So back in Oct. I asked the question, when is there going to be more Atlas code 83. Found that with the retooling in China back in Aug. they didn't make any ahead. Was told that by Late Aug. Early Sept. there would be more. They came and went and no track. Then I was told Oct. Halloween came and nothing again. Then I was told Nov. Still nothing. So now it is almost Christmas and I find that I'm not going to have any Flex track under the tree. Paul from Atlas told me on another post that they should have some soon, that was in Oct. I then found that post was closed, as if to say " It's a problem, but we don't want to talk about it, as it might get people upset". So I guess I'll be the first to once again ask, "When can we see some code 83?"
Welcome to the wonderful world of no-show products from China. Atlas is not alone in the problem of announcing availability of a product only to see the date slip months or even a year behind expectations.
Chinese industries are undergoing major changes in availability of raw materials, a shortage of skilled labor, new environmental laws, and other complications that are delaying production of our toys in favor of consumer goods for their own market.
There has even been talk about some factories moving to India or other locations due to the increased cost of production in China as the Chinese standard of living improves and workers begin demanding better pay and benefits..
I wondered what was going on. I was planning on starting my shelf layout here in the next month but could not find anyone that had any code 83 in stock. Hopefully it will be here soon.
I waited a while for the Atlas code 83 flex, and then opted for the Peco code 83 flex instead. The Peco is a little bit different to work with, but I actually think I like it better than the Atlas. If you do some looking, there is not much difference in price, either.
- Miles.
Modeling the UP Sidney Sub in Nebraska & Wyoming in fall of 1999 in HO scale
I am very seriously thinking of switching to Peco. Went to a monthly show in Wheaton, IL got the last of the #4 switches the "Track Guy" had. He's been out of flextrack for months now.
Atlas' on-line store has it in stock but at $6.75 a piece that's a little steep.
Klein's seem to just have some #6 switches, lefts only. And some left and right #8's in Atlas
If you are itching to start there are other brands. I switched to this
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Micro-Engineering-HO-83-Non-Weathered-Flex-Trak-p/mec-10-104.htm
It also comes in weathered as well
I picked up some ME 83 just to give it a try. I dunno if I will actually use it though. People say they don't like Atlas because it's too springy and want to straighten out - well that's why it forms such nice smooth curves. The ME looks nicer, the spike details are much smaller, but getting a smooth curve out of this stuff..sheesh. Not without some templates or a track gauge on a trammel. I guess you could call it 'curvable' but 'flexible' it is not. This is going to take a lot of practice to get curves anywhere near as smooth and flowing at ones done with Atlas flex.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker I picked up some ME 83 just to give it a try. I dunno if I will actually use it though. People say they don't like Atlas because it's too springy and want to straighten out - well that's why it forms such nice smooth curves. The ME looks nicer, the spike details are much smaller, but getting a smooth curve out of this stuff..sheesh. Not without some templates or a track gauge on a trammel. I guess you could call it 'curvable' but 'flexible' it is not. This is going to take a lot of practice to get curves anywhere near as smooth and flowing at ones done with Atlas flex. --Randy
Agreed. I recently received some weathered ME flex as a gift, but I think I'll have to consider it a failed experiment. Not only is it a bear to work with (in just the manner Randy noted above), but the weathering makes it difficult to effectively solder, even after sanding the paint off.
Frumple...
Streamlined steam, oh, what a dream!!
What, no love for Walthers? I use Walthers flex track, and its also 3" longer on each piece than Atlas, Peco, and ME.
It holds its shape like the Peco and ME. I think the ties look better.
Never did like how Atlas springed back, too hard to keep in place, try to solder, etc.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Waiting for Atlas track for how long? Has progress on the layout ground to a halt because of this?
I wouldn't wait very long when there are so many other brands out there. Sounds like a Government operation to me.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
No, not a government operation!!LOL Just trying to keep one step ahead of progress! I have 2 and a half bundles left before I'm completely out of Atlas flex.
I hear you there Randy. But you can get used to working with it. Someone else on this list suggested spraying a little windex on it to help with the curving of it. It does take more time to work with. But it does hold its shape once you form it and I think it looks better. I haven't worked with the weathered so don't have the soldering experience. I can imagine that can be tough because it order to solder you need a clean surface.
One other thing, I wouldn't call ME Flextrack, I'd call it curvable. Another downside of ME is because it holds it shape it will hold a kink as well.
I am now curious and will take Michael's suggestion and try some Walther's this weekend.
Well, there was that little matter of a hurricane, closing ports and Atlas down. I'm sure they've worked through that by now, but s*** happens. If it's in stock at Atlas, then it's moving to dealers.
As for ME track, that's what I use, weathered. Curving it is best done by placing it in a smooth flat surface and pushing it sideways to form as needed. The top of what many of us have near the layout, a laundry dryer, works great for this.
I like the fact that it holds its shape. This makes it easier to fit, mark for feeder attachment, etc.
BTW, I usually attach my feeders to the bottom of the rail. I scrape the weathering off with a #11 knife blade and it solders fine for me after that.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Seems to me the ad said end of the year for Code 100 - which according to the container report on the web site they are getting now.
Hopefully the code 83 will follow suit!!!!
Walthers/Shinohara track is 1 meter long (about 39 inches). Everyone else is 3 feet (36 inches) long.
I used both Atlas code 83 flex track and ME code 83 weathered track on my "Virginian project" layout, and had no trouble with either. The Atlas of course is more flexible and easier to work with, but I believe the ME track looks better. The ME track is more rigid, but I worked with curved steel guides you can buy from Walther's to bend the track to fit. End of track sections where rail joiners went and soldering done was easily cleaned off with a wire wheel attachment on a Dremel. Perhaps this shortage will entice American suppliers to start producing the track over here themselves....
Between the out of stock cork roadbed fiasco and the Atlas flex debacle, the last 12 months have been a PITA for many of us! I've given up hope and patience with Atlas, especially when it comes to pre-ordering things that never show up. I bought my first full case of Atlas 83 flex about 2 years ago and have needed one more case to finish my railroad, but like I said... I'm done waiting around. I've strongly considered ME flex, but am leaning towards Walthers since all of my turnouts are also theirs. Can anyone explain to me why the cost of Walthers flex is twice as much as Atlas though? Many thanks!
~Kris
conrail6055I've strongly considered ME flex, but am leaning towards Walthers since all of my turnouts are also theirs.
I use some Walthers turnouts, but also mostly ME flex due to the price difference and finer spike detail on the ME track. Assuming you're using code 83, the rail cross section between the two brands is somewhat different, so you do have to be careful with rail joiners, but the tie thickness is compatible so they're not too bad to use together.
Rob Spangler
ANyone tried the laser cut wood templates from Fast Tracks? I have some of the metal ones that I used, almost had to with my current layout since most curves were in the corners with no access to site down the track, my previous layout has access to 3 sides fromt he outside plus all 4 from the inside so it was easy to sight down the rails and check for kinks. I think with ME track they will be pretty much required. I'll have to make a trip to the not so local LHS and have them order the metal ones from Walthers, as that is the first and last thing I will order direct - shipping was more than the set of templates AND one ended up being backordered even though listed as in stock at the time of my order - and the funny thing is they are made only a couple of hours from me, but the manufacturer does not sell direct.
I sent an E-Mail to Atlas about Code 83 delivery issues. There response was that Code 100 products were hitting the shelves now and that Code 83 products are scheduled for February 2013. My guess is that since Code 100 is more popular for Atlas, that then came first. They thanked me for my patiance. I have decided to construct all of my own #6 turnouts with a Fast Tracks jig. I tried one as a sample and it works well. You must follow there recomendations for solder and flux. Its important to know that they only recomend Micro Engineering rail as the feel that ME track tolerance is closer than Atlas. They will do a jig for Atlas rail if you like. Also they dont recomend using ME weathered rail as it is tougher to bend. I found the the ME code 83 unweathered rail was very easy to bend for use in the Fast Tracks jig. I would assume thats why the ME Code 83 weathered flex track is tougher to bend.
Merry Christmas
Wayne
Maybe, they didn't want to spend all that money making new track to see if we'd all still be around after the 21st.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
rrinker I'll have to make a trip to the not so local LHS and have them order the metal ones from Walthers,
Gee, Randy, if you live in the area where I think you live, I would think that Iron Horse Hobby Shop there in Reading would be pretty local.
Their hours, coupled with the parking situation in Reading that makes the Phildaelphia parking authority, as seen on Parking Wars, look like a bunch of angels, keep me away from there. I've been there once or twice, but it sounds like they used to be much better, at least when it came to trains, a number of years ago. When I do get something from the LHS, it's usually Trans and Lanes, I grew up in walking distance from there and have been a customer since they first opened up. Plus I know several people who work there. But it's a good hour ride for me. I do stop in sometimes when I go to visit my Mom, who still lives there.
rrinker Their hours, coupled with the parking situation in Reading that makes the Phildaelphia parking authority, as seen on Parking Wars, look like a bunch of angels, keep me away from there. I've been there once or twice, but it sounds like they used to be much better, at least when it came to trains, a number of years ago. When I do get something from the LHS, it's usually Trans and Lanes, I grew up in walking distance from there and have been a customer since they first opened up. Plus I know several people who work there. But it's a good hour ride for me. I do stop in sometimes when I go to visit my Mom, who still lives there. --Randy
I don't have the need to buy much anymore, but I do need plastic from Evergreen. Most of the hobby shops that carry that product either only have a limited supply on the Evergreen rack, or what they can get from their distributor. What is carried on the rack is typically two pieces of the shapes I need. I asked the owner of Iron Horse if he would be willing to deal direct with Evergreen, because they sell larger quantities at more reasonable prices. He was very accommodating and has placed two orders for me. I did go there on a Saturday morning first thing, and was able to get a parking space near the front of the store.
Unless they changed, the spots around there have a 2 hour limit - NOT enough time to be in a hobby shop. Plenty of time to do somethign liek buy some clothes - in, grab my size, get out. But a hobby shop? No way..that's the ONLY place where a guy shops more like a woman
Hobbytown over by my house has a decent selection of plastic bits, I recently stocked up on various sizes for a few projects I have in mind (and probably will finish - 5 years from now). And I just picked up yet another one, haha I'm out west near Franklin for the holidays so I visited the Clarion Model Railraod Club open house and picked up another kit to build.
rrinker But a hobby shop? No way..that's the ONLY place where a guy shops more like a woman --Randy
But a hobby shop? No way..that's the ONLY place where a guy shops more like a woman
Oh man is that funny. LOL
I never thought about that, but its so true. Don't tell the women though. shhhhhhhh...
I bought Atlas Code 83 True Track for my Grand Son's train set. It arrived in normal time.
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
rrinker Unless they changed, the spots around there have a 2 hour limit - NOT enough time to be in a hobby shop. Plenty of time to do somethign liek buy some clothes - in, grab my size, get out. But a hobby shop? No way..that's the ONLY place where a guy shops more like a woman
LOL. Well, I'm not commenting on the woman shopping thing. There is metered parking around that shop. I'm assuming that they'll let you park there as long as you keep feeding the meter. But I went on a Saturday and was told that the parking was free. I wasn't there long, anyway. Just long enough to pick up my order and a couple jars of paint that I needed.
There is a Hobbytown near me down in West Chester and also a train-only hobby shop over in Lansdale. Both of them have the Evergreen display. The problem is the display is generally picked over. More problematical is that the items on the display are very pricey for what you get. If you need a piece or two in an emergency, that's okay. But if you need large quantities the project becomes unaffordable, plus there is generally only one or two packages of each item on the display in the first place.
The Hobbytown seems to be reluctant to special order anything unless it is something that their distributor handles. I special ordered a couple packages of Evergreen from them and waited over a month, then never got them because their distributor finally said they were out of stock. Plus I asked them to get me some Ambroid Proweld and was told that it was no longer made.
The train-only shop can be frustrating. I wouldn't ask them to special order anything that Walthers doesn't carry because they also don't seem to want to deal with anyone other than their normal distributors. Plus I asked them why they only carry spray cans of Dullcoat and not the bottles, and was told "I didn't know they sold it that way anymore".
Anyhow, to get back to Iron Horse, the owner was willing to deal directly with Evergreen to get what I was looking for (must be $300 worth of plastic so far). So the reason I mentioned them was because I believe you mentioned special ordering something, so I thought you might want to try them for whatever you needed.