Atlas Model Railroad Co. Agrees to Purchase BLMA Models Inc.

[bbussey]

... Regardless of which coupler style is used as the standard moving forward, AccuMates don't suck as some have falsely stated. In addition, ANY of the Atlas models with body-mounted coupler pockets easily will accept ANY coupler design, including Micro-Trains 1015, and it's a simple swap ...

I should have added — conversely, all BLMA models with body-mounted couplers also will accept any coupler design including AccuMates.  The entirety of the N scale modeling world is not standardized on Micro-Trains couplers, and there is a significant number of higher-end modelers who prefer not to deal with the oscillating spring.  So it's neither an advantage nor a detriment for Atlas to stay with AccuMates as their primary coupler of choice, particularly when all of the Atlas and BLMA body-mounted equipment will accept any N scale coupler design on the market today (with the exception of the new Hornby Arnold coupler).

[Dave V]

This is not a bad development. BLMA was going to be sold, and where it ended up is the best outcome, by far.

+3 (or +4?).  Either way, I know and trust Atlas, which has been pushing the envelope on detail and accuracy in N scale lately (locos and rolling stock at least).  If any of the big fish were going to eat BLMA, I'm very glad it was Atlas.

[wcfn100]

My first reaction was that I was glad to hear that some of the N scale freight cars, particularly the Dry-Flo hopper will be out from under Tangents' glacier like release schedule.  Now I may actually see the schemes I want in my lifetime.

Second was that I better pick up some trucks if I think I need any.  I think these will see the other side and hopefully can get Atlas to release their own trucks finally, but I could see this taking a while as it may not be high priority.

Third, get whatever detail parts you need now.  Packaged detail parts, particularly etched metal parts, have no place currently with Atlas.  If I had to bet, I would say we won't see them under new ownership.

Congrats to all involved for what would seem like both parties getting what they wanted.  Time will tell what we get out of it.

Jason

[mcjaco]

Anyone that saw Scalerails' tanker cars on display at Trainfest knew something was up.  They looked very......familiar. 

Congrats to Craig.  He was always fun to talk to, and it has been a real pleasure watching BLMA grow over the years.  BLMA's rise started about the same time I moved to N scale so, it's kid of like a bench mark for me. 

[Sokramiketes]

Scale Trains didn't win the race to the N scale version of the tank car.  Having the BLMA cars on display alongside their HO announcement doesn't really say anything about this sale to Atlas, unless I'm missing something?

The trucks will be interesting.  Are they actually BLMA or just factory trucks that BLMA offered separately?  Remember, the factory has released them with and without BLMA markings, so it might not be something included in the sale of BLMA tooling.  Likewise, there are other trucks with the same lowered bolster that have been tooled for other manufacturers, Atlas included. 

So, ideally, Atlas will figure out how to work with the factory to offer all of the available truck styles separately!  I'm not sure who would pick up that torch otherwise.

[BobRunty]

Third, get whatever detail parts you need now.  Packaged detail parts, particularly etched metal parts, have no place currently with Atlas.  If I had to bet, I would say we won't see them under new ownership.

Jason

While I'm hoping for the best here for both parties, this is what I fear also. I've been in the hobby too long and have seen many "specialty" items disappear. I just don't foresee a company like Atlas getting into the detail parts business. I hope I'm wrong, but I've spent way too much time looking for Sunrise and other various NLA details.

Bob

[C855B]

While I'm hoping for the best here for both parties, this is what I fear also. I've been in the hobby too long and have seen many "specialty" items disappear. I just don't foresee a company like Atlas getting into the detail parts business. I hope I'm wrong, but I've spent way too much time looking for Sunrise and other various NLA details.

While I am concerned for the BLMA detail parts catalog, I'm not concerned in general. Custom parts etching has become much more accessible to the individual modeler, and 3D printing has made the leap into "good enough!" for one-off or other very limited, low demand details. Our own @Wutter is proving this almost on a daily basis.

It's a good time to be in the hobby.

[GaryHinshaw]

+1.  I had just drafted the exact same message when I saw your post.  Now I wish someone would offer a Shapeways-style store front for user-supplied etching art work.

Congratulations to Craig.  If he was going to sell, Atlas would have been near the top of my short list of buyers.

[lock4244]

Atlas should use Craig as a spokesman. I don't think I need to convince anyone here that his promotional talents are way ahead of the pack in the model choo-choo game, and frankly, the Trainman (even though it's not going to be the line BLMA's rolling stock will be marketed under) should never be allowed to go withing 1000' of a BLMA product. The quality of the product was key to his success, but the promotion was hard to ignore.

It's also nice to put a face to the company.

[craigolio1]

The trouble with a Shapeways style store for etching is that the first person to order has to pay the set up costs which drastically increase the cost of a small run of parts. Subsequent orders are reasonable, but who wants to go first?

Craig

[BCR751]

Third, get whatever detail parts you need now.  Packaged detail parts, particularly etched metal parts, have no place currently with Atlas.  If I had to bet, I would say we won't see them under new ownership.

Well, that really sucks because I have three BLMA detail items on back order (for months now) that aren't available anywhere else.  I really need some of the concrete highway dividers, K-Rails I think they're called, and they are/were only available from BLMA.  I hope Atlas sees the light and either decides to do the detail items or sells the tooling and rights to someone else.  If this stuff goes away, it's going to leave a large void in the detail parts available to modelers.

Doug

[John]

I hesitate to weigh in here, because I don't know crap about the model railroad biz ..  But I tend to trust Paul G and Atlas's judgement on this.

What I do find interesting, BLMA made some interesting car choices -- Top Gons, the Reefers .. that have limited road names ..  that doesn't necessarily fit with the history of Atlas releases ..  will those show up again sometime?   Also, we don't know what Craig had in the design pipeline . there may be some really good modern models coming -- and Atlas surely can make them come to market ..

I do worry about the detail parts, but if Atlas drops them -- nature abhors a vacuum -- some one will see an opportunity and step in to fill the void ..

[chicken45]

I can't wait for Atlas to buy ESM!
Maybe announce it as an April Fools joke. 

[dcutting]

I think another interesting prospect would be to see if another manufacturer would step in and fill the detail part void. If atlas has issues, I might go that direction with my own company, CESM.

[unittrain]

Mene mene tekel parsin the writing is on the wall doomsday to all N scale  Seriously I think Atlas exceles in excellence and I'm sure that will continue with the Blma line.