Athearn News - September New Announcements

[Ntrainz1]

IS this MDC tooling? I would like to see the body mounted couplers.


http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/082517/07_N-scale_20K_Tank_082517.pdf?utm_source=bm23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=View+PDF&utm_content=Athearn+News+-+September+New+Announcements&utm_campaign=20170901+ATH+News&_bta_tid=39237032115476418485874427754043132462727347454402848821160747880971671187181267979300401445730342989831&_bta_c=45kplc6cj0kg9h46p4j4sdw9xltz8

Bob.

[jpwisc]

Steer clear, it sure looks like the MDC tooling. They claimed body mounted couplers on their last run of 20k cars, but when they showed up, they were still truck mounted. I emailed them about the flyer stating the couplers were body mounted. Their response was "they don't, we will fix the flyer. Bait and switch on lousy old tooling. These cars are the poorest quality in the Athearn lineup and need to be retooled. The detail level is Atlas Trainman level, but the price is three times higher.

[cjm413]

Steer clear, it sure looks like the MDC tooling. They claimed body mounted couplers on their last run of 20k cars, but when they showed up, they were still truck mounted. I emailed them about the flyer stating the couplers were body mounted. Their response was "they don't, we will fix the flyer. Bait and switch on lousy old tooling. These cars are the poorest quality in the Athearn lineup and need to be retooled. The detail level is Atlas Trainman level, but the price is three times higher.

Athearn's HO RTC tank is ex-MDC with several upgrades:

http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH74448

[cjm413]

Athearn's HO RTC tank is ex-MDC with several upgrades:

http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH74448

MDC model upgraded with GMM parts:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=21226.0

[jpwisc]

MDC model upgraded with GMM parts:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=21226.0


I've done that upgrade, it makes a world of difference. I still need to finish a few (paint/decals/body mount couplers).
(Attachment Link)

Here's some more WIP's.
(Attachment Link)

[jpwisc]

Athearn's HO RTC tank is ex-MDC with several upgrades:

http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH74448

But this isn't HO, it's N. They ran a 'new' run of these last year with no changes. Athearn even told me it was still the original tooling.

[cjm413]

But this isn't HO, it's N. They ran a 'new' run of these last year with no changes. Athearn even told me it was still the original tooling.

Athearn has made revisions to their other former MDC cars, even if they've already offered them without any modifications from the original tooling.

[SirTainly]

ignore me, answered my own question.

[bman]

Athearn has made revisions to their other former MDC cars, even if they've already offered them without any modifications from the original tooling.

True they have on other cars, but for this 2nd release of tank cars we will have to wait and see.  I've a few of the MDC era tank cars I run at shows since they don't have all the details to break with repeated handling, transportation, etc.  I almost purchased a few of the first run of Athearn's tanks due to different paint schemes being used.  Other than that, they were the same as the MDC released version except for the trucks the cars ride on.