Now that Athearn has been sold. I wonder if Horizon Distributing will make Undecorated locos avialable. I was none to happy to find out I have to strip decorated units so I can paint the roads I want.
Can’t tell you what will happen with products but I can tell you what will happen with prices. They doubled with the first sale so expect a 100% or more increase in list price.
If prices are to double, that is really a shame. Athearn as far as I am concerned built themselves by having a good to superior product but at very reasonable prices. As usual the beancounters rule.
I thought athearn already had undec engines.
Atheran does do undecs, in everything except the Genisis F units. If you want a Genisis F unit undec, you have to buy it from Highliners. I cant remember how many undec geep 38’s and 40s I’ve bought over the years![:D]
Hurry up and get em fast! If the prices go up like they are forcasted to do, Kato units might look cheap!!![:p][:p][:p][:p][:p]
Interesting situation. If Athern prices go up…and there is no evidence they either need to or will…the entry-level participants may then be forced to actually learn the craft aspects of the hobby rather than simply owning a screwdriver and tube of glue thinking they are modelers.
Randy
Randy, You forgot they also need a pair of vise grips and a big hammer [:D]
Not every one has the ability to be a modeller, but everyone should be given the chance to participate.
Remember the more the merrier, especially as high numbers should keep prices reasonable, keyword being reasonable!
And lastly if you force someone to do something then one can hardly call it a hobby.
Fergus is right about forcing people to do what they don’t like. Some people have posted on the thread about custom layout builders that they would like someone to buidl the benchwork and lay the track. By including more people in the hobby the prices should stay down.
The prices for RTR stuff is fairly set by the level of competition but I think the real danger is that kits will be eliminated. Even the easy to build freight car kits are a place to start. This board would be fairly emtpy if everyone had to build from scratch. I think about 50% would quit and the other 50% would be too busy building to post.
DT
Hang on to your wallets cause sure as it’s winter out the prices will go up at least 30-40% to cover the buyout
Too bad cause it’s a shame to ruin a good business that way
my $0.02 worth
decoy706
I hope undecs are available. It would be hard enough to strip an engine
but the really hard part to me is finding the limited run engine.
I had forgotten about the vise grips and hammer…doubtless to align and superdetail ‘blue box kits’. 
I can’t help but think when someone posts: ‘I have X dozen or Y hundred Athern cars’ they are separated from ‘have your layout built by the professionals’ only by the size of their checking accounts. The attitudes are identical, no interest in growing in the hobby.
Fergie has a point when he says: ‘Not everyone has the ability to be a modeller’. I agree. Few, if any, of us enter model railroading at an advanced stage. However, everyone has the ability to develope the skills to be a modeler. Not to aspire and act to do so is to miss the point. I can’t think of any avocative interest you enter a novice intending to remain one.
Athern is the most common entry point, a function the company has served well. I hope and expect they will continue to do so. As the first step into the hobby Athern is necessary. I can’t imagine not taking successive steps.
Ramdy
ATHEARN’S been sold? When did this happen?
Rather an elitist opinion. Actually both rda1964 posts are more in tune with the “Athearn-bashing SIG” that infects the Atlas forum.[:(]
Many model railroaders who have a large fleet of Athearn [ and MDC ] cars, are not necessarily some kind of unskilled sub-species…quite a few have excellent car-forwarding operation based layouts…many have great scenery, or very well done scratchbuilt or kitbashed structures…many are good at weathering…many have very well done wiring / electrical systems, or that rare feature of working signalling…some have several of the above.
It is not necessary to take an interest in " upgrading one’s skills" in every single aspect of the hobby to enjoy it. If it were so, everyone would have become another Mel Thornburgh in the 40’s and 50’s, and Japanese brass would have never come along ![:0]
I suppose an elitist might criticize
Prices will not double if model railroaders don’t buy at the high price. I think that term is boycot???
If prices get bumped one of two things will happen.
A defection to other brands or an industry wide across the board increase.
Other manufacturers can piggy back off that.
I think we are missing something. So Athearn/Horizon’s prices DO go up. Doesn’t that open the window a bit wider for new companies to bring out a line that might fill a price nitch that Athearn has played in for years? With the new technology available it doesn’t take the money it did in the past to make the molds I’m told. Looks like a great opportunitiy for some mom & pops to go to town.
Another question - with all the production going overseas to supposedly cheaper sources, how come WE haven’t seen any reduction in prices at retail??? Sounds to me as if there is more margin being pocketed by the companies.
???
If Price of Athearn’s locomotives and freight cars do shoot through the roof I myself am just going to go over and buy my freight car kits from MDC. They have much much more availability of undecorated freight car kits such as 50’ gondolas, covered hoppers and open hoppers. Has anyone noticed that Athearn’s undecorated gondolas, hopper cars and covered hopper cars are sold out? I have a feeling they may do away with undecorated models and stick with just painted models and kits. For my HO scale Leelanau County (modeled after Manistee & Northeastern’s 19.4 miles long Lake Leelanau branch) Railway i have more than enough locomotives with 1 each of Athearn’s SW1000 and SW1500 and a Bachmann 1994 44 tonner. About the only other locomotives i might buy would be one or two of Athearn’s topeka cab CF7’s. And like some fellow modelers have said, if Athearn does raise their prices through the roof, modelers will go to other manufacturers that sell at lower prices or order through mail order discount dealers like standard hobby