What's the Difference between an Atlas Master and Silver Series?

[Anonymous]

In a thread started yesterday, some one asked that we rank our favorite locomotive manufacturers. The one that caught my attention was that some one ranked an Atlas Master series loco separate from an Atlas Silver series. They implied that there is a difference in quality between the two.

I was under the impression that the Master series came with a dual mode decoder and the Silver series did not. Beyond that, I thought the engines, shells and drive lines were identical from a quality perspective.

Am I wrong in this assumption?

[Anonymous]

nope...your right. the only difference between the silver and master series is that the master has a decoder.

except for the 8-40BW's. the master series has working ditch lights, the silver series does not.

[Anonymous]

No.

What was said was there is a difference between the Atlas MASTER and CLASSIC brands. The MASTERs have better detail, and are Atlas' top-of-the-line brand. The MASTERS also USE to all come with a decoder, but that changed starting with the U30C locos (could buy a MASTER U30C with or without a decoder).

The MASTERS are, in turn, also NOW divided (for the newest ones) into:

ATLAS MASTER GOLD - decoders and sound

ATLAS MASTER SILVER - "DCC ready" , no decoder but a DCC plug.

Both MASTER types have the same marking/detail level, but vary only by having sound / decoder or not.

And, again, the level of detail is superior to the ATLAS "Classic" line, as a rule.

Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

I've recently picked up an Atlas C-425 classic model and it has all of the same details I find on the master models. It has separately applied grabs, and lift rings. Has a crew, etc. I hadn't noticed any significant difference between its level of detail and the master GP38 I have. About the only difference to me is the decoder board. The motors appear to me the same as well.

[Anonymous]

An example of a recent MASTER series loco is the Dash 8-40C:

Features Include:
-NEW! Ditch lights
-Number boards, sand fill hatch, and marker lights where appropriate by railroad
-Realistic die-cast underframe
-Factory-equipped with AccuMate knuckle couplers
-Coupler pocket designed to accept AccuMate Proto-couplers
-Highly detailed coupler cut bars
-Multiple unit hoses and trainline hoses
-Five-pole skewed armature motor with dual flywheels for optimum performance at all speeds
-Separately-installed scale windshield wipers, metal grab irons and fine scale handrails
-Directional lighting
-Painted crew members
-Snowplow and piping on trucks
-Number boards, sand fill hatch, and marker lights where appropriate by railroad
-Recommended minimum radius: 22”

Atlas Master™ Series Silver Additional Features:
(Item #'s 7602-7604 & 7620-7631)
-NMRA 8-pin plug for DCC (Decoder-ready)

Atlas Master™ Series Gold Additional Features:
(Item #'s 9697-9699 & 9610-9621)
-Electronic Dual-Mode® Decoder (e-DMD) that allows your locomotive to run in DCC or traditional DC

The "Classic" series are usually "reruns" in newer paint schemes such as their GP7s. Some of these come close to the Master series, but might have thicker handrails, less micro printing on decals, etc. In other words, less detail because of older tooling.

The distinction between the two IS growing less as the technology develops, and I expect it to perhaps vanish in future lines. But it is really noticeable compairing my Atlas Classic GP7 and any of my recent Masters (GP38, GP40, H15-44, etc.).

But "Master" no longer denotes "decoder". For example, my RI U30C was a MASTER withOUT a decoder (thus sayith the box). Another MASTER RI U30C road number was offered at the same time WITH a decoder. At this point, MASTER no longer meant "with decoder"!

Interestingly, the newest U30Cs listed in the new products section of the Atlas site don't say if they are "Master" or "Classic" in their description! I wonder what the box will say.

So lately these terms have been in transition.

BTW I am talking HO scale here ... can't speak for N-scale (not having any)..

[Anonymous]

I guess the real question I'm asking is, are the drive mechanisms different? The details may be different, which doesn't bother me, but are the drives the same quality. I didn't think Atlas was using a lower quality motor between classic and master/silver.

The details and decoders I can add, I'm not interested in replacing the motor.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dgoodlander

I guess the real question I'm asking is, are the drive mechanisms different?

No, they are identical.