First off, I haven’t been on the board in awhile. Life has been keeping me pretty busy with some other commitments, so I havent had my head in the “train world” in a while. So, I’m sorry if this topic has been beaten to death… like the last time I posted something.
But since it has been at least a month since I have been down to my local train store, I had some time yesterday and stopped in to pick a up a few things. I know the crew there pretty well and the one fellow invited me in the back to show me “the new stuff”. They had just recieved their shipment of new Athearn Blue Box Kits! They had around 40- 50 of them. It looked like a pretty wide selection of years and road names. From 40’s to 80’s and West to East. Paint looked great, markings were clear.
What struck me was they all came with metal wheels and “magentic couplers”. Probably the same couplers as before. I have no idea about the metal wheels. And yup, there on the side of the Box… “Made in China”. But also, I was very happy to see the prices tags were still in the 7.75 to 8.50 range. Which if that’s the case, after some Kadee’s, you can still put a “good car” into service for under 10 bucks. That made me happy.
Anyways, thought I would pass that on. That, and I will try and stick my head in more around[8D] here
I’ve built two of the new ‘Chinese’ Blue Box kits. I can’t see any difference in quality. As stated above, the colors are good and the decals and lettering are sharp. The couplers are the same metal sprung McHenry’s that were used before and the wheelsets have metal axles and plastic wheels. Once assembled, they blended right in with my other Athearn cars.
Best of all is the free tube of Chinese toothpaste with every kit …
I think my first-ever Athearn kit was the B&O quad hopper. I paid list price: $1.49. All Athearn kits had metal wheels back then, The geared F-7 was less than $10 back then. (and of course the cost of a new car or house or new suit was also correspondingly low). A number cruncher type may be able to demonstrate that Athearn is cheaper now than it ever was.
I have no idea what happned to Cuda, but that stinks.
These kits though that I saw were good ole’ Athearn types. Same coupler boxes, same paint, same roads. In fact, I realised that many of them I had all ready built. I dont know if the road number have changed. Guess time will tell how this plays out.
Canazar, my LHS knew about this all ready when I took it back. Seems some of the new athearn BB’s will be made that way but most will be the Athearn BB’s we know and like. My was a 3 bay coal hopper, I exchanged for a 2 bay that was made like the old style.
As far as metal wheels, mine have been hit and miss, mainly miss. I have bought around 20 in the last month and about 6 have came with metal wheels. As far as the couplers, one I have looked at have been the Bachmann knuckle. Now there may have been Mc Henry’s but I am uses to not looking at them so there may be some in the box’s.
Here is what I like and dislike not counting the RH Athearn.
1 Coupler height is pretty much dead on with Kadee #5’s! That a big plus and take a lot less time to bulid. I have had 2 that where off less than .010, to date I have not used a washer under the truck or drop coupler.
2 There trucks with metal wheels seem to roll pretty easy, had 2 that where tight but no real cleaning of the Bolster needed couple of quick turns of the cleaning tool.
What I dont like. Kits that come with metal axles and plactic wheels! They have changed the length of the axle and made then narrower, Proto 2000 axles will not fit any longer! That just not right. Plus my truck cleaning tool will not fit either.
Over all I am pretty darn happy with them. I will be glad when either atheran or Proto starts making metal replacment wheel sets and a bloster cleaner that will fit.
Canazar, you will all so have a PM from me. Looking forward to more PIC as well.
My solution to plastic couplers = Kadee 148’s with half a washer to pass gauge if necessary.
Trucks that wont hold Proto 33" wheels, throw away, purchase complete truck/Wheel set.
I am in the process of laying in a large amount of spares so if I run into issues in the future I can fix it.
I know that I have almost all of the Blue Boxes I want if I buy any in the future, it will be very carefully inspected at the hobby shop with a 33" wheel set brought with me from home to test the trucks in the kit.
I still have to throw away half the parts in the kit so that has not changed.
I am still happy to purchase athearn products but I can tell you right now that my buying of these kits are way down and forecast to be very low during the next 5 years.