is, I’m happy, the railroad operates and if I want or need a new BB loco, I don’t break the bank purchasing it. I just hope the line continues into the future.
I actually prefer Athearn stuff over everything else.
They’re durable, especially when my 3 year old is around.
Sure other manufacturers locomotives run quieter & you can accurately count the number of rivets on a boxcar, Athearn’s offerings are tough to beat.
Do this test
Drop an Athearn boxcar & an Atlas Boxcar from say Layout top level.
See how many pieces break off the Athearn vs the Atlas!
For example, I know a guy who is very seriously into biking. He just bought a $4,000 bicycle. Not motorcycle - bicycle. In his circle of biking friends, this is normal. His bike is made of all composite materials, etc. The reality is, throw a water bottle on there and wear something other than the most aerodynamic clothing, and the $4000 bike probably now performs like a $1500 bike.
Musicians - many guitar players own many, many guitars, whether or not they can actually play.
I recently heard about a drummer who ordered a limited edition $10,000 drumset at a local drumshop. Rumor has it the guy can barely play, but he’s loaded, so he bought it. Meanwhile, guys who work / hang out at the shop who could play were tripping out on the price of the instrument.
It’s in every hobby.
I know a guy who’s in a really good band, and he and his band members are not equipment junkies - they’re into the music, and they love it and have a blast. They’re good too!
I’d personally rather make sensible purchases and enjoy several aspects of life, rather than dumping everything into one hobby.
IMHO, that’s a failing of Life-Like’s over-thinking when improving the drive. What makes sense to me is that LL was concerned with the axles slipping around the wheels, so they tightened the tolerances of the shaft to increase friction. Unfortunately, this can also rupture the axle gear with little to no warning due to the extra pressure of the tighter tolerances.
But, other than that, wouldn’t you say they have improved the basic Athearn drive? It’s quieter, smoother, more efficient, uses fewer amps, etc. Sure, it’s not perfect, but it’s still an improvement over Athearn…
BRAKIE wrote:
Which can hardly be called the clasic Athearn blue box drive of old with dog bone drive shafts, nickle-silver wheels, etc.
Um, that’s not all they did…
Good, because they aren’t all interchangable…
See above.
I thought we were talking about drives, Brakie, not details?
Nothing wrong with Athearn, I have the 2 SD-40-2’s I had since I was a kid, they growl? yes. Do they pull like a mothersucker? yes! If you can deal with the noise and ruff running of some of them there a cheap solution to motive power.
Almost all my rolling stock is Athearn. It is astounding to me how someone can spend fifty bucks on a boxcar because it has a few details that I could add to a six dollar Athearn model and spend, tops, about seven or eight bucks extra, for a grand total of fourteen dollars. I’m not saying the high end models don’t have a place in the hobby. I am saying that the vast majority of us can’t afford a 50 car fleet consisting of models costing thirty to fifty dollars each. Athearn blue boxes enable who know’s how many thousands of modelers to build a respectable rolling stock fleet. Sometimes the details can be poorly manufactured. Good thing the LHS usually has 150-200 in stock. I can almost always find a good kit. It will be a shame when they’re finally gone.
The snobs at your club are jerks (assuming they’re serious). Who gives a flying rip what they think. Blue boxes are an asset to the hobby.
And I say, God bless them![:D]
I have two boxes of 30 athern boxcars completed. They are ready to go in a train and what a train it will be.
Would it hurt anyone’s feelings if I said I had two boxes with 30 Intermountain/Kaydee 30 dollar boxcars ready to go in a train? That is like almost a thousand dollars sans engine.
I probably have about 200 bucks tied up in the athearns and I am happy. I hope they keep building them blue boxes forever because people cannot afford the high dollar stuff.
Hey - I run Athearn and Roundhouse along with my older Tyco yes I said Tyco and AHM stuff. I also have converted some of my older equipment with KD’s. I also run Proto 2000s. I dont have any Kato or Brass cause they are out of my range.
Who gives a flying pigs Whooooo whooo what you run! This is a hobby, and if you are having fun doing it. It relaxes you and takes the stress from the day away, Then keep doing what you are doing!
We are all here to support each other in the Hobby, and if there are people who want to get on their soapboxes, and want to preach about the new fangle engine that is the best running! The best pulling! The best Blah,Blah, Blah… Come to Realitiy and just support us alll. Whatever we run!!!
Kevin
It’s a hobby, if you enjoy doing what you do that’s all that matters [:D] i am a Blue Box modeller and it’s great, you can upgrade at little cost with metal wheelsets and McHenry couplers to get em rolling smooth. I just sold a bunch of stuff [:(] but with the money i bought 2 broadway limited imports loco’s (they are great) but there will ALWAYS be blue box stuff in my collection[}:)][:)][}:)]
Paul,If you want the proof of Atlas helping design the Atlas/Kato drive I highly suggest you look through your back issues of MR from the 80s(or there about).
As far as measuring any brand of locomotive against a Kato I would not bother seeing that Kato is no better or worst then any other brand judging Kato by my 4 Kato GP35s. So no Kato Kudos or Kato flag waving here.
BTW I been WAITING MONTHS for a reply from Kato answering my question if they planned on doing a C&O GP35…[:(!] That type of customer service I can do without.[:(!] After all a simple Thank you for asking would have suffice.
Seeing the new Athearn RTR GP35 looks and runs as good as a Kato GP35 Athearn will be getting my C&O GP35 money.[:D][tup]
Well, first, find me a $50 boxcar. The most expensive boxcars are Kadee’s, and they are approx. $30, not $50. Secondly, you’d have to buy metal trucks ($6), Kadee couplers ($1), grabs, steps, see-through walkway, new brake wheel, brake rigging, ladders, doors, etc. for the $7-$8 Athearn car It would not be “…tops, about seven or eight bucks extra, for a grand total of fourteen dollars.” Then there is the labor involved. You’d have to shave off all the molded on grabs, ladders, door rails, etc. and replace them all, then you’d have to paint and decal it. Is that worth $30? A lot of people seem to think so.
Ibflattop wrote:
Remember, the original quote was about a club situation, and clubs can have standards that preclude AHM/Tyco products, or even blue box products.
Sorry, not in a club. If your equipment does not meet club standards, then it won’t be allowed to run in said club. Now, nothing has indicated that to be the problem in the original case mentioned, but the “Whatever we run!!!” line is not for everybody.
Brakie wrote:
[quote]
QUOTE: Paul,If you want the proof of Atlas helping desi