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Has Athearn Gone Nutz!!!
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To me, Athearn BB and even their RTR series are kind of like a blank canvas to detail and paint how you choose. Take an Athearn RTR SD40-2 and Kato SD45, for example. I just bought 2 Kato SD45s at $139.95 a pop(haven't told the warden yet[:D]), and I have to say I am truly impressed with detail and run quality. The same hobby shop also has an Athearn RTR SD40-2 which is not much different than the last gen BB version for $70.00. IMHO, the detail on the Athearn is pretty darn good even with the minor inaccuracies with the hood length and radiator screening. Even the hood doors look good, and are more than acceptable to me. The run quality is typical Athearn quiet but not Kato quiet. For less than $50, I can install an A-Line motor and NWSL driveshafts and have a sharp looking Athearn that runs just as good as my Kato. At that point, I'm into that Athearn for less than the Kato. I won't really count the details, because I have to alter a lot on both to fit my railroad. <br /> <br />I have seen the Genesis F-7s run and am very impressed with the detail and run quality on those. Unfortunately, a post-merger Wabash/N&W version is not offered, so I have no plans to buy those. <br /> <br />As far as being "nutz", I think Athearn is on the right track with more RTR stuff at a higher price. It's nice stuff, but to compare an RTR diesel to an Atlas or an RTR boxcar to Kadee is unfair. In the Reno and Sacramento area hobbyshops I've been to, the price difference is still huge. Sorry to be so long-winded. <br /> <br />Robert <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
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