As everyone knows a while back Horizon Hobbies acquired Athearn and more recently Wathers acquired Lifelike’s model trains division.
On first impression it seemed that the Walthers/Lifelike combination would have provided us with the best in new products as they both were already in the model train business. It now seems that Athearn is resurging back into the forefront at least in the HO locomotive market with the new or retooled models they are releasing.
What’s your impression?
Bob,There is no real comparison because both Athearn and Walthers are old line companies that supply the hobby.Add Atlas and the big 3 is a unbeatable combination.Kato doesn’t even figure in as far as locomotive selection and BLI hasn’t found their “roots” yet and has a limited choice of locomotives.Bowser has Stewart but,again a limited selection.Bachmann is trying to overcome their past with the Spectrum steamers and the improve GP30/35/38-2/40 and the GE 44 and 70 Tonners.I seen the new GP30/35 run and I was impress.My GE70 Tonner is smooth runner as well.
Still it boils down to the big 3 having the best choices for locomotive selection.
So you see its not versus anything because for us to have a well rounded locomotive roster we need locomotives from the big 3 with the lessor brands thrown in on a as needed bases.
I (so far) vote for Proto 2000. Opinions may vary.
Proto 1000 and early 2000 GP’s used a a copy of Athearns B.B. engines with better motors and diode lighting.
Later Athearn RTR’s revised chassis competed with P2K’s. starting with the SD-60, with realistic starts, stops, and top speed.
TODAY it’s on a model-to-model basis.
Athearn’s GENESIS engines are their top-of-the-line wth the detail and sound - when they run.
Horizon is playing ‘catch up’. Walthers’ L.L. seems to have better ‘quality control’. If you want ‘cheaper’, there is always Bachmann.
I’S YOUR MONEY.
My locomotive fleet consists mostly of Athearn and Proto 2000 with some Bachmann’s thrown in, a couple of MDC RS3’s and 1 switcher made by Model Power. I’ve had only 1 Atlas. I was unlucky enough to get a lemon (bad trucks). I sent it back and they sent me a new one that had a bum motor. That burned me on Atlas. I haven’t bought one since, though I do have my eye on one that I might be able to get in a trade.
I have to say the P1K and P2K, are great runners, details not bad and the price isnt eithier, as for Athearn, I like there RTR series and I would rate the two about even in quality as far as Bachmann goes, I have seen several, I have a Spectrum 44 Tonner, for what it costs and compared to other models by Bachmann its a decent loco, makes a little to much noise to my likeing but, I wouldn’t buy another unless the price was amazing. But I am sold on Atlas, I would by another in a heartbeat if I had the money. Mike
Both companies have made some very good products and continue to expand their lines. I am most impressed with the Genesis product line for their shells, and lately for their improved drive systems. However, the P2K has the QSI sound which is much better overall than the MRC has been up to date.
I have not heard the new Genesis SD45-2 sound, but I have read it is much better than some of the early MRC sound.
The P2K line is solid overall but has some gear problems in the past causing repair problems. Both companies offer great products and now we must pick and choose what we really want depending on how we use them. Ten years ago, our complaint was about too few models being available to us and now we have so many choices, especially in F units.
it was a surprise to find out Walthers was bringing out the F units for the GN train, since the best looking and most accurate models ever of the F unit has already been made. They used them on their Super Chief.
I’ve owned all brands named above except for Atlas, which will probably be added to my fleet sometime soon. I just added a Life Like P2k GP9 I to my fleet and its my new favorite. Noise isn’t an issue to me, the real thing is definatley not quiet. Details are not too awfully important to me, I’d like to add them myself, but Life Like P2K’s are my favorite, it just took so much for me to buy something life like because of how bad I got ripped pre-Walthers buyout. This is just my [2c]
-beegle55
I prefer Life-Like in terms of detail and performance, but since Walthers bought the company Athearn beats Life-Like hands down when it comes to marketing and promotion. Horizon kept the Athearn web site. Walthers did away with the Life-Like web site. Athearn announces new products every month. With Walthers-owned Life-Like, it’s hit and miss. Athearn has an expanding line of products, while we don’t know exactly what is happening with Life-Like since Walthers took over. I also like Horizon’s web site much better than Walthers ‘Model Railroad Mall’.
Comparing model railroad manufactures is like comparing Dodge vs Chevy vs Ford.
It’s all about PERSONAL opinions. Everyone has one.
Athearn was on the road back before Horizons bought them.
Walthers is most likely trying to figure Life-Like into their own manufacturing process so that there’s little or no duplication of items from Walthers & Life-Like.
Just my 2 cents
Gordon
Gordon,Life Like doesn’t even figure in any more…They are out of the model train business having sold all of that interest to Walthers including the line of HO slot cars…
Its all in Walthers hands now.
True, but Horizon kept the web site running and treats Athearn as a separate brand. I can’t say the same for Walthers. If Walthers had kept the web site running, kept the Life-Like brand name, and continued with new releases and re-runs of past locomotive models like what Athearn and Atlas are doing, then I wouldn’t complain.
I have a hard time associating P1K and P2K with the Lifelike brand name even though I know that’s the origin. Both those brands are several cuts above what I remember from Lifelike prior to the introduction of those two product lines. In my mind, Likelike was on par with pre-Spectrum Bachmann and just a notch above Model Power. I still think Lifelike accessories are very toylike. OK for background scenes but don’t put them up front.
Wow! Thats a slam to the model railroad manufacturers if I ever saw one! Dodge Chevy Ford? 3 bankrupt LOSERS![:D] LOL
Amen to that! Toylike ain’t the word for it! They look like baby toys.
In the ‘olden days’, Athearn was King with inexpensive, easy to assemble, Blue Box kits. Even I could be an ‘Engineer’ of sorts.
THEN came Atlas and Stewart engines with those KATO drives. Gone were the 5v.-to-start and jerk-to-a-stop engines (and $15 prices). Some of this is due to the Dollar dropping to almost 15% of former purchasing power ($530 now vs.$32 then on the gold standard.
Athearn, Life Like, and Bachmann have offered UPGRADED models with ‘RTR’, ‘Genesis’, ‘Proto 2000’, ‘Heritage’, and ‘Specrum’ products - at upgraded prices. Even importer IHC has seen the light with a reasonably priced 2-10-2 of no ancestry at all.
BLI has become a ‘gunslinger’ of sorts - challenging the sheriffs in town. Who wins? who loses? Not the customer, who has more and better selections than ever before.
WHO’s BEST? depends on what you value MOST. Detail, running, or price?
I expect my engines to pull good, stay on the track and start when they need to, not half the throttle later. The ones I keep probably will be running long after I pass on. The rest gets resold on ebay.
Proto 1000 and Proto 2000 were product lines produced by Life-Like. On the bottom of the fuel tanks of all my ‘P2k’ locos the Life-Like name is there plain as day. So they are genuine Life-Like locos, and I don’t call them anything else but Life-Like.
I’ve always liked Life Like, they were my first [:I].
At first they seemed toy-like, not “life like.” Now Life Like products are actually living up to their name, for example, the Covered Hopper, now that truly is “life like” with all the details it has.
Didn’t Athearn (Horizon) acquire Rail Power Products (RPP) tooling? RPP had many locomotive shells available that no other company was offering, so that will greatly increase available products in the future if they keep up what they’re doing.
Don,Then you have the REAL OUTLAW that offers DCC equipped locos for less then $80.00…One could say Bachmann shoved DCC equipped locos up the big 3 noses with that move.I suspect that caught the big 3 off guard and wondering how to counter that move.
I can’t help but wonder what was the real reason behind Atlas latest rule.
i’d have to say that LL P2K line is the best. combines good running and excellent detail. i just wish i could get one of those super-detailed, excellent running models at a cheaper price. i have yet to try other brands. i was thinking about getting an Athearn BB SD40-2. i have heard they are good runners.
my opinion has been stated…