Athearn January announcements...big yawn

[Bob Bufkin]

Wonder what this crowd would think if they did one in Conrail.  I think the S@@@ would hit the fan.

[Dave V]

I should be clear.  I 'm not a big fan of fantasy schemes, and I'm not buying this one.  But, because this is labeled as a fantasy, it's much easier for me to ignore it and drive on.  The same principle would apply were it blue with a can opener.  Where I would make a stink is if it were not specifically marketed as a fantasy.  As it is now I file these fantasies with all of the other noise of equipment that doesn't fit my era or road.  In my mind Athearn is not trying to target modelers like me with this model the way, say, ESM does.

This is a lot like the ConCor PRR standard gauge Galloping Goose...  I looked at it, threw up in my mouth a little, and drove on.  But I don't judge anyone who might buy one for the "cool" factor.

[David Leonard]

Well, if Conrail had continued to operate passenger trains beyond 1982, who knows what they'd be using for power in the late 90's? I model CR, but I don't care for any fantasy scheme for any road, so it's no issue for me. I guess the reaction of Conrail fans would be more or less the same as the reaction of fans of other roads.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I don't mind "what ifs", but what I do care about are models of real things that are poorly researched or executed.

Why?

Mostly because, if it's obnoxiously wrong enough to keep me from buying it, there's a high chance that a more correct model will NEVER be made, essentially keeping me from getting a good version.

If it's not so horrendously bad that I don't get it, and I do get one, it means that my already long project queue just got longer. It's like buying a house that's a fixer upper. It's one thing if you're doing it to flip it, but if gets ugly if you need to live there.

[conrail98]

I don't mind "what-ifs" either, however, I do think they would have been better off copying an old scheme or attempting a more modern one, like what UP did or what Eric does with his paint schemes instead of combining/fabricating one,

Phil

[Denver Road Doug]

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if some of these Fantasy schemes sell better than some of the prototype schemes people are waiting on.  If selling a few of these helps make some obscure prototype option a viable option, so be it.

And, Doug, is there other TRE scheme than the one they've already done?  And they've done a bunch of Amtrak versions but I guess the Cascades is still missing though.

No, the scheme is currently still the same, and they did every number TRE has.  (although, the F59PH's--not "I"s--are now receiving new paint jobs when shopped with a slightly simplified version of the current scheme)  Honestly, I was just hoping they would do another run of TRE in the hopes that the paint job would improve.   The "fade" was pretty poorly executed on those first run locos.  No guarantee that these would be any different but I figure it was worth a shot.   The other thing is, I want the new mech and feel it would be worthwhile to have dupe shells anyway so if I botched a weathering job (or, attempting to fix the fade) it wouldn't be a total loss.

Although I don't have an interest in the Amtrak's, I understand that they sold out immediately so there is huge demand for them.   I guess I just tire of hearing the mfg's make excuses about "limited factory time" and then they go and piss away a production window for something like this.

[lock4244]

Mike

CP had cars that were almost exactly like the Athearn cars the 336800-336899 series built in 1958 and still in service.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2253349

Great... more money gone  ;D

[Mark5]

Hope they can improve on the glop paint from past runs on the gon. If so the WM gon will tempt me.

[bbussey]

Guys, one thing to remember:  these fantasy-type schemes aren't being marketed at the "hard-core" modelers such as many who participate in this forum.  There are many model railroaders that buy and run models simply because they like the way the models look.  And fantasy schemes help finance the things that prototype modelers do like to see - accurately-decorated schemes on accurately-tooled models.

If a manufacturer decided to move to fantasy schemes on all of its releases, then I could see the reason for disappointment.  But as long as Athearn and Micro-Trains continue to release accurate models on a regular basis, there is no reason to fret over circus cars and holiday cars and such.

One interesting sidebar - no one seems to get upset when a manufacturer offers a Christmas car.

[wcfn100]

The only thing I don't like about this type of offering is that people could infer that other scemes are prototypical.

Both the Northstar and New Mexico Rail Runner are every bit of fantasy buy aren't listed as such.


Jason

[Mark5]

One interesting sidebar - no one seems to get upset when a manufacturer offers a Christmas car.

I do! ;D  Actually, I decided a while back that stuff like this which, although it annoys me, somehow must be helping to "pay the bills" for these going concerns - so I forged an uneasy truce with this crap. I reserve the right to make fun of it though.



Smokey

[Puddington]

One interesting sidebar - no one seems to get upset when a manufacturer offers a Christmas car.

Um.....I do; waste of production time and shelf space in my opinion but "I" don't have a vote..........except with my wallet and it votes "No".

[Bob Bufkin]

I'm not to happy with them but when they cam out with some military commerative cars I went and got some.  Broke my own commandment.

[Mr. G]

I really don't care about fantasy schemes one way or the other.  Sure, I've considered painting up an SD70 in Perlman Green with orange stripes.  Would I buy a Zephyr-schemed P42?  Not sober.

Would does frustrate me is the lack of Amtrak California F59s.  It's a real scheme and everything.

[Ryan87]

Great... more money gone  ;D

I do what I can.  ;D