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whats a good manfacturer for HO diesel engine
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There are three levels of Athearn locomotives. The least expensive is the Blue Box kit. These sell for anywhere between $30 and $45 dollars U.S., though they can be had for less. They are very reliable, your son will be able to pass one down to his son. (IMO, only Mantua produced a more bullet proof locomotive) However, their drawbacks include the following: They are not as detailed as more expensive models, their paint is flater and duller right out of the box and the applied details are not as realistic. (They look like bent paperclips.) Also, they are louder than more expensive models and, if you wi***o convert them to DCC you need to insulate the shell and install the decoder yourself. Still, I love the Blue Box and without them HO would have never reached the level of popularity it now enjoys. <br /> <br />The next level of Athearn is the RTR or ready to roll. The newer ones are quieter than the blue boxes, have more detail and factory applied parts. These retail for anywhere between $55 and $95 dollars US. The most expensive Athearn is the Genesis line. They retail for around $75 to $125. They are very detailed, very quiet, DCC equipped, and such a nice paint job that modelers are often reluctant to weather them. <br /> <br />Atlas does not have an equivilant to the Blue Box just yet but within the next year their Trainman line (I think) will be their least expensive model. Their "Classic" line is in the same price range and Athearn's RTR. However, I prefer Atlas classics to Athearns RTR. The best Atlas models are their Silver, Gold and Master series. I love these things. They run as smooth as a Swiss watch and have such detail that if you take a magnifying glass you can read the builder's plate -- even on their N Scale locos! <br /> <br />Kato makes some great contemporary diesels as well. They are kits, the paint isn't as bright but many people regard their drive system as the best available. <br /> <br />IMO, if you want to be on the lowest price range you can't go wrong with an Athearn Blue Box. If, however, you want a more expensive locomotive Atlas is the way to go, though there are others who swear by Kato, Athearn Genesis and Proto 2000. If you really want to spend a lot of money and want sound (including all the bells and whistles) Broadway Limited gives you the best bang for the buck in the premium category.
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