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whats a good manfacturer for HO diesel engine
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Here's my guide for less expensive diesels. Prices are USD: <br /> <br />Under $50.00 <br /> <br />Athearn Blue Box kits -- Best quality for the price. When your son builds a layout for his son in 30 years the Athearn will still be running. Sometimes you can find a Blue Box kit for less than $35 which is a great price. Once I found a GP 9 for $15! My kids use these almost exclusively. Many come with horn hook couplers but you can pick up some kadees, mchenry's or some cheaper imitation at the hobby shop. <br /> <br />Walthers Trainline -- Not bad quality for the price. The units are heavy and not as forgiving as Athearns on bad trackwork but for less than $35 they are pretty good. Reliable runners. <br /> <br />Proto 1000 -- These can be had for less than $50 if you know where to look and are not picky about road names. They are good quality for kids. Not as bullet proof as Athearn Blue Box but what is? <br /> <br />IHC -- I generally stay away from their cheap diesels but I bought a steamer from them as well as a GG1 which are very reliable. The thing with their line is inconsistency as the units are acquired from various companies which went out of business. You have to know the history of the locomotive model you are buying with IHC and cannot go buy their brand name alone. <br /> <br />Avoid -- All Bachmann diesels which are not Spectrum. Spectrum can be iffy as well. Avoid all non-Proto Lifelike and Model Power. Also avoid cheap trainsets by the above companies. <br /> <br />Mid-range -- Generally retail between $60 and $100 though the list price can be higher. <br /> <br />Kato -- I don't own one, but people swear by 'em. <br /> <br />Atlas -- My favorite brand. There are several quality levels. They are quiet runners. <br /> <br />Proto 1000 and Proto 2000 -- I don't like them as much as Atlas but in terms of detail they are excellent. <br /> <br />Athearn RTR and Genesis -- A few steps above the Blue Box in terms of detail. I don't know if they are as bullet proof as the blue box. We'll see in another 20 years. <br /> <br />Stewart -- Kits. They make mostly switchers and second generation Alcos. I like their drive mechanism. They are a little bit touchy around tight curves. You do need to be a pretty accomplished modeler to detail them, as the detail parts are tiny.
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