QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy Antonio, Athearn should jump on the wagon and and make an F40C, too! F40Cs are almost as beautiful as the FP45.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
QUOTE: Originally posted by wt259 QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson Originally posted by ericsp [... How does Athearn determine the demand for a particular product? Do they do surveys occasionally? 1. Dealers stop ordering. Except if the item isn't listed as being available, no one tries to order it. [V] If people know it isn't being produced, they won't even try to order it. Then Athearn/Horizon won't know that people want them, preferably updated. The old "supply and demand" scenario. But I have noticed that the interest in cowls is inching up again, especially with new pictures of FP45s popping up on railfan websites. Plus 3 "retired" Chicago METRA F40Cs had to be temporarily re-activated as a couple of the new commuter locomotives had some problems. (For those not familiar, the F40C has a modified FP45 body that rides on an SD40-2 chassis) [;)] "I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!" Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 1:53 PM I am working a pair of FP45's myself. First cleaning and lubing and final assembly then it's DCC and Sound. These two can haul the more modern rolling stock that keeps creeping into my fleet. Reply Edit wt259 Member sinceFebruary 2002 123 posts Posted by wt259 on Friday, October 1, 2004 7:19 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp [... How does Athearn determine the demand for a particular product? Do they do surveys occasionally? 1. Dealers stop ordering. Except if the item isn't listed as being available, no one tries to order it. [V] If people know it isn't being produced, they won't even try to order it. Then Athearn/Horizon won't know that people want them, preferably updated. Reply Don Gibson Member sinceJune 2004 From: Pacific Northwest 3,864 posts Posted by Don Gibson on Friday, October 1, 2004 7:09 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp [... How does Athearn determine the demand for a particular product? Do they do surveys occasionally? 1. Dealers stop ordering. Don Gibson .............. ________ _______ I I__()____||__| ||||| I / I ((|__|----------| | |||||||||| I ______ I // o--O O O O-----o o OO-------OO ########################### Reply ericsp Member sinceMay 2015 5,134 posts Posted by ericsp on Friday, October 1, 2004 12:38 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson Athearn (and all mfgr's) produce in batches - or 'runs'. Demands for the FP45 and F45's have slowed down, and will probably be re-issued when the demand builds back up - otherwise someone else will beat them to the punch. Don't be surprised if it takes 7 years. How does Athearn determine the demand for a particular product? Do they do surveys occasionally? "No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld) Reply Allen Jenkins Member sinceOctober 2003 From: United States of America, Tennessee, Cookeville 408 posts Posted by Allen Jenkins on Thursday, September 30, 2004 7:45 PM SSSSSSSSoooooooooooo, Allright, come over and get me, I got a pocket full of money, damned if you may make me spend it, I'll buy what I want. Don't worry about the future of the FP45, It is a real entity. Just write the man. if you wi***o have one. To many have wanted the SDP40F, and the man. will deliver. or it will arrive from china. Whose in your wallet? ACJ. Allen/Backyard Reply AntonioFP45 Member sinceDecember 2003 From: Good ol' USA 9,642 posts Posted by AntonioFP45 on Thursday, September 30, 2004 7:01 PM Good going, 4884BigBoy Input from customers helps. As Don stated it may take a long while though. Mister421, are you searching for these units? They do show up from time to time on Ebay, even Santa Fe units if that's what you're looking for. BTW: Don't waste your time getting the Lima or Model Power FP45s as these, IMHO, look very "cheesy". At least with the Athearns, mechanically upgrading them is quite easy as well as adding body details that can really make them stand out. "I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!" Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 30, 2004 4:47 PM I e-mailed Athearn awhile ago about the "Big Jacks". They said they would forward my idea on to product developement........... Reply Edit Don Gibson Member sinceJune 2004 From: Pacific Northwest 3,864 posts Posted by Don Gibson on Thursday, September 30, 2004 4:31 PM Athearn (and all mfgr's) produce in batches - or 'runs'. Demands for the FP45 and F45's have slowed down, and will probably be re-issued when the demand builds back up - otherwise someone else will beat them to the punch. Don't be surprised if it takes 7 years. TWO things I can just about promise: 1. They will cost more. 2, They'll look and run better than the older run. In the meantime, there is E Bay, and Swap meet's. Oh yes, OMI brought out a painted war bonnet SDP 45 that was a beaut! $500? Don Gibson .............. ________ _______ I I__()____||__| ||||| I / I ((|__|----------| | |||||||||| I ______ I // o--O O O O-----o o OO-------OO ########################### Reply AntonioFP45 Member sinceDecember 2003 From: Good ol' USA 9,642 posts Posted by AntonioFP45 on Thursday, September 30, 2004 4:18 PM Hello Mister421! I e-mailed them a few months back asking about the status of the "Big Jacks". [C):-)] NIce to hear from a fellow "Cowl" fan.[:)] According to Athearn's response "There are no plans to retool the FP45 and it has not been discontinued but is not being produced at this time." [%-)] I was a little upset at first but then thanks to Cmarchand I found several Santa Fe FP45s for sale (one brand new) at different times on EBay! Turned out that this was even better for me as I had plan on "junking" the Athearn motors and replacing them with Mashimas. They'll get DCC/Sound and body detailing. [8D][8)] I thought that since Athearn will is now producing the SD45T-2 and the chassis dimensions are nearly identical, that Athearn could have gone ahead and bring the FP45 bodies up to Genesis standards. [dinner] Hopefully Athearn's future marketing forcasts include the potential sales of new, retooled Cowls with "see thru" grills. Cheers! "I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!" Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Athearn FP45 - F45 Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 30, 2004 3:59 PM I noticed the kits that will be available from Athearn in the future; however, it seems they left out the FP45 and F45. Maybe I missed them but is Athearn re-tooling these locomotives or just completely discontinuing them? 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QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson Originally posted by ericsp [... How does Athearn determine the demand for a particular product? Do they do surveys occasionally? 1. Dealers stop ordering. Except if the item isn't listed as being available, no one tries to order it. [V] If people know it isn't being produced, they won't even try to order it. Then Athearn/Horizon won't know that people want them, preferably updated. The old "supply and demand" scenario. But I have noticed that the interest in cowls is inching up again, especially with new pictures of FP45s popping up on railfan websites. Plus 3 "retired" Chicago METRA F40Cs had to be temporarily re-activated as a couple of the new commuter locomotives had some problems. (For those not familiar, the F40C has a modified FP45 body that rides on an SD40-2 chassis) [;)] "I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!" Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 1:53 PM I am working a pair of FP45's myself. First cleaning and lubing and final assembly then it's DCC and Sound. These two can haul the more modern rolling stock that keeps creeping into my fleet. Reply Edit wt259 Member sinceFebruary 2002 123 posts Posted by wt259 on Friday, October 1, 2004 7:19 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp [... How does Athearn determine the demand for a particular product? Do they do surveys occasionally? 1. Dealers stop ordering. Except if the item isn't listed as being available, no one tries to order it. [V] If people know it isn't being produced, they won't even try to order it. Then Athearn/Horizon won't know that people want them, preferably updated. Reply Don Gibson Member sinceJune 2004 From: Pacific Northwest 3,864 posts Posted by Don Gibson on Friday, October 1, 2004 7:09 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp [... How does Athearn determine the demand for a particular product? Do they do surveys occasionally? 1. Dealers stop ordering. Don Gibson .............. ________ _______ I I__()____||__| ||||| I / I ((|__|----------| | |||||||||| I ______ I // o--O O O O-----o o OO-------OO ########################### Reply ericsp Member sinceMay 2015 5,134 posts Posted by ericsp on Friday, October 1, 2004 12:38 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson Athearn (and all mfgr's) produce in batches - or 'runs'. Demands for the FP45 and F45's have slowed down, and will probably be re-issued when the demand builds back up - otherwise someone else will beat them to the punch. Don't be surprised if it takes 7 years. How does Athearn determine the demand for a particular product? Do they do surveys occasionally? "No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld) Reply Allen Jenkins Member sinceOctober 2003 From: United States of America, Tennessee, Cookeville 408 posts Posted by Allen Jenkins on Thursday, September 30, 2004 7:45 PM SSSSSSSSoooooooooooo, Allright, come over and get me, I got a pocket full of money, damned if you may make me spend it, I'll buy what I want. Don't worry about the future of the FP45, It is a real entity. Just write the man. if you wi***o have one. To many have wanted the SDP40F, and the man. will deliver. or it will arrive from china. Whose in your wallet? ACJ. Allen/Backyard Reply AntonioFP45 Member sinceDecember 2003 From: Good ol' USA 9,642 posts Posted by AntonioFP45 on Thursday, September 30, 2004 7:01 PM Good going, 4884BigBoy Input from customers helps. As Don stated it may take a long while though. Mister421, are you searching for these units? They do show up from time to time on Ebay, even Santa Fe units if that's what you're looking for. BTW: Don't waste your time getting the Lima or Model Power FP45s as these, IMHO, look very "cheesy". At least with the Athearns, mechanically upgrading them is quite easy as well as adding body details that can really make them stand out. "I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!" Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 30, 2004 4:47 PM I e-mailed Athearn awhile ago about the "Big Jacks". They said they would forward my idea on to product developement........... Reply Edit Don Gibson Member sinceJune 2004 From: Pacific Northwest 3,864 posts Posted by Don Gibson on Thursday, September 30, 2004 4:31 PM Athearn (and all mfgr's) produce in batches - or 'runs'. Demands for the FP45 and F45's have slowed down, and will probably be re-issued when the demand builds back up - otherwise someone else will beat them to the punch. Don't be surprised if it takes 7 years. TWO things I can just about promise: 1. They will cost more. 2, They'll look and run better than the older run. In the meantime, there is E Bay, and Swap meet's. Oh yes, OMI brought out a painted war bonnet SDP 45 that was a beaut! $500? Don Gibson .............. ________ _______ I I__()____||__| ||||| I / I ((|__|----------| | |||||||||| I ______ I // o--O O O O-----o o OO-------OO ########################### Reply AntonioFP45 Member sinceDecember 2003 From: Good ol' USA 9,642 posts Posted by AntonioFP45 on Thursday, September 30, 2004 4:18 PM Hello Mister421! I e-mailed them a few months back asking about the status of the "Big Jacks". [C):-)] NIce to hear from a fellow "Cowl" fan.[:)] According to Athearn's response "There are no plans to retool the FP45 and it has not been discontinued but is not being produced at this time." [%-)] I was a little upset at first but then thanks to Cmarchand I found several Santa Fe FP45s for sale (one brand new) at different times on EBay! Turned out that this was even better for me as I had plan on "junking" the Athearn motors and replacing them with Mashimas. They'll get DCC/Sound and body detailing. [8D][8)] I thought that since Athearn will is now producing the SD45T-2 and the chassis dimensions are nearly identical, that Athearn could have gone ahead and bring the FP45 bodies up to Genesis standards. [dinner] Hopefully Athearn's future marketing forcasts include the potential sales of new, retooled Cowls with "see thru" grills. Cheers! "I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!" Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Athearn FP45 - F45 Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 30, 2004 3:59 PM I noticed the kits that will be available from Athearn in the future; however, it seems they left out the FP45 and F45. Maybe I missed them but is Athearn re-tooling these locomotives or just completely discontinuing them? Reply Edit Subscriber & Member Login Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more! Login Register Users Online There are no community member online Search the Community ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Model Railroader Newsletter See all Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox! Sign up
Originally posted by ericsp [... How does Athearn determine the demand for a particular product? Do they do surveys occasionally?
1. Dealers stop ordering. Except if the item isn't listed as being available, no one tries to order it. [V] If people know it isn't being produced, they won't even try to order it. Then Athearn/Horizon won't know that people want them, preferably updated.
QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp [... How does Athearn determine the demand for a particular product? Do they do surveys occasionally? 1. Dealers stop ordering.
QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp [... How does Athearn determine the demand for a particular product? Do they do surveys occasionally?
QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson Athearn (and all mfgr's) produce in batches - or 'runs'. Demands for the FP45 and F45's have slowed down, and will probably be re-issued when the demand builds back up - otherwise someone else will beat them to the punch. Don't be surprised if it takes 7 years.
"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)