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Post by The Ferro Kid on Jul 13, 2014 10:53:11 GMT -8
Still hoping for a H16-66... Or more H24-66s in fantasy CNW and MILW paint like Athearn did. I'll give a resounding second to that! I've been limping along for decades with Athearn TMs in the foobie CNW and Milw schemes. How cool it would be to have the correct H16-66 model. But, like you, I'd even settle for Atlas TMs in foobie CNW and MILW paint.
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Post by grabbem88 on Jul 13, 2014 12:59:19 GMT -8
This is why I'm grateful there is more than one manufacture putting stuff out there and like I said before repaints and reprints don't cut it unless there is a high demand for certain roads then ok..
Athearn does listen to the general public which has stood out but as soon as they fail in a promise or have more serious recalls it won't be Atlas getting thrown under a bus and be grateful other company's make an effort. We keep going so far backwards in debts and Bankruptcies its only going to be about food shelter and fuel...
Like all hobbies it's an escape from reality for only a short time... Then bills have to be paid and wait for the next offering of cool new products..
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Post by atsfan on Jul 13, 2014 15:12:55 GMT -8
I am fairly certain Atlas in not doing new HO locomotives. The last one they did was the Genset which was announced how many years ago now?
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Post by alcoc430 on Jul 14, 2014 10:46:22 GMT -8
I am fairly certain Atlas in not doing new HO locomotives. The last one they did was the Genset which was announced how many years ago now? They came out with the Genset II model last year which was originally announced in late 2012. There first genset model came out 2009 but was rerun again later.
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Tom
Full Member
Posts: 229
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Post by Tom on Jul 14, 2014 12:53:26 GMT -8
The DD 5077 cars are quite new and quite nice as are the 50' NSC PD paper boxes. Got a few and they look stunning.
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Post by drolsen on Jul 14, 2014 14:22:41 GMT -8
Tom - You'll notice that freight cars don't "count" here with some people when it comes to discussing Atlas production - only locomotive models. To be honest, I'd be fine with it if Atlas focused on producing freight cars, because they've made some fantastic ones. However, I would love to see them expand their modern GE line to include a comprehensive C44-9W / CW44AC series - I love their Dash 8s. Unfortunately I'd be concerned about how frequently they'd be able to rerun them though, based on their slow progress with releasing GP40-2 roadnames (and being surpassed by Athearn Genesis).
Dave
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2014 14:37:23 GMT -8
The DD 5077 cars are quite new and quite nice as are the 50' NSC PD paper boxes. Got a few and they look stunning. I agree completely...and their tank cars have been top notch as well. They get huge kudos from me there...I would love to see them do a new freight car as well...perhaps new road names on the 5077 cars? But for new models...I'd rather see a revised C30-7 or something like that...personally. But, they could surprise us with a new freight car as well...maybe a new International Bay window caboose?
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Post by atsfan on Jul 14, 2014 15:15:10 GMT -8
Also, I believe both Atlas and BLI closed their forums because the discussion on both forums took a rather negative tone, and they reached a point where they had simply had enough. I don't believe it had much at all to do with money, though allocating personnel time to managing the forum was an excuse that was given. Bull farts BLI got roasted time and again on its own forum for broken promise after broken promise. They'd get on their own forum for saying "the next run of the (fill in the blank) will be announced next quarter".....two years later...no announcement. Better yet, some item will be available in the next few months. Years later nothing still. Negativity is why Atlas shuttered the forum? Really? Its really amazing that the forum shut down just as the crap was hitting the fan for Atlas on the production front. Coincidence? The forum cost Atlas money in hosting it and the personal to watch over. When you can't get product to market, it makes sense to relieve personal of tasks which isn't making the company money and directing those employees energies into endeavors to make the company money. Atlas had a pretty much "hands off" approach to their forum. People expressing their displeasure had been a part of the forum from the early 2000's. Atlas could have pulled the plug years earlier for "negativity" and didn't. Its all about dollars nothing more. As for them no longer being a great company, I would like to remind folks that a lot of model train companies have come and gone since Atlas started so many years ago. Just because they are conservative about introducing products during these times does not mean they are no longer great or somehow on the way out. They had a production hiccup. Their main builder/supplier/whatever you want to call them was taken away from them; rumor has it some of their tooling conveniently "disappeared" too, and had to be completely replaced, and they have wisely chosen not to just jump in whole hog with the next guys too fast. Additionally, they have absorbed another product line and have gotten those products coming through the pipeline. I just do not understand what seems to be negativity toward them just because they don't have many "brand new" products. Atlas was pumping out new from the ground up models for about a decade. Then the great recession hits and they pulled in the horns so far, they ended up sticking out of their back sides. Meanwhile, Athearn, Intermountain, Exactrail, Tangent, Rapido, Walthers(to a lesser extent)....did I leave anyone out? Have been pumping out new product at a feverish clip. What does Atlas do, new paint on existing models, including the former Branchline products and some facelifts of existing products. Their last totally new HO diesel was the GP40-2. How did that work out for Atlas? They did a couple of runs and then a year or more of nothing. Meanwhile, Athearn announces their GP40-2 which will have prototype specific detailing, etc. and Atlas is left seemingly holding the bag. As my dealer said about Atlas track, "I can't sell something, I can not stock". Atlas track comes and goes like waves on the Pacific. Meanwhile, companies that can keep track available like Micro Engineering, Peco and even Shinohara sell product. So what is Atlas selling when track is sold out? Their good name? Air? Now couple lack of consistent availability of Atlas track to the price increases from Atlas which makes their track the same as everyone else. One of the reason Atlas sold a lot of track was Atlas was more reasonable. Not anymore. Atlas is now about the same price as the competition. People are also finding the other brands, besides being readily available throughout the year, is of higher quality than the current Atlas product. Atlas may still be a major manufacturer, at least in name. But they have been by and large sleep walking for many years. Atlas in an O scale company now. They lost the HO track market during their year out of it, and have only been re releasing old products with new roadnumbers etc. Not longer in the top 5 HO companies sadly.
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Post by atsfan on Jul 14, 2014 15:16:06 GMT -8
Tom - You'll notice that freight cars don't "count" here with some people when it comes to discussing Atlas production - only locomotive models. To be honest, I'd be fine with it if Atlas focused on producing freight cars, because they've made some fantastic ones. However, I would love to see them expand their modern GE line to include a comprehensive C44-9W / CW44AC series - I love their Dash 8s. Unfortunately I'd be concerned about how frequently they'd be able to rerun them though, based on their slow progress with releasing GP40-2 roadnames (and being surpassed by Athearn Genesis). Dave Cars count, but 50 foot boxcars?
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Post by carrman on Jul 14, 2014 15:17:50 GMT -8
The DD 5077 cars are quite new and quite nice as are the 50' NSC PD paper boxes. Got a few and they look stunning. They are really nice. They need to make the coupler boxes a bit more Kadee compatible though. Dave
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Post by WP 257 on Jul 14, 2014 19:09:33 GMT -8
Peco and Shinohara sell? Seriously?
Not around here. Kato HO track outsells both Peco and Shinohara combined. In fact, I know of one shop that basically gave away the Shinohara just to get rid of it, and they said "the Peco just doesn't sell anymore". (It did once, years ago, before the Atlas Code 83).
YMMV.
Believe what you will. It's a free country.
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Post by wp8thsub on Jul 14, 2014 19:58:41 GMT -8
Peco and Shinohara sell? Seriously? Not around here. It must vary by locale. I see Shinohara, Micro Engineering, and Atlas turnouts on layouts often, Peco less so. Micro Engineering and Atlas flextrack are common hereabouts. I don't know anybody using Kato track.
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Post by surlyknuckle on Jul 14, 2014 21:48:09 GMT -8
Forget Atlas doing engines with road-specific detailing, I just wanted to see Atlas get the basic dimensions correct.
For the longest time, Atlas was my go-to company as Chessie modeler. I mean, GP38s, 40s, SD35s... and while those models were needed, and very nice with the standards of 10-15 years ago, some of them show their age stacked against what is coming out today. Unless you're willing to go some cutting and hacking, you're really limited when it comes to the GP40, as they only did the one phase.
I'm really sad that the GP40-2 wasn't all that it could have been. But with Athearn's version, I won't be picking up any Atlas 40-2s again...
Some of their recent freight cars have been really nice: such as the 5077s that I have several of. I'm sure the scale draft gear isn't a fan-favorite, but I use Sergents, so it's a win-win for me. Wish they had a bolster on their freight cars that was more accepting of different trucks: not a fan of the Atlas trucks!
I wish them lots of luck. As long as they offer products that are relevant to my modeling interest, with some form of accuracy and care, they will have a customer in me...even if I'm never going to buy another Atlas GP40-2 again. And while I'd love to see them blow everyone away with "THE" C30-7, or "THE" Dash9 of the century, I'm not going to hold my breath. Hopefully their perceived slowness in offering new products is simply their approach to climbing the ladder of greatness...
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Post by Brakie on Jul 15, 2014 3:02:27 GMT -8
I'm really sad that the GP40-2 wasn't all that it could have been. But with Athearn's version, I won't be picking up any Atlas 40-2s again... ------------------------------------- With Athearn's on going QA/QC issues I won't be buying any new Athearn GP40-2s--hello Atlas GP40-2s comes to mind if I needed GP40-2s which I don't since my older BB and RTR GP40-2s filled my GP40-2 needs.
Atlas still produces quality products.
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Post by atsfan on Jul 15, 2014 3:42:57 GMT -8
Peco and Shinohara sell? Seriously? Not around here. Kato HO track outsells both Peco and Shinohara combined. In fact, I know of one shop that basically gave away the Shinohara just to get rid of it, and they said "the Peco just doesn't sell anymore". (It did once, years ago, before the Atlas Code 83). YMMV. Believe what you will. It's a free country. Peco sells well, seriously ME sells Shinohara I don't know about
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Post by drolsen on Jul 15, 2014 4:29:21 GMT -8
Shinohara seems to sell pretty well under the Walthers brand name. I would guess that some people who use Walthers Code 83 also occasionally buy Shinohara if they want to use Code 70 on certain sections of their layout.
Dave
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Post by riogrande on Jul 15, 2014 5:28:21 GMT -8
Forget Atlas doing engines with road-specific detailing, I just wanted to see Atlas get the basic dimensions correct. I'm really sad that the GP40-2 wasn't all that it could have been. But with Athearn's version, I won't be picking up any Atlas 40-2s again... Speaking of basic dimensions, some had complained about the GP40-2 cab windows not being correct. I did buy 6 of the GP40-2's because Atlas actually did get one of the prototype specific details I wanted most included, the nose lights. Atlas didn't get the plow right, so I will have to replace those with Athearn plows. I doubt Atlas will be re-running the D&RGW version of the GP40-2 any time soon, but if they did, I doubt if I would buy anymore with the Genesis version which does a better job IMO, and uses the Tsunami sound vs. the inferior QSI sound used in my Atlas GP40-2's. I'm saving up for the Genesis GP40-2's due out this fall. Agree on both counts - expect I will eventually pick up a few more Atlas box cars. Ditto the above. Cheers, Jim
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Post by carrman on Jul 15, 2014 5:45:37 GMT -8
They lost me as a customer with the motor change. I'll shop for new old stock when I need something, but beyond my current stash of undec GP38's, 40's, SD35's, and my small UP C40-8 fleet, I'm well situated. I scored the last drive I needed last night for a GP40.
Dave
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