ModelRailroader.com Reader Poll – January 8, 2004

[darth9x9]

It will affect me..... I have my reservations in for their new GP35s!

BC

[on30francisco]

I model in On30 and am also building an old time HO layout so I don't use Athern products. I have used them in the past (blue box and locos) and I hope they keep the quality up and the prices affordable.

[ngfred]

Any remember bread fpr 5 cents? or gas for 23cents/ And I am only 67.
Fred in NC

[Anonymous]

My local retail hobbyshop says they order their Athearn equipment from Horizon as they get the best deal on Athearn from Horizon (including Walthers). They are very happy Horizon has taken this step.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CityofLA102

Athearn is/was one of the few that had prices for the entry level modelers could afford and get a quality product. Hopefully this won't change with the new takeover. Phil

I think it has already changed...remember that change comes slowly.

How many of you have gone into your local hobby shop and seen all those dusty blue boxes and noticed that the same kits are sold in shiny new see through Athearn Ready-To-Roll series for $15-18.00 a car?
My Dad bought his kits for $2.98 in 1978 and I bought some of mine 2 years ago for $6.99. Now their up to $15.00!

Engines are now WAY overpriced for what you get. I'm being converted slowly by Life-Like's Proto 1000 and 2000 line of kits and engines. Besides, they have far more detail, upgraded Athearn style drives , are easliy stripped with 91% alcohol,and nickle silver wheels that don't require cleaning every other lap around the layout!

[Allen Jenkins]

Check out Athearn.com! There's an add for the John Deere Line to be sold in Walmart! I was suprized to see trainsets back on their product line. I saw the Southern Rwy. GP 59 #4610 in a set and bought it for a 10yr. old. I figured I should do that much to help a company that's been part of my life all my life. Did you ever stop to think how many people are "Athearn experts?" I never stopped being amazed how Shane responded to that trainset, simple as it was. The only thing that bothered me was that the switches cost $15.00. Try as I did I couldn't get any interested investers. Just stupid excuses. The set cost $105.00 down at Int. Hobbies. Well worth the effort because for a kid that was master of any video game, and could track deer and hunt with any man, Shane learned to railroad! God-speed to the greatest hobby in the world!

[SWarren]

I spoke to the owners of the local hobby shop where I buy the majority of my railroad supplies and did not come away feeling very good about the purchase of Athearn by Horizon. The shop is not currently affiliated with Horizon and had just received the application package. They said that no other distributor had ever requested as much private information as had Horizon and they were not willing to provide it. After those comments I went to Horizon's web site and checked the application package. I agree with the shop owners' concerns. Additionally, they had concerns about minimum order quantities required by Horizon. If the minimum order is high, I'm afraid it will affect me by at least slowing my special orders while I wait for the shop to build up an order of sufficient size.

[Anonymous]

My brother runs a railroad hobby shop. When we heard about the sale I contacted Horizon, and said that we would be dealing with them, could they please send a dealer package. The following day: 1. A dealer package came in the mail; 2. We received a telephone call from Horizon asking if we had gotten the dealer package they had already sent. Best of all, the dealer package wanted a photograph of the store to prove that we weren't a garage operation, and included a disposable camera so that we could take the picture. Also, the package contained a postage paid envelope. We are much less apprehensive about the sale, the new company seems to know what it is doing. If only they re-issue the old blue box locomotives (GP7, GP35, Trainmaster, etc.) at reasonable prices, and not as part of their built-up line, we will be happy. We sold a lot of those old blue box locomotives.
GW

[Anonymous]

When I first got into the real Phases of Model Railroading, Athearn had a big influence on me and many other MRers. You had many choices at very reasonable prices. A lot of smaller companies were started to update or detail Irv's wonderful creations. After moving to N gauge, I hoped to find an "Athearn" in Nscale. No such luck! There were some close, but no cigar! When Athearn announced the were going to produce N scale, I had visions of the days in HO scale with the vast choices that were available. I am still waiting! The N stuff is very pretty, if you model modern operations. I don't! I have not bought a thing, but did sneak alook at the John Deere stuff. I thought for Athearn, it was nice, but overpriced. So I will wait and see what the new outfit does.

[Anonymous]

ONE THING ABOUT THE PRICE OF ATHEARN CARS AND ENGINES IS THAT THEY ARE PRICED WITH ALOT OF OTHER MANUFACTURERS AND I WILL LOOK AT THEM BEFORE I BUY.
TAZ

[Anonymous]

Athearn is/was one of the few that had prices for the entry level modelers could afford and get a quality product. Hopefully this won't change with the new takeover. Phil

[lyctus]

Athearn has enabled me to amass a nice collection of reasonable scale models which run well and look OK and I hope that the availabliity of low cost models of quality continues. I hope also the new owners can afford the odd trip to China to check on why the boys are allowing some quality slip-ups through on the economy ready to roll locos....my F7A & B units have to modified to negotiate standard curves due to side frame clearances not being adequate on RTR locos.

[Anonymous]

I thought Horizon was mostly R/C . Do they have any MR experence?

[Anonymous]

My concern is not for an increase in price or lack of quality effecting me, as it is more a concern for small business in America. Yes, time marches on and change is inevitable!

[Anonymous]

This is a supprise to me. I just bought a set of three Athearn passenger cars of the Texas TRE and wating the release of the Locomotive. I was told it was three months behind. That may be due to the sell to Horizon Hobby. I hope they will still send them out.

[Anonymous]

I think this deal could significantly impact my hobby activities. But, I'll have to wait and see how things pan out. But right now, I have a really bad feeling about it.

* I understand that Horizon will be the EXCLUSIVE distributor of Athearn products. Before, some dealers could check several distributors in order to fill orders. I guess that ends now for Athearn products.

* I also heard that Horizon will NOT guaranty they can fill the orders they get. So, if your dealer cannot fill their orders from stock purchased from Horizon, and there are no other distributors (see previous bullet), it's possible some modelers won't be able to get their items.

* Horizon's dealer discounts for some Athearn product lines (i.e. Genesis) may not be as good as what some people might have gotten before. That, plus increased shipping charges dealers have to pay, could mean higher prices for us consumers.

Things like this make me very nervous about our ability to continue purchasing Athearn products. Just when Athearn was really making progress with new models in their lines. It will be interesting to see what details come out in the coming months.

[Anonymous]

years ago when i first stsrted in this hobby i bought mostly blue kits some of them are still unbuilt in storage. now i wonder if this byout will effect the younger buyer because when i bought the early kits they were quite inexpensive . will they now become priced out of reach of the begineer ???? or will they still be easy to buy??? i like a lot of older modelers still give away these kits to local kids to begin their first train.now will i have to quit because they are either to expensive or no longer exsist?????

[Anonymous]

i think it's definitely going to affect me......athearn has been the "old reliable" for many years. they have been reasonably priced in a world where everything seems to sell for top dollar. and their line is built to last. i have units in my fleet over 30 years old and still going strong.

that said, i hope that the new owner will continue the availability of athearn products. but judging from some of the dealer comments seen in other forums i am not optimistic. i have heard that they have cancelled pending orders from dealers. this does not seem wise on their part, to alienate the people they need to carry the line.......

[Anonymous]

Yes, the sale will definitely affect me as well as any modelers who buy from Athearn or Horizon in the future. There will be more imput into the making of new models of engines, cars, etc. More imput makes for more details in the models as well as more variety. Also, there will be more research into the correct versions of different engines and cars with more manpower to do the research. Hopefully, there will be more N scale items as well!

[orsonroy]

No, but that's because I no longer buy Athearn products. Modeling pre-1950 and trying to stay fairly close to the prototype means there's no freight cars of theirs that are useable, I've got as many heavyweight baggage cars I'll ever need, and their plastic steam can't handle my grades.

I do think the sale will have a VERY bad effect on the hobby in general. When I was a teen, the only way I could afford any sort of quality was to go to a swap meet and look for the big discount Athearn vendors. These people are swapmeet only sellers (or maybe internet too, these days), which means they'll no longer be able to get Athearn stuff from Horizon. These vendors will dry up, prices of new items at swaps and mailorder will rise faster than the rest of the hobby, and we will have lost many new members of the hobby who will quickly run out of inspiration, from dealing with the used junk they'll be able to afford.

[Anonymous]

I hope the quality of the models isnt compromised, a price rise is sure on the cards.

[eppeters]

Like many others, it is my hope that they continue the quality and quantitiy of new and better products as they have been producing. The:"Genesis" line of products have been excellent. I also hope that the present schedule of current releases will be maintained. The ready to roll products likewise have been a welcome addition.
On the other hand, if Horizon does not continue in the Athearn tradition, someone else will take their place in this heavy competitive environment.

[Anonymous]

i to agree with most of the replies on here and have an athearn sd45 from 1981or82 and they are the best in quality for the price and i to hope nothing changes; I guess we will find out quickly;

[Anonymous]

My first impression is: The prices will increase - No more good quality and good price.

[Anonymous]

Long Live Athern, their dedication, their R&D and the quality and selection of their products is a north star for all to follow. Lets hope and pray that this all remains no matter who has their hand on the throttle.

The wobbly will live forever too. Western Pacific, we will never forget you....

[Anonymous]

I just hope that it is not just big business taking over and trying to run down everyone else. Are they trying to get a monopoly on the business, I hope not. I hope that Athearn will keep making great products and not raise prices.

[Anonymous]

Athearn stuff has helped get me started in Americal HO at an affordable price, yet the stock is accurate enough to allow me to superdetail it, enabling even the humblest Blue Box model to hold its own against the best RTR.

With Horizon taking over I fear that supplies will either dry up, or they will price themselves out of the market by increasing the price to such an extent, that those more detailled, but expensive models, suddenly become an affordable option.

Jon

[Anonymous]

I would hope that, as many large corporation do, the desire for increased profits does not cause them to increase prices. We need firms willing to supply quality products at reasonable prices to enable persons with limited means to still be able to enjoy the hobby.

[Anonymous]

I don't have anything Athearn, though I'm looking into that new Genesis Challenger.