Atlas Yellow Box c424

[fiend540]

What's the deal on these, are they decent? There's one offered for sale to me, but I've never ran one or held one in my hand. I know they are pretty old at this point but I think the price is right ($30) that I wouldn't mind hacking into it.

Also does anyone got a breakdown on years/features of the various atlas lines (yellowbox,redbox,classic,silver,ect)?

[The Ferro Kid]

Mar 28, 2015 20:45:44 GMT -8 fiend540 said:

What's the deal on these, are they decent? There's one offered for sale to me, but I've never ran one or held one in my hand. I know they are pretty old at this point but I think the price is right ($30) that I wouldn't mind hacking into it.

Also does anyone got a breakdown on years/features of the various atlas lines (yellowbox,redbox,classic,silver,ect)?

Very decent and highly respected in their day. Very smooth runners and pullers. I have a total of 10 or 12 acquired at various times when they were released and have had no problems. However, don't expect road-specific details. $30 is very reasonable, assuming there are no serious scrapes, dings, or gouges and assuming reasonable running time -- the amount of scuffing on the rail contact surfaces of the wheels is a rough indicator of that. Another rough indicator would be whether it still runs relatively smoothly. Of course, if it hasn't been run in a long time, it might still run smoothly after cleaning out and replacing old grease and cleaning wheel surfaces.

[bnsf971]

That is a good price for them. Even if you end up not using it, the motor alone is worth that much, if you were to buy a new replacement from Kato.

[tom]

Mar 28, 2015 20:45:44 GMT -8 fiend540 said:

What's the deal on these, are they decent? There's one offered for sale to me, but I've never ran one or held one in my hand. I know they are pretty old at this point but I think the price is right ($30) that I wouldn't mind hacking into it.

Also does anyone got a breakdown on years/features of the various atlas lines (yellowbox,redbox,classic,silver,ect)?

Atlas did a lot of work to these old Kato produced C424s and C425s when they re-released them into the Classic line. Some of the improvements where a better coupler mounting system and a new frame. The Classic line have much better looking handrails and have actual grab irons instead of the molded on ones that the Kato produces ones had. Atlas also upgraded the detailing. Later version of the Atlas classic have better looking truck sideframes that have separate brake cylinders instead of the molded on ones.

While the Kato produced locomotives were very good runnners the Classic ones seem to me to run even better.

30 bucks for the Atlas produced locomotives is pretty good but to me at least the Classic version is a better bargain.

[atsfan]

These are Kato drive.
If it is all intact and runs fine, swap out the couplers and you will be fine.
Make sure to see it first or that it is returnable.

[Spikre]

the original Undec C424 had the Wrong back end that was Missing
the protruding number boards.
Atlas Fixed that around 1990 when the decorated versions showed up.
but they didn't fix the Handrail Stantions,many C424s up to 1965 had
Top Deck Mounted Stantions,not side mounted ones that came on the
models.
then around 1990 Atlas called the Original C424 body a Phase-2 C424,but
while the back was now correct,the body side was Wrong.should be similar
to the C425s but with out the sheet metal bulge above the air intakes at rear.
so Atlas didn't get that correct again.
later Atlas offered Phase 1,Phase 2 and Phase 3,C424s.
and Phase 1, and Phase 2 C425s.
most look really good painted,but depending on how picky one may be the
models may be not quite rite for prime time.
like the Kato U-Joints best,the later China locos have U-Joints that look
like they were stolen from Athearn BB locos.
[or drive Dog Bones ?]
Spikre

[lvrr325]

$30 is stupid cheap, it's worth that all day long. Details aren't perfect but the Kato drive will run like a champ more or less forever.