Athearn Bluebox

[AggroJones]

I got an e-mail from InternetHobbies saying that Athearn is discontinuing all blue-box kits, so now is the time to buy them all up. Is this just another rumor to sell remaining kits or did Horizon make the decision to fini***hem off right now? Anyone know?

[Anonymous]

Aggro, I cooresponded with Athearn and the reply I got was that everything is still being produced as usual and that nothing is going to change for now.

One problem I do see is that Horizon is making LHS's jump through hoops to keep a continued stockpile to serve the local demand.

I am a fan of the Blue Box and don't want to see it go away.

[CP5415]

It's probably that Internet Hobbies is not going to be selling Athearn anymore so they're trying to get rid of their remaining stock.
I can't see a company publicly announce a production schedule & not go forth with it.
I hope I'm not proven wrong! [:(]

Gordon

[Anonymous]

If horizen quits making the blue box the will lose alot of buissness

[cacole]

It's probably a case of Horizon Hobbies not letting Internet discounters have Athearn products -- they said at the outset when they purchased Athearn that there would be no more sales to the discounters, only local hobby shops.

[BRAKIE]

First please remember there is a lot of false rumors floating around about Athearn and the Athearn products not only by some of the hobby shops but the Athearn basher and haters as well.While it is true there is more RTR Athearn then BB kits they are still out there.[:D][tup] Of course you may have to pay full MSRP but still that won't send you to the poor house.[:p][;)]

[Anonymous]

Brakie, I will for sure not have to go to the 'Poor House' but I see nothing in your statements allowing for the fact that ,before Horizon Bought out Athearn, 'Poor House' was ever even mentioned in the equation. I think that Horizon is just looking for a quick buck and saying to Heck with the past, ie. loyal customers.

Athearn has continued to state that there will be no changes of the availability, gee manufacturer says supplys available, BIG distributer says I can't get it. I wonder who is not telling the truth?

[MRTerry]

I saw John Engstrom of Athearn last Wednesday. He said that "blue box" production is already up and running at their new facility in California - and that it actually started even before they finished decorating and packing the last cars at the old facility.
Terry

[jjbmish]

Glad to hear it, the blue box has been a constant on my layouts for over 30 years. I have a stock pile of them currently in storage, but I'm getting geared up to start building them over the summer.

John

[88gta350]

If Athearn just opened a new facility, I bet some wires got crossed and some communication mixed, and people (LHS's) thought they were closing up shop and quitting the blue box business, not realizing they were opening a whole new facility. That could be where all these rumors came from.

[decoy706]

Now that someone in the business has spoken lets all support the hobby/Horizon-Athearn by buying Blue Box kits to show we really want them instead of passing on RUMORS ! Blue Box kits are still one of the most affordable on the market along with kits from several other manufactures including the other old-timer MDC and others. Even some of the new guys are reasonable too like Bowser/Branchline and of course you get what you pay for in kits so don't over look the higher priced one either.
Buy what you can afford and support the hobby !!!

[BRAKIE]

I fully agree that the blue box cars are still worth owning and I still contend they are a great car for the buck..80% of my cars is Athearn. both BB kits and the newer RTR cars.

John,I think you miss my point..What I was saying you may have to pay full MSRP for the blue box kit and even at full price they will not send you to the poor house like some of the so called better brands of kits.

Terry,Thanks for the up date on Athearn's plans for the BB kits...These kits are still a staple of the hobby regardless of what some may say or think on that other popular forum..70% of the modelers I know still use Athearn products and not to boast or brag I am a fairly well known local modeler that knows a lot of modelers and get to visit a lot of clubs and home layouts.Not to mention I also worked part time in a hobby shop and seen what the majority of our customers was buying needless to say it was not the high dollar car kit...So I hope the old BB kits will be around for years to come.

[AntonioFP45]

Hey guys,

I replied on a similar "Athearn" topic. Athearn is not discontinuing their models, however, some Athearn models "HAVE NOT BEEN SCHEDULED" for production this year. That's all.

Understandably it's likely that these would be units that are no longer in high demand by the LHS and customers. It is the economics game that Athearn has to play as its competition today is quite fierce. As I stated before, just a decade and half ago, LifleLIke and Bachmann trains were considered a "joke by many of us. The Kato units of today were non-existent, few of us heard of Stewart, and RTR--what's that?!

The economic scenario for Athearn today has changed and they're making choices that are going to make some of us unhappy. I think that eventually some models may be discontinued while some may be upgraded to genesis standards. I do wish Athearn would bring some of their long time units, like the SD9, GP35 and FP45, up to genesis detailing and performance standards.

But I doubt the Blue Box is going to dissappear anytime soon. And don't forget, there are always trains shows and swap meets!

[simon1966]

The BB like kit is in my view an essential part of the hobby that helps to ensure the future of the hobby. Can you imagine the frustration of a young pair of hands trying to assemble a Proto 2000 kit?

How many of us gain enormous pleasure from constructing things? Is there anything more satisfying than placing a challenging, painted and weatherd structure, freight car or locomotive on the layout? This is what the BB and other simple kits offer to young children who would otherwise not have the skill to complete a kit of more complexity.

They are cheap. (Compared to R2R and other more advanced kits)
Easy for a beginner (Of any age)
Sturdy (They hold up well to my 4 year old)

In other words, they represent the entry of new blood into this hobby.

I would imagine that the vast majority of people who are active in this hobby enjoy working with their hands. Society as a whole tells us not to wait for anything. Get it now, use it now. The R 2 R boom feeds this demand. For me, this misses the point of why I enjoy model RR. I like to absorb myself in something that takes my mind off work and other stresses of the day. I like to do something that my boys can actively participate in. Opening a $20 R to R freight car does not provide this.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

I got an e-mail from InternetHobbies saying that Athearn is discontinuing all blue-box kits, so now is the time to buy them all up. Is this just another rumor to sell remaining kits or did Horizon make the decision to fini***hem off right now? Anyone know?

I'd fire an email right back to Internet Hobbies and tell them to stuff it! This is just a ruse by them and other unethical dealers to boost sales on their inventory of blue boxes...and I'd tell them that, too.

Athearn has stated they WILL be continuing blue box kits...PERIOD!

[METRO]

I'm glad to hear that Athearn is still going to make the Blue Boxes, now I just wi***hat they'd give them the same attention as the RTR and Genesis line.

LOL now that we know the kitbasher's delight are still going to be produced when is MR going to start running workshop articles with em again??

[Anonymous]

Brakie, It is not me that I am concerecned for. I remember when the first 'kit' I looked at was about 70% higher in cost and (assumed better Quality), than the good ole Blue Box, but I could not afford it.

I am not looking at folks in my age or tax bracket, but those just starting in the hobby. I am neither freind nor foe of Horizon. I would just like to see the younger crowd be able to afford something that I could, at that time in the Hobby

[Anonymous]

We're sorry if we started a rumour about the Blue Boxes being discontinued. I guess we were mis-informed by our sources. We will continue to offer our customers all of the Athearn Blue Box line if and when it becomes available. We're happy, as the many Blue Box fans are, that the kit line will continue to be produced. They represent a great value for model railroaders and would be greatly missed by all of us.

Sincere apologies,

The Management of Internet Hobbies

[AntonioFP45]

Forgive my skepticism,[;)]

But "The Management of Internet Hobbies"???????????? [%-)] Who? [%-)]
Owner, Manager, Assistant Manager, Sales Rep?, Marketing, Distribution Clerk?

Is this legitimate, or has someone perhaps even a Forum member signed on with this name? I checked the "Profile" (as we all should be doing now) and it's basically BLANK!

Most "reputable" internet companies don't start rumors like this "officially" as they wouldn't want to tarni***heir reputation. Now as for the individual employees on their own time; that's a different story.

I've noticed that the few legitimate business reps that have responded to "hot topics" on the Forum have usually included in their signature:

Company Name, his/her name, title (manager, sales rep) and in some cases the company address and/or logo.

If this really was Internet Hobbies, then it is a major "KAPOOOOTSKY!" [#oops]as Athearn could consider a legal "Cease and Desist" action. [B)][:-,][|(]

I've heard from reputable sources that a number of internet dealer managers were VERY UPSET [:(!][|(]with the Horizon deal as it completely cut them off. Since Athearns have always sold well, this has likely made a dent in these dealer's sales income.

These dealers hopefully have "gotten over it" and are continuing to use good marketing strategies. With all of the Kato, Atlas, LL-Proto, Stewart, B-Spectrum, BLI, and Walther's products they're already selling they shouldn't even be breaking a sweat over their loss of Athearn. [:p]

As I stated before, Athearn has temporarily stopped producing some models, but has not discontinued them. IMHO, they'll probably wait to see if demand picks up for the models or they may consider retooling for RTR. It would not make sense for them to get rid of the molds and dies of these models as they're incredibly expensive.

Hope this helps!

[CP5415]

Antonio, you've made a good point!

"The Management of Internet Hobbies"?

If this was from someone from Internet Hobbies, why are they hiding behind a vacant name such as this?
Kind of makes me wonder just how they conduct business.

Just my 2 cents

Gordon

[dknelson]

I hope Athearn also continues to make a full line of parts available -- few hobby shops offer them all.
The Management of Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

From "The Management of Internet Hobbies":

We are still filling orders as best we can on the blue box line. Our latest information indicates that Athearn will be producing the Blue Box line in batches. That's pretty much how they always manufactured the line so we really don't see any significant difference in availability over long run. Horizon is doing a fantastic job in alerting their dealers of availability on the whole Athearn line. Again let me personally apologize for any incorrect information sent out by my company.

Sincerely,

Dale Bruner, President
Internet Hobbies, Inc.

[AntonioFP45]

O.K!

Now that was legitimate and will likely be appreciated by Athearn consumers on this forum!

Thank you for taking the time to present the facts, Mr. Bruner!

[Anonymous]

PHEEEW!!! That's great news! Long live Athearn!