does anyone else have any problems getting parts from athearn??? I want to get some PAINTED body shells for some of their locos but seems like they don’t offer it that way anymore… I have good frames and motors all I need is the body shells painted like the new FerroMex one… with out having to buy the new ones… (which are far too expensive now) any suggestions?
Yes, the order deadlines and limited runs is the new reality of the hobby. For example the Broadway’s new passenger cars cannot be found anywhere having been sold out. Those that want em either have to wait for a second run or get them elsewhere.
I just placed orders for desiel power today, while not athearn they should come in sometime this year.
I do recall the days of Athearn and especially thier 40 foot reefers with the billboards from the 80’s if they ever rerelease those as kits or RTR I might get a bunch. But would have to start saving now and be ready to order the day they announce such a product.
Not like old times where athearn products were on the shelf and always availible. (Cheap too…)
doesn’t matter to me as long as they bring out what i like.
Safety Valve,
I just came from a train show - dozens of BLI CZ cars, domes, sleeper, dome/obs…They are out there. Maybe BLI is out of them (sold them to the dealers), but the dealer still have a good supply. Now, a month from now you may have a hard time getting that ‘special’ car…
Jim Bernier
WANT ATHEARN PARTS? SHELLS?
The OLD Athearn was a MANUFACTURER - made shells - painted them - and assembled the parts. It was easy for Customer Service to dip into available parts BINS…
The NEW Athearn is an IMPORTER - buys finished boxed products in Master Carton’s and ships them per order. IN one door - and OUT the other.
The SERVICE DPT. has to anticipate (guess) what they need, and wait for shipment…OVERSEAS item’s come by boat (8 weeks?) plus Union dock workers who
have exclusive right’s to load and unload.
Yes, there is air freight but you wouldn’t pay for it and it’s unprofitable, and saved for emergencies.
Athearn - and other’s product’s are pre-boxed, RTR, and handled largely by former shipping clerks.
AS the well known sign hanging in Clinton’s Office when he was running for President said “IT’S THE ECONOMY STUPID.”
Excellent news. Indeed the dealer told me that he cannot get them for those who were asking for them.[:)]
The RTR and Genesis lines are imported. The Blue Box line is made in Carson, CA. Although I hear that the motors in the Blue Box locomotives are imported and have been for a very long time now.
Did Athearn ever offer painted shells as individual parts? I have never had trouble getting Blue Box parts from Athearn, except when I made the mistake of going through a particular, local train shop (very little customer service there).
You may try buying undecorated shells, then paint and decal them.
Now all we have to do is come up with a conspiracy theory for the plethora of conspiracy theories.
I love conspiracy theories!!!
Guys, let’s not create urban legend.
The explanation has been presented already.
- Athearn was purchased by Horizon.
- The wide body molds are AThearns and were not purchased by any other manufacturer.
- The Atlas and P2K diesel locomotive models are made from new tooling and molds in China.
- There’s just no comparison between the Athearn and Atlas GE U-Boats! (I own both!) With all due respect…that’s like comparing a Ford Taurus to a Lexus LS400!
- Athearn and P2K axles are interchangeable and there’s plenty in stock from Walthers.
- Some of the old Blue Box loco lines, like the Cowl Units “seem” to be retired, though Athearn did not officially announce it. Undecs or painted bodies no longer seem to be available though it’s worth a check at Athearn’s website.
On the Bright Side: I’ve seen LOADS of Athearn Blue Box units on Ebay. I bought a pair of FP45s for $20+ dollars! With today’s standards, the “wide BBs” can be bought at bargain base prices by smart shoppers.
Here are the undecorated shells that Horizon Hobby lists on its website.
Cool, Eric. Thanks for the heads up.
The only headache that’s been duanting from the past however, is getting those items. I’ve tried getting undecs years back but apparently they’d sell out quickly.
I’ve had no problems getting Athearn parts. My local hobby shop (A.B. Charles & Son near Pittsburgh, PA) has been in business for 60 years and they have a huge store of repair parts. I don’t know if they have painted shells, but just about everything else is available, at minimum cost.
One thing I’ve noticed about Athearn’s blue-box kits, is that many locomotive parts are similar. That is, a truck from an EMD switcher will fit a Baldwin switcher…with the only difference being the sideframes.
That was one thing I always liked about Athearn, and even MDC, the standardized parts. Though I’m sure a lot of people wondered why the heck they got a smoke stack with a covered hopper… [:o)]
I once worked for Walthers, and wondered why they never bothered to design things that way back in those days… Nowadays, everything has to have a different design for each model anyways, otherwise it’s not “prototypical” enough…