Atlas - why have you forsaken me?

[Rich Businger]

Anyone here have an accurate template of the Atlas curved turnouts? I could give it a go with code 40 rail, all soldered so no spike head detail to worry about.

I have the Atlas Code 55 Turnout templates.  Email me if your interested.


Rich
richbusinger@yahoo.com

[sizemore]

Wow. From curved turnouts to kvetching to Chinese labor. Threads usually meander, but it seems this one seems to have veered wildly.

Dont they all? Don't...they...all.

The S.

[CBQ Fan]

Statements like yours above signal either that you are not doing any work or are not interested in sharing said work, which in either case makes it completely nonsensical for you to stay involved in TRW.

i thought i was here to share and learn.  and i also thought i got to pick what i shared.  thanks for clearing that up for me.

Except you just said that you're NOT going to share. Pick one. But don't just come here to complain about a manufacturer's delays (especially one who has their OWN forum that you could complain on).

This statement is not meant to blast or offend anyone but I can see where someone may be put off.  There is what I would consider a core "in" group here that can make a new comer feel a bit on the outs until they stick around long enough.  Kinda like going to an HO club and announcing your in N scale and you get that disbelieving stare for a few minutes.  I think you may have to earn a reputation here more so than other forums.  But on the other hand I think there is a familiarity that allows for you to be yourself without putting up a front of false politeness.  Coming from someone who has not been officially in this forum that long I bring it up as a different perspective.  I don't know any of the specifics of why the other poster won't show his stuff.   Pictures for me are just a pain, I do have some up other sites.  All that being said, this site has a unique perspective that I appreciate it and those that contribute.

[Ryan87]

no.  after the last update flaming, i am not supplying updates to TRW.  notice the response above.

This statement implies you're posting updates somewhere else... where would one be able to follow your progress... I'm quite interested in your latest plan...

[asciibaron]

no.  after the last update flaming, i am not supplying updates to TRW.  notice the response above.

This statement implies you're posting updates somewhere else... where would one be able to follow your progress... I'm quite interested in your latest plan...

if all goes well, i'll have a dedicated website up and running this spring.

[asciibaron]

Except you just said that you're NOT going to share. Pick one. But don't just come here to complain about a manufacturer's delays (especially one who has their OWN forum that you could complain on).

i said i wasn't going to share my layout progress, i have plenty of information and advice i'm willing to share with the community.  respect that i work on my hobby at my pace and i might oblige with an example as found on my layout.

[asciibaron]

the letter from Atlas does not jive with the original release date, 3rd quarter in 2008 i think it was.  after they knew of the problems, they still set dates that came and went.  and here, yet another date has been missed.  it's difficult to take this as a customer waiting for the product with an entire layout on hold.  and i'm a newcomer to the desire to add these turnouts to my layout.  i really want them to arrive so i can tell everyone they were worth the wait and they are the best thing since Cylon toast.

 ;D

[John]

I have no reason to believe that Paul go went out of his way to come here to lie to us .. after all, we are just a rounding error ..

[AlkemScaleModels]

China changed some of their tax laws, and with the economic downturn, many of the workers that would come from the agricultural areas to work for a few years then return to their home area with their earnings no longer make the trek.  Note that I said "in the area of China where a lot of this work is presently being done". 

There was a piece on NPR about to weeks ago covering this very subject except they were discussing the furniture industry.  About 80 percent of the Chinese furniture workers in this one area went back to their home towns to farm. One girl they interviewed said they didn't expect to have any money and would eat what they grow to survive.  The furniture factory manager said they would tailor their future products to the internal Chinese market as US customers are too fickle and unreliable, although we buy a lot more per capita. In China, people don't change out furniture as quickly as Americans.

Welcome to globalization. 

[UP1996]

Perhaps the Chinese grenaded yet another mold?

I really could use some curved turnouts. I'm thinking about going with Fastrack.

[Puddington]

the letter from Atlas does not jive with the original release date, 3rd quarter in 2008 i think it was.  after they knew of the problems, they still set dates that came and went.  and here, yet another date has been missed.  it's difficult to take this as a customer waiting for the product with an entire layout on hold.  and i'm a newcomer to the desire to add these turnouts to my layout.  i really want to to arrive so i can tell everyone they were worth the wait and they are the best thing since Cylon toast.

 ;D

"It's difficult to take this as a customer............." Well; with respect; then don't buy from them. Buy Peco; use Fast Tracks; hand lay..... whatever get's you there. I can't understand anyone slamming a company for missing a delivery date when they fess up about issues........."poop happens...... Let's face it gang; no company "owes" us anything........it's business; they are in this to make $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ period. If they could bring __________ to market and it would be profitable, they would. They announce and not deliver (like a certain E unit supplier) they get the darts......but they don't owe us anything. Period.

[sirenwerks]

You're just so off on this one

what model train manufacturer did you work for in their Production department?  i was at MTH and brought the world a few great models and many not so great models.  several of my projects were put off repeatedly due to low pre-order numbers.  when you need to borrow to finance a production, banks look for sound practice when making a loan (except for a mortgage it seems), they are funny that way.  

Atlas have maybe $5M in product in production at any given point based on the number of products currently available and "coming soon" i doubt BLMA is pushing $500K.

Oh gosh Steve, I forgot you're in the 'in' crowd. You single-handedly saved the world. I forgot how that makes you always right, how others point of view is all wrong because you worked for MTH, which never released anything in N BTW and was pretty dysfunctional from what I heard from MY secret contact in the company. But you're right, I'm wrong.... not.

Your statement did not address what I said about project management, it was just quips and jibbers. The fact is Craig's doing extremely well on his own when it comes to release follow-through compared to a staffed and historied manufacturer. I imagine it's a fairly textbook case of organizational lifecycle development so... there are lessons Atlas could probably learn. But you veered away from that to fire away about your personal history and flash some topic slight of hand.

[asciibaron]

Oh gosh Steve, I forgot you're in the 'in' crowd. You single-handedly saved the world. I forgot how that makes you always right, how others point of view is all wrong because you worked for MTH, which never released anything in N BTW and was pretty dysfunctional from what I heard from MY secret contact in the company. But you're right, I'm wrong.... not.

hyperbole much?  

i saved the world while employed in a different career...  my time at MTH saw me take several high value projects through all stages of production.  i think that makes me qualified to comment on how it goes.  things have changed in the industry, but a larger company isn't in a position to micro manage projects the way a boutique manufacturer is - Craig is able to have high end products because he is able to get the pre-orders - his client base is much different than that of Atlas or Bachmann or Athearn.  N scale has nothing to do with it - we could be talking about Godzilla figures or pocket knives.  niche markets are able to exist because the larger companies are leveraging larger numbers and have much more money tied up in a production.

if Craig gets the number he needs, say 500 pre-orders, his TTX cars will move forward and he will make those 500 plus another 250 for the market.  Atlas is looking at 500 times 45 products across various scales.  but it's a management issue and Craig is better at it, right?  MTH was dysfunctional because of rapid expansion and then getting hit with the panic in the spring of 2001.  projects in various stages of production had to be finished and what was being done by 18 people was now being handled by 7 when i was asked to leave.  i was asked to leave because i would not sign off on inferior products and demanded a high level of quality.  MTH needed to pay back the bank and the D&H and FEC GP38-2's had to ship to get the money to pay the piper.  business is business,  that's why i went back to government.

but, throw stones at me, but saying Craig is able to meet deadlines because he's better at management is flawed logic - i would hope he could manage a much smaller product line.  Atlas knows it's market and it's customer base very well.  Craig is like many of the smaller vendors - they provide the next level of _____ that the average train guy does not see value in or desire.  you said as much in your post.

-i used Craig/BLMA as an example - i think he's doing a great job and deserves his success.  i wish i was able to leverage my knowledge from my time in the industry, but i'm not a risk taker, i'm a heart breaker

[Craig Martyn]

Well this is funny....not sure if I should be thankful or....    

I can't speak for anyone else, but to shed some light on this (my/BLMA) situation:

I AM a model railroader; it's how I started and it's what I love doing; however, my passion for business has grown considerably to the fact that my management/business classes in school have been some of my favorites.  Business is predictable when you base your intent on calculated risk.  Sure, you have your ups and downs, but you follow the logic and 'the bottom line'.  Without going far into it, the fact is my passion is both trains AND business (management).  I view this company as a reflection of my being, values, and personality.  I am basing my short-term and perhaps long-term plans/goals on the success of BLMA, so MY JOB is to get things right...the first time.

With that said, EVERYONE in business has issues beyond their control - it's part of life.  We're all working hard to make products you ask for and it's a task to say the least.  Keep in mind there is a lot of assuming done by the market; reality, in most cases, is drastically different from market perception.

OK....get back on your rant, guys.   

[Ryan87]

Rabble Rabble Rabble....