Athearn N scale

[Anonymous]

I'm excited about Athearn's entry into N scale. Their HO line has been wonderful. My question is, "What do we N scalers want Athearn to produce?" Do we want more variety or higher quality? I'm seeking models of the GP15-1 and MP15 varieties, yet the major producers of N scale equipment either build the modern road engines or nostalgic engines of yesteryear. I would like to see y'all think.

[douginut]

Modern LRV's any will do but would love the Traxx (UTA) or San Diego ones


Doug, In Utah

[BRAKIE]

Right now the N Scale market is wide open to affordable and readily available locomotives..This means locomotives like Athearns line of the so called blue box engines..Their current line of engines would fill a viod in the N Scale market.

[Anonymous]

I'd be happy if they don't do limited runs like Kato does. I hate hearing about a new locomotive for months and then walking into a train store to get one only to be told that the entire shipment has been sold. I got one of Kato's SD90's in UP's nose herald schemes only by reserving it months in advance. If I wanted to get another one today, I'd never find it.
I'd like to see SD70's, an MP15, and modern rolling stock and modern vehicles.

[MAbruce]

What ever they make, I’d like to see consistent availability – not limited runs. I’d also like to see them take their “Blue Box” HO product approach and replicate it in N-scale. We need someone to keep the cost of our rolling stock in check. Micro-Trains (and others) seem to be running out of control with their prices lately. It’s too bad that MDC/Roundhouse stopped making kits and went RTR. I think that Athearn could pick up this niche and run with it.

[Anonymous]

As far as motive power goes I would like to see more 70's and 80's power. As far as rolling stock goes I like the modern stuff reasonably priced.

[Anonymous]

I agree totally--even though I have to change couplers on my cars, the affordability and ease of construction on MDC/Roundhouse made their products very attractive. Red Caboose's so- called RTR coil cars even need to have the box shaken and the price differntial is not that significant. And, with this, why must one buy their kits to have removable hoods?

[MAbruce]

Off the origional subject for a minute:

I am experimenting with changing out the trucks on my MDC/Roundhouse box cars and using Atlas's 70 ton roller bearing accumates. They work very well (so far). It makes a nice cheap alternative to the expensive MT's - so long as you don't overpay for the car to begin with. There have been some great deals on them lately as dealers seem to be liquidating their stocks.

[mustanggt]

I'd like to see athearn make an F40ph. The shell of the life like one isnt bad, but it has truck mounted couplers, plastic frame, and a cheap springs as driveshafts. Then I wouldnt have to kitbash my own

[Anonymous]

I'm for the F59PHI in So California colors, but I really want the F7 A/B sets in N gage SP Black Widow, cause I want several sets, and the FA1/FB1 wasn't used by Southern Pacific. Also some ATSF F7 A/B in freight colors. I have too many UP locos, but if I want SD40s, have to go ATSF or UP. I will buy a pumpkin BNSF SD70, but want a SP set of 2 instead. - Tom Some So. Calif. light rail would be nice, RED CARS from 50's.

[Anonymous]

If Athearn would take the time an the effort that they put in their HO scale line and put that kind of attention to their N scale line it would be worth the money. Athearn is best you can buy for the amount of money you pay for it if they can do the same thing in N scale mechanisims,price, detail, all of it would make it worth while to look into
LARRY
FLAGSTAFF AZ

[Anonymous]

Shrink the blue box line down to N scale. Please please please body mount freight car couplers. I have been saying for years N scale needed an Athearn to bring out inexpensive, decent looking cars and especially engines.

[Anonymous]

We need readily availible SD40-2s, SD45s, SD40s, GP38-2s, BAYWINDOW cabeese-correctly proportioned please.

I'd also like to see athearn aquire the Walthers PS2 grain car, 50' pulpwood rack, log car, coil car, GSC flat, since walthers doesn't seem to be interested in rerunning these. These were good little cars.

[Anonymous]

Hello
my name is larry would just like to mention a couple that were missed like the SD40T2 Tunnel Motor the GP60M and what i would like to see are the SW1500's yard switchers if Kato or Atlas wont make one phehaps they will I will wait an see

larry
Flagstaff AZ

[trainfan1221]

Athearn really hasn`t done anything in n-scale yet. It would be nice to see them get things moving a bit more.

[Anonymous]

The wide variety of early GE U-boats is under-represented in current N-scale production; Athearn could do well there.

[Anonymous]

If you see the trains.com home page you will see that it doesn't look like Athearn is going to make stuff for a while.

[Anonymous]

I would like to see some good quality switchers!

[MAbruce]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

If you see the trains.com home page you will see that it doesn't look like Athearn is going to make stuff for a while.

Hard to say. Looks like everything will stay the same for the time being. This could be a case of someone bailing them out of a cash crisis so they can continue operations. Maybe this will actually speed up the roll-out of their N-scale line - as we all know that N-scale is the future of MRR'ing... [:D]