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Post by MILWmodeler on May 12, 2021 8:22:52 GMT -8
He’s talking about the new SD60M’s that came from the factory with a defect that derails them on curves and Athearn’s refusal to repair the defect. Yes, the SD60M Triclops have a defect. It wasn't apparent in the pre-production samples and didn't even show up in QC inspections, but the production run has an issue. There's going to be an official announcement from Athearn in the very near future regarding this. It's not something that's being ignored and Athearn is working very hard on the best solution for people who bought these locomotives. There's a few more details that need to be solidified, but an official response is coming. No one's going to be stuck with paperweights.
Jon Athearn Product Manager
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Post by MILWmodeler on May 12, 2021 8:36:19 GMT -8
everyone i found missing bearing cap to my sd60m. while ago i was spending days looking for it, and now i scan near part of my train table and just of luck i found it. so now my sd60m has all bearing cap on locomotive. man they are so so small and carpet i have it string type carpet. i wish that Athearn added extra bearing caps and it sound like there not going to make bearing cap part replacement bag cause the locomotive is limited type or run. unless they use the same type of baring caps for all locomotives that will have rolling bearing caps then they should make bag of replacement. Unfortunately the spare parts bag with bearing caps was an oversight, they should have been included. It's Athearn's policy to include extras for all models with rotating bearing caps. That wasn't always the case, but it is now. Replacement caps for the SD60M's are now available if you need them and the engineering behind the cap fitment in the truck sideframe has been refined on future releases to reduce the chance of the caps falling off.
Jon Athearn Product Manager
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Post by markfj on May 13, 2021 3:44:18 GMT -8
Just got notice from Brian at Overland Hobbies that the Genesis GATC 2600 Airslide hoppers are in and ready to ship. Eager to get my Penn Central car; these cars are really nice!
Thanks, Mark
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sknorcal
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Post by sknorcal on May 13, 2021 7:29:43 GMT -8
He’s talking about the new SD60M’s that came from the factory with a defect that derails them on curves and Athearn’s refusal to repair the defect. Yes, the SD60M Triclops have a defect. It wasn't apparent in the pre-production samples and didn't even show up in QC inspections, but the production run has an issue. There's going to be an official announcement from Athearn in the very near future regarding this. It's not something that's being ignored and Athearn is working very hard on the best solution for people who bought these locomotives. There's a few more details that need to be solidified, but an official response is coming. No one's going to be stuck with paperweights.
Jon Athearn Product Manager
Thank you for the update Jon. It is good to know that Athearn hears its customers and is making an effort to correct the situation. ...and, please, make sure to correct the design/assembly problem before you release the C40-8W...
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Post by MILWmodeler on May 13, 2021 9:11:34 GMT -8
Thank you for the update Jon. It is good to know that Athearn hears its customers and is making an effort to correct the situation. ...and, please, make sure to correct the design/assembly problem before you release the C40-8W... I can assure you that the problem is isolated to this production of this locomotive only. No other locomotives have this problem and the tooling is being remade so future productions of Triclops are correct. But we're also going to fix these.
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Post by nsfantodd on May 13, 2021 10:34:37 GMT -8
Thank you for the update Jon. It is good to know that Athearn hears its customers and is making an effort to correct the situation. ...and, please, make sure to correct the design/assembly problem before you release the C40-8W... I can assure you that the problem is isolated to this production of this locomotive only. No other locomotives have this problem and the tooling is being remade so future productions of Triclops are correct. But we're also going to fix these. I would be really happy if you made the corrected trucks available for sale separately. I would like to add them to my 3 SD60Es!
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Post by bigblow69 on May 13, 2021 16:30:14 GMT -8
At the risk of offending the Athearn apologists, here's the response I received when I inquired about a missing ladder on my just-arrived Auto-Max car: "If you purchased an item which is defective, please return them to your point of purchase for exchange or refund as parts for the Auto-Max cars are not available post production. " Now, I preordered two of the cars and have several engines and cars on preorder, so I don't hate Athearn products. Just be aware that you might need a psychic to tell you if your preordered stuff has broken or missing parts, because Athearn has no extras. Those of you with low expectations of new, expensive models, need not reply. I support a small hobby shop in my area. I have no intent to return them to him and if he would not be able to return them. Like I said I have alot on preorder from him and if I return eight engines do you think he will still order those for me? I am not one of his biggest customers but when I see something I like I'm usually all in. Athearn Intermountain ScaleTrains etc doesn't really matter. Just really frustrated loco's I ordered are missing part, and can't exchange them because they are sold out. Half of my stuff I never run. I just like locomotives and freight cars.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2021 7:34:54 GMT -8
RE: fanboy discussion:
I am a fan of individual products or product runs. Sometimes they are truly excellent, whereas other runs of the same item from the same manufacturer, or any manufacturer, may just not be so.
For me it depends upon the engine in question: sometimes Manufacturer A nails a particular model, while others they make might be more nearly Trainman series engines.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2021 7:53:15 GMT -8
bigblow69--
I completely understand. I have in the past rejected products that I had pre-ordered, or otherwise have cancelled pre-orders, so now one of my favorite shops will no longer pre-order anything for me (unless it is one of their own products that they make which they can always sell, but even then I'm just usually taking a pre-order slot that the store already had allocated for walk-in customers).
Basically, if I pre-order a model from anybody, and it runs ok and operates as advertised, I am stuck with it and any minor cosmetic deficiencies it may or may not have, or else I sell it on Ebay to get rid of it.
This has made me extremely careful about what products I will pre-order in the future. At the present time I only have a Genesis DDA40X on pre-order for my son, and several Bowser SD40-2's for me.
Anything else I try to pick up immediately upon its arrival in stores.
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Post by gevohogger on May 14, 2021 8:13:40 GMT -8
Most of us just ignore that guy anyway. I think he just gets some sort of thrill seeing his name on the screen, sort of like when Steve Martin was thrilled to see his name "in print" (in the phone book!).
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Post by mdvle on May 18, 2021 14:11:32 GMT -8
Athearn Train Tuesday - May 18th 2021 0:03 - Genesis - FEF steam locos 0:20 - RTR - 40' Superior Door Boxcars 0:32 - Roundhouse - 34' Offset Hopper 0:40 - Athearn News featuring "Photos by Janek" 0:42 - Rock Island FP7A's (2 paint schemes) arriving July 0:44 - cab over trucks 0:47 - containers arriving late July 0:49 - ICG (2 paint schemes) GP38-2 - arriving September 0:55 - BA Railsystems video reviewed (with son) RTR 40 Boxcars 0:57 - Official Statement by Athearn regarding the SD60M 1:03 - Q&A - Virtual Railfan - Revelstoke BC featuring the most patient driver - another run of P40/P42? - think about anniversary paint schemes... - F59PHI to go with Surfliners? - good suggestion, makes sense - more heritage paint scheme diesels - a given - HO Genesis Viewliners? - a good suggestion - more HO models in N - see increase in sales in N so maybe - ES44 G2.0 upgrade? - definitely a possibility, biggest problem is product developer time - commenters running pool on how long F150 will stick around... - Genesis GP30? - Jim would love - return of the Roundhouse Boxcab? - anything is possible (so, for the record, the pickup truck arrived at 1:09 and was still there at 1:28 when session ended - enduring a train stopping, moving again and clearing crossing only for second train to come, stop, and then get moving again...) YouTube link
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Post by riogrande on May 18, 2021 15:32:06 GMT -8
This Jim would love a Genesis GP30, assuming ST doesn't beat them to it!
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Post by mdvle on May 18, 2021 15:39:25 GMT -8
I guess this is where I tread into dangerous territory, where what I see as 2+2 may not be 4 but 3 or 5. And so if the above isn't clear, this is all speculation/guesswork by me based on observing these sessions and the Rapido stuff (like how Rapido seems to mention the GP40TC in every Q&A session they hold...). A lot of the time they either don't select the request for a specific item, or if they do highlight it the response is to send the request to the Athearn feedback email account so that they can count the interest. So for some of these, where they are willing to more than just say send feedback, I wonder if it is one of 2 things: 1) a sort of hint that they are working on it and so it may be announced at some point in the future (see - Surfliners, though they were a lot more "obvious") 2) an indication that they really are considering it, maybe have done some research, and are wondering if they should proceed any further - in other words, do you people want these items as much as we think you might. In either case, it does seem that Athearn is taking more than a normal interest in the idea, so anyone who does like any of those suggestions should give feedback to Athearn to reinforce that there is potentially enough interest for a model.
edit: (and that reminds me, I really should take my own advice and send some feedback into Athearn for a Boxcab and a few other things)
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Post by markfj on May 18, 2021 15:42:15 GMT -8
^^^ I was thinking the same thing Jim!
The white and orange ICG GP38-2 looks sweet. The gray and orange not so much.
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Post by nsfantodd on May 18, 2021 15:48:03 GMT -8
There might be hope for Genesis Viewliners. Just need more people to make the suggestion to Athearns suggestion page.
I've made mine! And no that was not me during the live show, haha
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Post by nsfantodd on May 18, 2021 15:59:39 GMT -8
I guess this is where I tread into dangerous territory, where what I see as 2+2 may not be 4 but 3 or 5. And so if the above isn't clear, this is all speculation/guesswork by me based on observing these sessions and the Rapido stuff (like how Rapido seems to mention the GP40TC in every Q&A session they hold...). A lot of the time they either don't select the request for a specific item, or if they do highlight it the response is to send the request to the Athearn feedback email account so that they can count the interest. So for some of these, where they are willing to more than just say send feedback, I wonder if it is one of 2 things: 1) a sort of hint that they are working on it and so it may be announced at some point in the future (see - Surfliners, though they were a lot more "obvious") 2) an indication that they really are considering it, maybe have done some research, and are wondering if they should proceed any further - in other words, do you people want these items as much as we think you might. In either case, it does seem that Athearn is taking more than a normal interest in the idea, so anyone who does like any of those suggestions should give feedback to Athearn to reinforce that there is potentially enough interest for a model.
edit: (and that reminds me, I really should take my own advice and send some feedback into Athearn for a Boxcab and a few other things)
I think about the same things. For instance, why did Jim chose to read the request for Genesis Viewliners? Was it to nudge people to respond with request to get an idea of the possible viability of the cars? Or was it because they have already started on Viewliners as near or future project? Or did he just read it because it was the next thing that caught his eye? I don't know, but I think about it...
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Post by hovehicle on May 20, 2021 10:22:30 GMT -8
For the record, I wish a HO 2010 F-150 pickup would arrive at Athearn for review, and then get announced shortly thereafter!
Vito L.
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Post by idgara on May 20, 2021 10:38:55 GMT -8
I’d like to see Athearn resolve licensing issues with Mack, to remake those B and R model trucks. Seen enough C model fords.
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Post by milgentrains on May 21, 2021 5:42:10 GMT -8
I’d like to see Athearn resolve licensing issues with Mack, to remake those B and R model trucks. Seen enough C model fords. It would nice to see a new run of the cement mixers that Athearn used to make.
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Post by fr8kar on May 21, 2021 6:23:00 GMT -8
I’d like to see Athearn resolve licensing issues with Mack, to remake those B and R model trucks. Seen enough C model fords. It would nice to see a new run of the cement mixers that Athearn used to make. I agree. We may not see the Mack's again, but reruns of the Kenworth and Ford cement mixers would be fine with me.
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Post by dti406 on May 21, 2021 7:17:51 GMT -8
They are not cement mixers, they are concrete mixers! Cement is an ingredient of concrete along with sand, stone, water and admixtures.
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Post by idgara on May 21, 2021 7:51:14 GMT -8
They are not cement mixers, they are concrete mixers! Cement is an ingredient of concrete along with sand, stone, water and admixtures. Yeah, but everyone’s always called then cement trucks, and it does have cement in it, so…..
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Post by riogrande on May 21, 2021 8:05:51 GMT -8
They are not cement mixers, they are concrete mixers! Cement is an ingredient of concrete along with sand, stone, water and admixtures. Yeah, but everyone’s always called then cement trucks, and it does have cement in it, so….. I'm going to have to agree with idgara - I've heard them called cement mixers all my life. Some terms become coined and trying to change the name is an uphill battle that isn't going to be won.
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Post by peoriaman on May 21, 2021 10:05:25 GMT -8
Yeah, but everyone’s always called then cement trucks, and it does have cement in it, so….. I'm going to have to agree with idgara - I've heard them called cement mixers all my life. Some terms become coined and trying to change the name is an uphill battle that isn't going to be won. Sure, everyone knows what you mean when you call it a cement mixer, but it is sort of like calling a train a choo-choo.
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Post by fr8kar on May 21, 2021 10:15:31 GMT -8
I'm going to have to agree with idgara - I've heard them called cement mixers all my life. Some terms become coined and trying to change the name is an uphill battle that isn't going to be won. Sure, everyone knows what you mean when you call it a cement mixer, but it is sort of like calling a train a choo-choo. I'm going to have to disagree here. In the early 90s I worked for a construction company that specialized in stone masonry retaining walls. We had a fleet of mixer trucks that delivered mixed mortar to the job sites. To anyone else they would have appeared to be "concrete" mixers but the product they carried had no aggregates in it since it was masonry mortar. Mortar mixer, concrete mixer, cement mixer. Same vehicle. Be pedantic if it pleases you, but you might be wrong anyway.
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Post by Colin 't Hart on May 21, 2021 10:26:52 GMT -8
If we're being pedantic: Do the trucks even *mix* their contents? I thought they only rotated to keep the contents from hardening. The contents were already mixed at the plant before the truck was filled.
Or?
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Post by riogrande on May 21, 2021 10:36:17 GMT -8
Maybe this is what happens when someone is in a business where they have more specific terms, and the there is everyone else in the world who knows things by a common name. That average person is not going to care, pretty much everyone will know what you are talking about when you mention a cement truck.
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Post by idgara on May 21, 2021 11:58:27 GMT -8
Does it really matter? I think not! But calling a train a choo choo, unless you’re 3, it’s comparing apples to horse manure.
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Post by peoriaman on May 21, 2021 12:15:35 GMT -8
Does it really matter? I think not! But calling a train a choo choo, unless you’re 3, it’s comparing apples to horse manure. Don't make me bring Omaharoad back here to talk down to everyone who knows less than he does!
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Post by slowfreight on May 21, 2021 14:21:20 GMT -8
If we're being pedantic: Do the trucks even *mix* their contents? I thought they only rotated to keep the contents from hardening. The contents were already mixed at the plant before the truck was filled. Or? Yes they do. The drum is charged with all of the raw ingredients, and the truck mixes them in the drum. Because it continues mixing "in transit" quite a few of us call them transit mixers.
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