Athearn May Announcements

[TiVoPrince]

If
the actual molds are not yet in Athearn's hands it is difficult to fulfill your request.  I for one don't want LPG/Ethanol cars of lesser quality just to get them fast...

[jagged ben]

Most (all?) B-40's did not come with ditchlights in the beginning.   Atlas "stance" on this has been that if the locomotive had them from the factory, then they will have them on the model.   Atlas' Dash40CW's have ditchlights, ...

Sorry, but that really doesn't hang together. 

1)  Most (all?) prototype 8-40BWs were delivered with ditchlights.  Atlas put ditchlight castings on the models but didn't make them operating.  That, I think, is the complaint.

2) Quite a number of prototype 8-40CWs were delivered without ditchlights.   UP's for example.

3) The only models that Atlas has done that were delivered with ditchlights have already been mentioned.  That's a small sample size for saying they have a 'stance'.    IIRC, Atlas has not done a model of a prototype that was first introduced in the last 22 or so years.   They've left that to Kato and FVM.

Here's the real story...

When Atlas first designed the shared mech for the 8-40Bs and 8-40BWs around the year 2000, there had only been one N scale locomotive released with ditchlights (Kato C44-9W, 1997).    So that was not considered a standard feature yet.   By the time Atlas did the 8-40CWs in 2008, Kato had released four or five more modern locos with operating ditchlights, thus firmly establishing the standard to live up to.  Of course once the tooling is done they are reluctant to put more work into it.

Athearn, by contrast, first shipped its SD70 series in 2004.  That's after a couple more of the Kato models.   So they have a bit less excuse than Atlas. 

[ljudice]

If
the actual molds are not yet in Athearn's hands it is difficult to fulfill your request.  I for one don't want LPG/Ethanol cars of lesser quality just to get them fast...

Didn't know that!

[flight2000]

FYI it looks like your second link in the boxcars is incorrect (copy of the first link) the correct link is below:

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/050713/22_N_%20FMC_Box_2_050713.pdf

Thanks for posting this!  I'm interested in the boxcars, even if they're foobies.

Thanks for catching that.  I went back and modified the original posting so everything should be good now...

Brian

[robert3985]

Y'know...I don't have a complaint against Athearn.  I'm just really really happy with my five Big Boys and five Challengers...with another 3700 Class due on my roster in June, and maybe another Big Boy or two in the next coupla months too.

These engines are essential to the operation on my layout, and I've got a big smile on my face when I see 'em lining up for water and coal at Echo, and cooling their brakes at the west signal on their way to Ogden.

Of course these engines aren't perfect, but they're the best ever made of these big articulateds...smooth running, near silent, great DCC operation and sound...mmmmmmmm

Now...if they'd only take the HO manufacturing protocol and run with it in N-scale...meaning FEF-3's next, and then Baby Turbines, then Verandas...Yeah!!...all in my location and era 

[screeh]

Cool, I've been hoping they'd re-release the husky-stacks in TTX - now I can stop torturing myself by looking at overpriced MDC cars on eBay, and I might even find some bargains for stretching to 53' capacity (and shortening to 40') once these hit the shelves.

Anyone else notice that the advertising artwork shows CTTW reporting marks (I don't even think these exist) and numbering in the 42xxx's rather than 56xxx?  I assume that's for mockup purposes but have sent an email off to Athearn for clarification just in case...

[mcjaco]

Sorry, but that really doesn't hang together. 

1)  Most (all?) prototype 8-40BWs were delivered with ditchlights.  Atlas put ditchlight castings on the models but didn't make them operating.  That, I think, is the complaint.

2) Quite a number of prototype 8-40CWs were delivered without ditchlights.   UP's for example.

3) The only models that Atlas has done that were delivered with ditchlights have already been mentioned.  That's a small sample size for saying they have a 'stance'.    IIRC, Atlas has not done a model of a prototype that was first introduced in the last 22 or so years.   They've left that to Kato and FVM.

Here's the real story...

When Atlas first designed the shared mech for the 8-40Bs and 8-40BWs around the year 2000, there had only been one N scale locomotive released with ditchlights (Kato C44-9W, 1997).    So that was not considered a standard feature yet.   By the time Atlas did the 8-40CWs in 2008, Kato had released four or five more modern locos with operating ditchlights, thus firmly establishing the standard to live up to.  Of course once the tooling is done they are reluctant to put more work into it.

Athearn, by contrast, first shipped its SD70 series in 2004.  That's after a couple more of the Kato models.   So they have a bit less excuse than Atlas.

Thank you.  This is what I was referring too.

I think we should all be happy that they've announced stuff, as I believe someone here was telling us they wouldn't be making any announcements this year. 

Issues in China are slowly getting back to order, and that's a good thing for all of us. 

[SkipGear]

I don't know which is worse, ditchlights that are on when they shouldn't be or no ditchlights at all. Until ditchlights are done with an LED in the housing, the light pipe style ditchlights are not really an improvement anyhow.

I'm glad to see something from Athearn. Huskys are just in time as my son has been looking for some. The SD70's have been out of stock forever so I think they will do fine, especially in CSX and NS around here. 90% of our customers are just happy to see anything NS as there has been so little produced recently (not counting FVM stuff that should be here in a few days).

[basementcalling]

I remember when N scalers in the clubs I was in used to dream of the day Athearn would offer ANY product in N scale.

I'm glad they are offering items to our market.

Peter

[Philip H]

The SD's aren't in schemes that interest me - and I've got more locos them my switching pike can handle anyway.

The Husky stacks are another story - I may not be capable of running stack trains at present, but I loves me some intermodal!

[sirenwerks]

I'd like to see more covered hopper paint scheme releases from Athearn.  I especially wish it would release larger early version Centerflows of the same quality as its ACF 2970.

[Mark5]

Well, its been five years since a new loco from Athearn. They did get the proverbial rug pulled out from under them in terms of their N scale supplier (factory), so it is good to see Athearn starting to get back up to speed in N scale.

Mark

[jagged ben]

Anyone else notice that the advertising artwork shows CTTW reporting marks (I don't even think these exist) and numbering in the 42xxx's rather than 56xxx?  I assume that's for mockup purposes but have sent an email off to Athearn for clarification just in case...

Well, the SP scheme is a foob (belongs on Maxi IIIs), so I hope your assumption is correct.

[fredmoehrle]

I for one am glad that Athearn is getting N scale out again.
Thought not really interested in any of these releases, I'll probably get a couple GTW cars to support the effort.
I'd really like to see them do a PS-2 3500.
The proper prototype for the DTI mint green cars, and never released in any scale in plastic.
Only about a dozen RR owned them initially.