Athearn and N Scale

[Kisatchie]

Its not that its nonexistent...its Kato doesn't seem to want to make more runs of them.

Yeah, the SD40-2s are nonexistent in Southern, IC, KCS, and N&W, to name a few roads. I doubt if I'll have ANY Kato locos once I start building my dream layout (some day).


Hmm... I have a feeling
Kiz's dream layout is
gonna be a nightmare...

[mcjaco]

Just an observation and an opinion.  Why are people so fixated with what the manufacturers are producing or not?  I'm not directing this at either of the previous posters, but it is a general theme that pervades TRW and comes up seemingly daily. 

Actually, it does tend to be the same couple of people. 

[Ike the BN Freak]

Yeah, the SD40-2s are nonexistent in Southern, IC, KCS, and N&W, to name a few roads. I doubt if I'll have ANY Kato locos once I start building my dream layout (some day).

Even with Kato doing 4 numbers of BN, they didn't do the most common version of the BN, corrugated radiator and ratchet handbrake. So I've taken snoots and mid production units and cut the noses off, and added a nose from Atlas GP35s to them. So the GP35 nose is 81in while the SD40-2 is 88in, but what's 7 inches?

So being I need most with the ratchet brake and I have to repaint all my locos anyways.

[Scottl]

I go away a day and this becomes a Kato thread?  LOL   Love the tangents these threads take.

[sundowner]

I go away a day and this becomes a Kato thread?  LOL   Love the tangents these threads take.

Stick around and it will become an MT tread. LOL

[kalbert]

I go away a day and this becomes a Kato thread?  LOL   Love the tangents these threads take.

With so many MFRs (that's manufacturers not mother...) REFUSING to make products we all know to be EASY MONEY makers it's hard not to jump in. We haven't heard from the Walthers camp yet, but I'm sure their name is coming up on the pile. Not sure if MTL will make an appearance here, they took a pretty good beating on their own last week. 

[superchief]

"mfg refusing to produce model WE know to be easy money"   then YOU need to start YOUR own business and YOU can make those decisions and spend YOUR money!!!!!! Its is THEIR business and THEY can run it the way THEY see, if YOU don't like VOTE with your money and don't buy thier models.  I thought we were MODELERS, buy the model closest to what you are trying to model and MODIFY it!!!! just my own opinion, Gordon.......stop beating a dead horse

[sirenwerks]

Actually, it does tend to be the same couple of people.

I believe the most recent research shows that for every one person who takes the time to complain about something, there are 26 more who remain silent but feel the same.  Their silence does not mean they don't care, it means they're so fed up they feel complaining will not result in change.  This means 26 potential customers/sales lost for every one, or worst, 26 current customers about to give up the ghost.  I say "or worst" because not only are you losing customers in this instance, but throwing the money away which you already spent to attract them in the first place; and the smaller the market, the more per person it costs to attract a customer and their dedicated interest to your product - which mean MRRing customer development costs are probably significant.  And we're not even touching brand equity impact. 

Personally, a major manufacturer that has sit on the N scale sidelines for so long, like Athearn, would have to do some spectacular to draw my attention, otherwise I could care less about the company even if it remains in the market.  I don't see enough new releases (body styles) or significant improvements to existing models (more than a new box) often enough, so its guerrilla presence in the room is just probably keeping smaller manufacturers from stepping in and actually providing product.  I would respect even model releases outside my era or interest, just something new for god's sake to show Athearn remembers us; otherwise, N scale's a one night stand for it and all we're doing is walking the walk of shame home.

[SkipGear]

I'm still confused as to why people believe Athearn has "given up" on N scale. Our shop hasn't received any HO product in at least a year either, does that mean they have given up on HO also?

http://www.athearn.com/Content/PDF/pricingETA.pdf

The first 4 1/2 pages are the updated arrival dates for already announced N scale product that has been delayed, which includes lower prices on quite a few items. There are some cancelation but look through the HO stuff, the percentage of TBD and Canceled is about the same.

Sorry for dragging this back to the top and presenting facts, back to flogging that dead equine.

[sirenwerks]

...back to flogging that dead equine.

And the wrong interpretation gets perpetuated some more. 

[peteski]

And the wrong interpretation gets perpetuated some more. 

But it sure sounds good!

[Catt]

While I go along with the easy money maker bit,I think a lot of folks are forgetting the hard money needed for molds and other pieces.

It still takes a lot of capitol expence up front to get one of these guaranteed money makers to market.Sometimes that money just isn't there.

[sirenwerks]

While I go along with the easy money maker bit,I think a lot of folks are forgetting the hard money needed for molds and other pieces.

It still takes a lot of capitol expence up front to get one of these guaranteed money makers to market.Sometimes that money just isn't there.

There's this thing called banks...  They make loans...

[CSXDixieLine]

I believe the most recent research shows that for every one person who takes the time to complain about something, there are 26 more who remain silent but feel the same.

I am not one of the 26. Others? Jamie

[Scottl]

My research, based on a glance of the viewing statistics, suggests that for every person making a comment here or trying to be clever, there are 40 readers who can't be bothered but probably wish they had something to say.