Maybe I missed a big news flash but, is Athearn still producing freight car kits? All I see in ads and LHS is rtr stuff. If so, who’s got em?
According to the Athearn “please buy our stuff” emails I receive, they are still making kits. You might try ordering from the Athearn website. Hobby shops are stocking more RTR and fewer kits.
Better yet, find what you want on the Atherarn web site and then order it through your local hobby shop.
If your local shop can’t or won’t get them, Horizon, Athearn’s parent and distributor sells direct from their web site. Last time I looked a number of kits where in stock.
Athearn has always and still does work on a batch production basis, so if its not available right now, it will be again. There is a lot of Athearn product out there on shop/mailorder/train show dealer shelves, you just need to search the net, go on Ebay, pick up the phone, go to the shows - you will find anything you want that Athearn has ever made.
Sheldon
Hi!
I’ve had Athearn kits since the early '60s, and give them a lot of credit for me being in the hobby.
My two local hobby shops still have a few kits, but not like years ago. For those I’ve been after during the last 8 years or so, I’ve found Ebay the best source - especially during the winter months. New kits are relatively easy to find at some hobby shops, but anything “out of production” is where you will find Ebay especially worthwhile.
ENJOY,
Mobilman44
A hobby shop in Tucson, Arizona, still has a large selection of Athearn “blue box” freight car kits, and Athearn is still making them, though the trend seems to be slowly creeping toward everything being “R-T-R” (Ready to Rebuild).