New announcements from Atlas…

[jagged ben]

Need an ATSF pinstripe SD45, but I'll probably go for the yellowbonnet. 

[Southern1970]

Strange how they used the split frame slide in decoder for the 2020 release of the n scale C420,

http://www.spookshow.net/loco/atlasc420.html

but now to change to E24 socket…



[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[peteski]

Atlas does make some unusual choices about DCC compatibility and their choices for factory-installed decoder brands.  I suppose it makes prefect sense to them to keep flipping between the type of interface connectors and light board outline and decoder manufacturers, but it leaves customers puzzled.

[Rivet Miscounter]

Here's my take on the new Atlas Z scale releases.
6 boxcars a year isn't cutting it.
Are they just dipping their toes in the Z scale rolling stock water and see what happens? Obviously they could release more but I think they are holding back to see what happens.

I just wonder what you hope to accomplish by making such a statement.

I, for one, am very thankful that Atlas is even attempting Z.  I know the jury is still out on their track line, but it seems to be about the best option for modeling North American railroading at this time.   I expect they will release some new track pieces soon.

The boxcars are just sort of icing on the cake.  They are nicely done, a nice complement to current available rolling stock, and utilizing existing components to keep the cost in check...a smart first release. 

And they are unofficially suggesting that their second freight car may drop very soon.   And if it is what I think it is, it will almost assuredly lead to a third freight car that will make my decade if it gets released.    So yeah I'm just thinking brazen criticism of their business strategy isn't gonna help that happen.   They are releasing product in the manner that is appropriate to manage the risk of producing items for a scale with a miniscule market share.   However "obvious" it is to you, they are the ones making the (IMHO good) decisions here.   The last thing we want is "one and done" like Intermountain.   Patience, grasshopper.

(and full disclosure, I did not leave the downvote in case anyone is wondering)

[Englewood]

Good news is that the N scale well cars have only gone up one dollar from the last release a few years ago.

[cjm413]

Are they tooling the correct phase for the GN units?

GN 400-407 had the handbrake on the short hood rather than the long hood

[samusi01]

The artwork shows the long hood wheel on the GN units... not having bothered to acquire any of the atlas sd45s thus far, did they do phase specific details on the previous run?

Here is a link to an image of one of the announced units, 406, showing it made it to the merger in simplified EB... also shows the short hood rachet, as well as the low mounted brake cylinders whereas the atlas artwork shows high mounted cylinders:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/enenquack/51917835747/

[cjm413]

The artwork shows the long hood wheel on the GN units... not having bothered to acquire any of the atlas sd45s thus far, did they do phase specific details on the previous run?

Here is a link to an image of one of the announced units, 406, showing it made it to the merger in simplified EB... also shows the short hood rachet, as well as the low mounted brake cylinders whereas the atlas artwork shows high mounted cylinders:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/enenquack/51917835747/

I don't put too much stock into pre-production artwork, but there were no Phase Ia SD45's in the prior release, nor did I see anything to indicate that they were forthcoming in this release.

https://www.nscalesupply.com/atl/atl-locomotivesd45.html

On that note, I see Atlas already overlooked this specific issue based after seeing that they offered NW 1730

[Mark5]

That's not the only thing Atlas got wrong on the N&W SD45s. 

[cjm413]

That's not the only thing Atlas got wrong on the N&W SD45s. 

I assume you mean the lack of a bell on the high short hood?   

Not shocking given their GP38 is wrong for both N&W (wrong phase, but correct bell location, PAF, and standard dynamic brakes) and Southern (wrong bell location, no oil bath/retrofitted PAF, no extended range d/b)

The lack of a bell on the high short hood is arguably irrelevant if they offered a Phase Ia shell, assuming they offer Flexicoil truck sideframes (or the trucks still accept Kato sideframes like the SD35 does)

[cjm413]

Need an ATSF pinstripe SD45, but I'll probably go for the yellowbonnet.

Another potential phase screwup on those, barring a Phase Ia shell that I'm unaware of...

ATSF 5500-5529 (formerly 1800-1829) are also Phase Ia.

[DirtyD79]

The HO scale beer can tankers look cool. I also like the coal gondolas.

[conrail1973]

The DH and Conrail patch jobs on the C420 will definitely be finding a way on my layout  .  I only wish they didn't choose 408 as that was repainted by '78 by the DH.  If anyone from Atlas is on these forums, it looks like 414 was in LV paint all the way up until their sale in '87.

[Mark5]

Not shocking given their GP38 is wrong for both N&W (wrong phase, but correct bell location, PAF, and standard dynamic brakes) and Southern (wrong bell location, no oil bath/retrofitted PAF, no extended range d/b)

You are correct that the Atlas Hi-Nose GP38 is not correct for either road. However, the Atlas model is closest to N&W 4125-4139 which were built in 6/71 (at least two months before all the other N&W '38s) and have the same button top fans as the Atlas Hi-Nose GP38 (the rest of N&Ws '38s have "open top" fans) . The blower duct is different, but you know what they say about beggars ...

[Mark5]

I assume you mean the lack of a bell on the high short hood?

Well, as you pointed out above, 1730 is wrong phase, wrong trucks, no hi-nose bell (I really didn't look beyond that - I'm picky but not that picky).

N&W's SD45s were purchased in 8 different orders. Without getting into the phase intricacies, N&W 1700-1734 (blt 1966) were "early"(brake wheel short hood) and N&W 1735-1814 (blt 1967-1970) were "late" (brake wheel long hood).

N&W had at least three different sideframes on their SD45s, none of which are modeled by Atlas on their SD45s.

• 1700-1734 "naked" Flexicoil trucks - no external brake cylinders, etc. https://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nw/nw1727l18.jpg
• 1735-1764 similar to 1700-1734 except one sideframe on each side has a single brake cylinder on the outboard end https://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nw/nw1746j27.jpg
• 1765-1814 3 high mounted brake cylinders and double-clasp brakes https://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nw/nw1775afm.jpg

Hi level view of the three units Atlas released:
#1730 wrong phase, wrong trucks, no bell, (#1730 was an odd choice - this unit was in a bad wreck at Farm VA in September 1980 and was subsequently retired and scrapped)
#1757 "correct" phase, wrong trucks, no bell
#1776 "correct" phase, wrong trucks, no bell, wrong paint

EDIT: horns are all probably wrong too! (Leslie S-5T-R) 

Atlas screwed up the paint on #1776  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=58341.msg804427#msg804427

The new Atlas SD45 appears to be a ground up design - it would be nice if the sideframes were interchangeable with the earlier Kato SD45 and Atlas SD35 sideframes (I did this with my Kato SD45s to approximate the "triple' hi mount brake cylinders as found on N&W 1765-1814). Looking forward to seeing one soon - if the swap is simple, I might spring for #1757 as I have ample hi-nose bells in my parts bin.

I might be able to approximate the trucks on 1757 using an exacto knife. 

Mark[/list]