|
|
Post by eh49 on Jul 3, 2016 19:11:19 GMT -8
Tonight, I was taking a closer look at my Atlas Long Island C420 with HiAd trucks and had a sneaky suspicion that Atlas would not tool up a new truck for one model and it looks like I was right. Those HiAd trucks sure look like the same ones Bowser used under the C430. If so, it is nice to see two companies pool their resources to give us more options on models. Now, either Atlas or Bowser could use that same truck under a T6 and C415 (which Bowser is working on). I assume for the T6 it would be a natural for Atlas.
|
|
|
|
Post by 12bridge on Jul 3, 2016 19:14:20 GMT -8
They do have the same factory after all...
|
|
|
|
Post by jbilbrey on Jul 3, 2016 19:42:55 GMT -8
Like politics, model railroading can lead to strange partnerships. Bluford Shops used Atlas trucks under their HO cabooses. At least Branchline and Red Caboose used Accurail trucks as well.
Pooling resources, whether it is in the design phase or production phase, certainly makes sense on more limited-run items such as Alco HiAd trucks. It also makes our lives easier in the sense that Locomotive A's trucks match Locomotive B's. That is more than I can say about the various iterations of Blomberg or AAR trucks out there in the marketplace.
James Bilbrey
LaVergne, TN
|
|
|
|
Post by Judge Doom on Jul 4, 2016 0:04:14 GMT -8
It happens. Intermountain used Accurail trucks under their boxcars for a while too.
Plus, the two big things in this respect that haven't come up yet:
1) Look at all the companies using Kadee's couplers on their products, right from the factory (and to a lesser extent, Accurail couplers).
2) Look at all the companies using 3rd party sound decoders (ESU, TCS, Soundtrax) in their models.
|
|
|
|
Post by lvrr325 on Jul 4, 2016 7:58:39 GMT -8
Really this is nothing new, you can find examples of the same thing from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s - Athearn trains or parts sold under at least half a dozen other brand names, for instance, and that doesn't count custom decorators like Bev-Bel.
If another manufacturer will buy your parts for their product that doesn't directly compete with you, why not?
|
|
|
|
Post by craigz on Jul 4, 2016 13:12:38 GMT -8
Tonight, I was taking a closer look at my Atlas Long Island C420 with HiAd trucks and had a sneaky suspicion that Atlas would not tool up a new truck for one model and it looks like I was right. Those HiAd trucks sure look like the same ones Bowser used under the C430. If so, it is nice to see two companies pool their resources to give us more options on models. Now, either Atlas or Bowser could use that same truck under a T6 and C415 (which Bowser is working on). I assume for the T6 it would be a natural for Atlas. At Cocoa Beach back in January, Rob from Atlas said that's exactly what happened - Atlas asked Bowser's Lee English if they could work out an arrangement and there you go...Hi-Ad C420s. |
|
|
|
Post by Spikre on Jul 5, 2016 8:58:47 GMT -8
 too bad only the 8 LI C420s had Hi-Ads. think how good Hi-Ads would have looked under L&HR or LV C420s. or even EL C424/425s. Spikre 
|
|
