Hello
Just wondering if anyone knows the length of the Aero Train cars? I can’t see it on Con-Cor’s site. Reason I ask is my layout can only handle standard box car sized cars.
Thanks
Hi Ludwig,
The engine is 7 inches long, intermediate cars are 5 inches long & the tail car is 6 inches long.
I got mine last week and it’s a fine model, I’m quite impressed with it. I’ve got it running around the middle loop of a 6 x 4 layout and am having no problems. [tup]
Cheers,
Warren
the Aerotrain cars were based on GM bus bodies so they are considerbaly shorter than normal passenger cars. You shouldn’t have any trouble other than paying for it. Pretty pricey in my opinion.
As was said the cars were actually bus bodies modified into railcars. The Aero Train was nine cars. The cars should go through 18" radius curves but the wider the curve the better.
The zoo in Portland has a 30" gauge Aero Train that makes a five mile trip through Washington Park and the zoo.
If you want some, you should act fast.
There are still some 4 car introductory sets available but the 3 card add-ons are gone from Con Cor and the distrubutors. (You might find some still in a store or online.)
According to ConCor, they are considering another production run but require preorders by March 25.
From ConCor (and this is a few days old):
#1: Well, the HO AeroTrains have come in, and are nearly all sold out. We are out of the Basic Sets in Pennsy, And Undecorated, and less than a dozen each left of Santa Fe and Rock Island.
We are considering another run for later this year, but we would have to have your “pre-order” no later than March 25th in order to get production time allocated by the China factory.
Maybe I am stubborn and old fashioned, But I am wanting the Old Varney Aerotrain made by Bowser. This way I get to enjoy putting it together, rather than let corporate greed and low chineese wages enjoy the assemply process for me.
James
Yes, the Aero cars are short, no longer than a bus, but they have single axle wheel sets which act and track differently than standard trucks. These are not as bad as front runners, which are horrible, but they are a bit “stiffer” tracking. I have not had problems running tham through #6 switches but have not run them through #4’s yet.
You can fit a sound decoder and speaker into the Aero Train, but not easily. There isn’t much room in the engine.
Tilden
Thanks everyone! I’ll have to see about getting my name down for one!
Well I was going to get one, until I noticed the price! [:(]
Bowser seels the old Varney Aerotrain. It has to be assembled, and if you want a detailed interior you will have to make one from scratch. But the Bowser Aerotrain runs as follows.
4 Unit Starter set $93.95
Add on Coach 22.95
You will have to buy an after market power kit that I think runs about $35-40.00 but I can’t seem to find it listed on the bowser sight so let me do some more research and I will get back to you.
James
“Corporate greed?” I don’t think Con-cor is making a huge profit by offering the Aero Train. Besides corporate greed is how companies compete which usually benifits the consumers through better goods and services. I have never understood this anger at companies making profits. If they didn’t make profits then they would not be in business. They only make a profit when they offer something worth buying.
I actually bought the Aero train after seeing it in stores. It is a great set. I would rank it up there with the brass version brough out a few years back. It runs great and the detail level is right up there. yes it is expensive, but it is centuries ahead of the old varney, which my dad used to have. If you want a project, then by all means get the Varney. if you want a stunning replica of the Aero train, then choose the Con-cor model.
Eric
I agree with elauterbach, IMO it’s well worth the money, check ebay, I got the base set plus a 3 car add on for less than MSRP of the base set ! I’m going to shell out for an additional 3 car set so I can have a complete train. It’s a superb model and it’s lifted my opinion of Con Cor enough for me to be looking at trying to get a Burlington Zephyr set as well.
I think you’ll be more than happy if you do decide to pay the extra for the CC Aerotrain.
Cheers,
Warren
I don’t have a problem with Con-Cor making a profit. I have a problem with them assuming I want it assembled. And because they assume I want it assembled they have it made in China. Where they can hire the whole factory for what it costs to pay the wages and benifits for two janitors for an entire year. And even now that the sound revolution is over, Its still an expensive feature for which I find no use for. Its one of those features you get not because it improves the performance of the model. It does nothing for performance. Its only there to make your testicles feel good in that primitive Tim the Tool Man Taylor “Power Grunt” way.
The CC Aerotrain is DC and comes DCC & sound ready, in other words it needs a decoder fitted for DCC ops.
Cheers,
Warren
Whether we like it or not, since the days of the first brass and Rivarossi imports, a tried and true business model is to make RTR locomotives with cheap labor. As far as I can tell, most model railroaders would rather buy RTR locomotives than assemble kits. And it’s actually easier to supply RTR that are assembled on a production line (of sorts) than to service kit builders who are in over their heads. Servicing beginners requires costly support staff who are knowledgeable (can actually do a good job assembling the kits themselves), not grumpy, and patient - all backed up with a parts supply and 800 toll charges. It’s probably cheaper to pay low wage, semi-skilled assemblers in China, or the current country of choice, and the transport.
Selling RTR also means you are likely to pry more money out of a given model railroader’s wallet. There are many model railroaders who buy 6 or more RTR locomotives a year. But you would likely only sell 2 kits a year to someone who builds all their locomotives from kits. Another statistic in favor of RTR - a British magazine survey of their readership found that 75% of kits that had been bought had never been started. Looking at my shelves at home, my stats are even worse.
Some may consider this heresy, but I’ve never cared for the Aerotrain.
I remember the old Bowser/Varney Aerotrain, I always thought it looked “toy like”. The only exception being the power unit with its classic 50s streamlined looks. I always thought it would look better with a power unit at both ends.
Now Con-cor comes out with the latest and greatest and guess what? It looks just like the Varney model - toy like! The power unit still exudes coolness and the coaches and end car still look like tinplate left overs.
I’m not impressed. If I was going to spend that kind of money (I’m not!) I’d opt for the new Triplex!
-George
I purchased three set of the Aerotrain and all hat scratches on the engine. i wrote Concor a mail, hoping they will replace these damaged housings. The bad think, I am in Austria, and it will take a time.
Has anybody experience how Concor fixes quality issues?
Reinhard
[quote user=“fwright”]
Whether we like it or not, since the days of the first brass and Rivarossi imports, a tried and true business model is to make RTR locomotives with cheap labor. As far as I can tell, most model railroaders would rather buy RTR locomotives than assemble kits. And it’s actually easier to supply RTR that are assembled on a production line (of sorts) than to service kit builders who are in over their heads. Servicing beginners requires costly support staff who are knowledgeable (can actually do a good job assembling the kits themselves), not grumpy, and patient - all backed up with a parts supply and 800 toll charges. It’s probably cheaper to pay low wage, semi-skilled assemblers in China, or the current country of choice, and the transport.
Selling RTR also means you are likely to pry more money out of a given model railroader’s wallet. There are many model railroaders who buy 6 or more RTR locomotives a year. But you would likely only sell 2 kits a year to someone who builds all their locomotives from kits. Another statistic in favor of RTR - a British magazine survey of their readership found that 75% of kits that had been bought had never been started. Looking at my shelves at home, my stats are even wors
I seem to remember the ‘old’ Aerotrain wasn’t powered.
Varney went out of business 40-50 years ago, & Bowser made chassis 'kit’s. Good luck.