Atlas acquires Microtrains

[basementcalling]

Rant through, my company makes a killing undercutting the dudes doing laserkits for O scale bridges that we can print in PETG for our clients that look like bridges and not children's puzzles.

Company? Say more

[garethashenden]

I'm not going to forgive Atlas until they do an Atlas/MT heavily faded and weathered pink Santa Fe Superfleet engine. 

There are some locomotives that could really benefit from this pre-weathered printing technology. I've thought of making custom decals to do faded paint and lettering, but I haven't got around to it.

[Maletrain]

I sent Microtrains an e-mail asking about parts to build my own baggage coach combines.

So far (2 days) no response. 

I understand that they are probably getting hammered by such requests.  But I am also having problems with my e-mail provider randomly bouncing some of my incoming e-mails, telling the sender they were identified as "spam".  I never get to even know that has happened.

So, I am asking here if anybody is getting parts orders filled after the buyout announcement.  And, if so, how are you contacting Microtrains?  I only get the "general mailbox" when I call by phone.

[up1950s]

.................... and good luck Atlas .
                     Richie

[learmoia]

.................... and good luck Atlas .
                     Richie

Is there a market for it?? (other than you)

You should probably call as there may be a stash of Nn3 stuff found in the warehouse in the next few weeks.

~Ian

[up1950s]

Is there a market for it?? (other than you)

You should probably call as there may be a stash of Nn3 stuff found in the warehouse in the next few weeks.

~Ian

There sure is a market . When a Nn3 box goes for 20-70 bucks on eBay . Just try to find a 30 ft Nn3 stockcar , they were very common on narrow gauge railroads .

[OldEastRR]

I sent Microtrains an e-mail asking about parts to build my own baggage coach combines.

Oh man, you just missed getting the parts you wanted -- the PC weathered baggage car from a month or so ago. To get a HW combine for my NH heavyweight train, like other kitbashes I've done, I got the cars to "combine" into what I wanted. The trick was waiting for a single release HW baggage car. Last month or so MTL made that PC car and i got one. As I have several HW single window coaches, and pictures/diagrams if the NH car, I'll be able to kitbash the two cars into a combine. Be nice if I could just cut both cars in half and switch sides to make 2 combines, but the NH cars have only a quarter-car length baggage section.

I hope Atlas runs the HW RPO "soon", as I need another stock one to modify the NH prototype.

[Chris333]

Just try to find a 30 ft Nn3 stockcar , they were very common on narrow gauge railroads .

https://3dptrain.com/products/pcry-stock-car-no-683-n-scale

[Spades]

There is a very good manufacturer of Nn3.  Granted it is in kit form. 3DPTrains: https://3dptrain.com/products/southern-pacific-narrow-gauge-locomotive-18-nn3

I haven't read all the 17 plus pages of this thread.

Atlas has released BLMA Rolling Stock and even their detail parts.  Detail parts by all manufacturers HO/O are dying off as I type this.  Atlas recently released some former Walthers cars with upgraded tooling.  I think they will do ok by Micro-Trains.

Micro Trains when they released their PS-1 it was pretty revolutionary in any scale.  I loved how MT applies stirrups on their boxcars.  The pilot conversions. Your Kato GP38-2 & 50 would have body mounts and a pilot rather than a gapping hole. Injected molded ribbed wheels.  I think that was just because they could.

Atlas has been an innovative as well.  They released the RS-3 in N. ( I know it was a rebranded Kato product ) Their Kaolin and Corn Syrup Tank Cars. Well I have way to many.

In that span of time Exact Rail came and went absorbed by Scale Trains. Aurora. Tangent, etc.   Athearn release their n-scale Genesis line. Change in life and model railroading is a constant.

China will be a manufacturer for sometime.  They can build an abundance and store it in a warehouse. Eventually there is, as any Marxist/Economist will  tell you a price.  Manufactures are leaving China for a host of reasons. China is the worlds largest ship builder,  Before that the UK than US than Japan than ROK than China.  Off-shoring has been going on well before the Phoenicans.  Vietnam, the Stans, all becoming new places of doing business. Hopefully some more necessary/strategic  manufacturing will return to the second largest manufacture on the planet. it most likely will not be model trains.

Micro Engineering and Showcase Minatures are US based production,

Edit: Chris333 posted 3DPtrains 13 minutes ago whilst I was typing. and yesterday mu26aeh posted 50 seconds before my post. The Railwire never sleeps and is very quick on the keyboard

[up1950s]

https://3dptrain.com/products/pcry-stock-car-no-683-n-scale

I was staying away from these because it did not say Nn3 gauge , just n scale . Just ordered 6 . Thanks Chris . PC was narrow then regauged standard so that wasn't proof . Just noticed this is Tom Knapps site and he has been doing Nn3's how to's in the mags .   

[Spades]

I was staying away from these because it did not say Nn3 gauge , just n scale . Just ordered 6 . Thanks Chris . PC was narrow then regauged standard so that wasn't proof . Just noticed this is Tom Knapps site and he has been doing Nn3's how to's in the mags .   

Thread drift: Thomas Knapp Youtube Channel Video: https://www.youtube.com/@trknappmodelengineering/videos

 3DPTrain products

[nkalanaga]

Looks interesting, but they still need MTL trucks and couplers.  That could be a problem in the future.

[Lenny53]

Actually, I have a big pile of early Kade wheels/axles with the spiral backs  I was planning on selling one day.   

The original ones were low profile metal wheelsets.

[ztrack]

It is going to be interesting to see what happens with MTL's Z products. Atlas has dipped their toes into Z with 53' Evans boxcar and announced Autorack. Their Z flex track is excellent. When you think that many of the MTL Z tools and dies go back to Nelson Gray in 1985, you have to wonder how many are still usable. I definitely am one who wants to see MTL's Z scale freight cars carry one... but with metal wheels.

As for MTL's Z locos... AZL really has dominated that area. Frankly MTL's lovable fatties just don't look right next to a scaled AZL loco. And their F7s can't stack at all with what AZL is offering.

The MTL track is another interesting question. The line was far too limited in selection, and the turnouts just don't work (touchy subject). But it does look amazing. Rokuhan has blown the roadbed market out of the water with their huge selection. For me, the tie spacing is managable since I weather everything. The reliability of Rokuhan is top notch and I recommend this line for anyone getting started in Z. For me, it feels like Atlas should continue to focus on their flex track line and expand their Z turnout selection and not invest in the ballasted track for now.

I feel like it is an end of era for Z. Nelson Gray is the father of North American Z. Many of these cars where his design and tooling. He was amazing. MTL did a fantastic job carrying the legacy on and improving on it. And dang, MTLs printing and weathering was beyond reproach. But now it's time to see Atlas take the ball and run.

Rob

[Lenny53]

As for the BLMA debacle, I think the excuse about etched products is BS.  There are plenty of companies which do chemical milling. Even MTL, Atlas, and many other model RR companies use photoetched parts in their current models.

Photo-etched metal parts are a staple for 1/35 military armour modellers.