Anyone hear anything on when Atlas turnouts will be back on the market. LHS, said they were originally told March, then April, now they are hearing May or June. Looking for HO scale, code 100 custom line #6’s and #8’s. No one on line has them either.
Did you think that the LION might have a crystal ball? What will be will be, the future is not ours to see.
If they cannot get the Chinese to make them, maybe the Indians can do it. If the Indians cannot do it than maybe they can be made in Madagascar. If all else fails, they will have to make them in New Jersey.
But first, let us try places that still have skilled labor.
ROAR
LION, Kay sara sara. I think you are older than I thought you were.
As for Atlas track products in general, it appears they will get here when they get here. Sounds like back orders are backing up and whoever opens the container gets the first shot at the goods.
I’d be willing to pay a little extra to have them made in NJ. Take a few folks off the unemployment lines, so they could pay some taxes and put money into SS and Medicare funds.
I’m not holding my breath waiting for Atlas products to reach the customers.
Have fun,
Richard
So how old did you think the LION was? Him is 65.
ROAR
Problem - Dire need of #6 and #8 turnouts, code 100 rail.
Possible solutions:
- Wait for some Chinaman to get off his butt and make some for Atlas to sell.
- Go to an on-line auction site (or sites) and take your chances with someone else’s castoffs.
- Spend $$$ to buy custom-made, or to buy the jigs the custom builder uses.
- Grab stick rail, cut some ties (I prefer medium balsa) whip out rail cutter, file, track gauges and solderiing tool and MAKE the silly things.
The nice things about that last choice are:
- Never out of stock or on backorder.
- Not confined to stock, ‘by the number’ frogs. If you need a #6.75 or #7.23, just build it.
- CHEEP!!!
- The same skill set, once developed, can be used to make ANY specialwork design. 3-way switch, all routes curving left? No problem. How about a station throat with multiple double slips???
Hand-laying specialwork isn’t some arcane art taught by wizards, nor is it (usually) accompanied by burning incense and incantations. Of course, grabbing the wrong end of the soldering tool can lead to some interesting language…
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - on hand-laid specialwork)
Atlas turnouts will be in stock again by the time most folks receive the handlaying supplies and tools and learn to do it.
Or folks can buy Code 83 from PECO or Walthers and make a few rail transitions. Easy.
I just switched to ME. Its more expensive but made in the usa. Peco would be a good choice too (not made in US). At the Amherst show I saw a ton of Atlas switches. I should have scooped them all up, waited till now and put them on an auction site.
This may be the best advice of all. I started my layout with code 100, but I decided to try code 83 when I finished Phase 1 and began Phase 2. I only have two transitions between the two. I bought Walthers "transition sections, " but they were more for peace of mind and were not really necessary.
Now, if I had it to do over again, I’d start with code 83.
It’s seldom mentioned, but I believe the Atlas facility in New Jersey was affected by Hurricane Sandy, in addition to their continuing issues with production in the Far East. As much of an inconvenience that the Great Atlas Track Shortage has been for us, think of the year the folks at Atlas have had…
I agree with those that brought up the following options
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ME
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PECO
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Handlaid–a very good option and you could get them done in the next couple of weeks and end up with a perfect fit.
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Shows and meets.
May I add:
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Shinohara code 100
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Look in the back of MRR mag and call the hobby shops, there are several with them yet in stock.
I think Atlas will loose market share over this as it’s gone on way too long. BTW, in the mfg business it is understood by about 2016 or so that China will no longer have a big cost advantage over the USA. Prices may be going up at Walmart–LOL.
Richard
Your wish has been granted, with three caveats:
1: The company is called Micro Engineering instead of Atlas.
2: They are made in Fenton, Missouri, not NJ.
2: Code 83 ,70, or 55 turnouts only.
Available at all of the “regular” places. There are some videos of actual Americans making products in America on Youtube. Hard to believe I know, but true.
All fine if all you need is a #6. They don’t make a #4, or a wye, or any other specialwork. Just #6 and psuedo-flex track. Anything other than a #6 and you will need to handlay and/or use some other brand intermixed anyway.
–Randy
Some people will always see a half empty glass instead of a half full one.
Que sera sera.
I always hate it when a new guy shows up on the forum and takes a crack at one of the most respected, knowledgeable and helpful members of the forum.
Randy, remember this when Stoker comes looking for help.
Rich
I believe, He’s just, stoking,the ‘‘FIRE’’,LOL…
Cheers,
Frank
Was just a quick reply. Nothing wrong with ME turnouts, although previously there was mention that the tie rods are somewhat fragile. I bought some ME flex to try it out, I just don’t like the stuff. I’ll stick with Atlas or handlay using PC ties and soldering. I have a Fast Tracks fixture set but I put it aside for now since I wasn;t having much luck. I guess it just isn’t for me. I have a hard time getting a nice sharp frog - perhaps I am trying too hard to make it perfect. The rest of it is absolutely simple to do, in fact the first one I made was the best one, every try after that, I wasn;t happy with the frog points.
I’ve just always used Atlas, and it’s always been dead nuts reliable. Never had a problem electrically or mechanically. The few times when I had a loco or car bounce through the frog, it was proven with the NMRA gauge that the wheels were out of gauge. When corrected - no more bouce. I’ve run everything from 4 wheel switchers to GG1’s and every size car from shorties to full length passenger cars backwards and forwards through Atlas turnouts at warp speed with never a derailment.
I have considered buying a couple of samples of the Peco 83 Line to test those out as an alternative. What I probbaly should do since I’m in a holding pattern right now is practice more witht he Fast Tracks tools and lay in a stock of turnouts for my planned ‘big one’
–Randy
“I always hate it when a new guy shows up on the forum” - Rich
There is thread after thread where somebody asks a beginners question and the"most respected, knowledgeable and helpful members of the forum" treat him like garbage.
“Randy, remember this when Stoker comes looking for help.” - Rich
I can see how new folks get treated here. You openly try to get others to help you gangpile on the new guy. You can keep your “help”. [N]
Stoker, instead of taking my comments out of context, go back and look at your reply to Randy.
Disrspectful, to say the least.
Here is the complete content of my quote:
“I always hate it when a new guy shows up on the forum and takes a crack at one of the most respected, knowledgeable and helpful members of the forum. Randy, remember this when Stoker comes looking for help.”
Rich
Hi Randy,
The more I think about it, I think this is the best advice of all. Build your own. I have been reluctant to lay my own because it seems complicated. But for the same reason I was reluctant to switch to DCC, install Tortoises because it involved soldering, and use JMRI because I had limited computer skills. But now I’m doing all three with no major problems. I’m done track laying for right now but maybe on the next layout. But have yet to scenic some spurs so I could tear up the Atlas track and try my hand at building a small section to start out.
I have a feeling we will see supply disruptions on and off for years to come not just with Atlas.
As far as Peco is concerned, try it you might like it. It seems to be a better manufactured product than Atlas built to a tighter tolerance. But again a bit pricier.
Well thanks for the inspiration, Derek