richg1998 Another discussion by bored model railroaders. yes I am bored also. Rich
Another discussion by bored model railroaders. yes I am bored also.
Rich
True, but it was interesting to think about how some manufacturers are boosting interest and sales - and the premium HO diesels have been one way gaining a lot of attention. Certainly the newer runs of Genesis F units with extra details have been nice, the GP9's, and now the line of GP38/40/59 should fill alot of orders based on that tooling. Next up the SDP45.
It's nice to see Atlas re-run a classic like the S2. Years ago I wanted one back in their Roco days, but now that I've narrowed my modeling time frame to a fat 25 years, the D&RGW Alco S2's were retired bout the time my modeling time frame beings. Those should be good for transition era into the 1960's. Anyway, the S2 is off my need list for a fwe years now, but it should make some folks happy.
Hopefully we will continue to see Atlas pick up the pace. They certainly have the reputation for quality; now they need to ramp production back up to regain some of that market share. If only other makers like Athearn, Genesis, ExactRail and Intermountain would just "give it a rest" I might be able to divert a little of my hobby doller back toward Atlas! Stop it you guys! =P
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande5761It's nice to see Atlas re-run a classic like the S2.
A newly tooled S2 not the baked over Atlas/Roco of old that still remains a good smooth running engine.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I've been using Atlas track for over 20 years and never had a problem. I model in HO and primarily use flextrack from Atlas. Chris K.
DavidH66What does everyone think of them?
I have used Atlas products since the early 1960s when they were making the transition of HO track from fiber ties to the current plastic ones. Their turnouts had solid frogs back then which is why I learned all about hot frogs and how to wire them when I was in 1st grade.
I used Atlas N-Scale almost exclusively from 1969 until Kadee (now Microtrains) entered the market. Their early N-scale turnouts were not so good about keeping the point rails tight against the main rail, which is why in 1982? I learned about Peco. A couple of the N-scale locos gave me some issues (the original E8 for example) as they were not the best engineered things.
Switching back to HO scale I soon learned that the Atlas Roco drives were much easier to work with and better performing than any of the other brands Bachmann, Lifelike, AHM, Con-Cor, and Athearn blue box locos. I had not yet learned about Hobby Town. Some of the Model Power drives (E7 E8) could be modified to be as good as the Atlas. I credit Atlas for raising the bar in 1984 with the introduction of the Kato drive. They showed the industry that people would pay more for a precision drive train. In my opinion that one event is why all the manufactures are so good today. Kato HO proper, Stewart, Athearn Genesis, Proto-2000, Intermountain are all exercises in "keeping up with the jones" so to speak.
I also credit the Atlas Track Planning books, specifically the original 1957 Atlas Custom Line Layouts for HO Scale Railroads for giving me the core knowledge for how to selectively compress prototypic track configurations into small spaces.
To the best of my knowledge the Atlas ROCO code-83 track started the current trend toward that size of track. At least that was the first place I ever heard of such a thing. Before then the alternate sizes had been Shinohara Code 70 or 55.
I have a few gripes about Atlas. When they first re-branded to the Classic and Master lines they announce that the Master would be sound equipped. Taking that as a fact when the SD24 Masters came out I ordered two. I way over paid because I thought they had sound. They did not! Soon there after is when they re-announced their new branding with the Silver and Gold designations on the Master lines. Sigh. Too late for my pocket book. The second issue is with the custom line turnouts. They have that nice loop on which to connect a wire to electrify the frog. WHY oh WHY they didn't use something that a standard 2/56 screw would work for is beyond me. I had to buy a new tap just for this function. And WHY oh WHY did they not make it so the loop was strong enough with a hole in the plastic to put the screw in from the bottom of the turnout. Nothing like a MONSTER screw head right next to the frog of all the turnouts. Then possibly the biggest gripe. When the mold for the turnout started producing product that had the characteristic hump in it, why didn't they alter the tie plastic compound, or cooling times, or injection temperature or something to fix it. So while I now love the geometry of the Atlas components (probably just due to 50 years of familiarity with them), I have to say I prefer the Peco turnouts.
I can't say anything about the Atlas customer service, because in 50 years I have never had to call them.
Over all I consider Atlas the top brand in the HO market. Probably 2nd to Kato in the N-scale market. Throw in their O scale offerings (of which I only have the O-Scale from the late 1970s, and One of the Industrial 3-rail sets) and that puts them at the top in general of all the manufacturers.
I for certain I do not think this has anything to do with boredom. Reflection is both theraputic and a learning experience.
I don't know why it is, but every time I see this thread I have an overwhelming urge to shrug.
Either that, or take up body building.
http://www.imagekind.com/lb-Weakling--Charles-Atlas-ad-art?IMID=e0323cc6-8e72-4277-b2a7-a0fc8b2acdab
Andre
Texas ZepherAtlas Roco drives were much easier to work with and better performing than any of the other brands Bachmann, Lifelike, AHM, Con-Cor, and Athearn blue box locos.
Another overlooked drive is the Atlas/Kato.
While certainly not up to today's so called " detail standards" my Atlas/Kato RS1s and GP7s are still top performers.
For those that has a limited hobby budget don't overlook these older jewels.
BRAKIE Texas Zepher Atlas Roco drives were much easier to work with and better performing than any of the other brands Bachmann, Lifelike, AHM, Con-Cor, and Athearn blue box locos. Another overlooked drive is the Atlas/Kato. While certainly not up to today's so called " detail standards" my Atlas/Kato RS1s and GP7s are still top performers. For those that has a limited hobby budget don't overlook these older jewels.
Texas Zepher Atlas Roco drives were much easier to work with and better performing than any of the other brands Bachmann, Lifelike, AHM, Con-Cor, and Athearn blue box locos.
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
BRAKIEAnother overlooked drive is the Atlas/Kato.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
For the new guys, a trip down memory lane .
Jim
Peco Hasn't Jim...Made in England
Sorry Tex...I can't agree with you. I have Kato HO Locos that run like swiss watches...I'd pay more for the same kind of quality I get in their N scale products than I ever would for any Atlas products. That said, my beef with Atlas is their lousy turnouts in N scale...built a pretty comrehensive N scale layout and ended up scaping it in frustration and then buying Kato track...flawless, just like their N scale products and their N scale locos. I'm a Kato fan in any scale; they know how to make quality products and deliver.
Danny,When I was in N I used Kato's Unitrack..The track is bullet proof and I love their #6 switch.
I used 100% Atlas engines because Kato lacks a wide locomotive selection.
Atlas diesels and cars--SOLID and good looking. Didn't like the QSI sound chips they used however.
They've got to do something about their track problems/mfg problems. Most of the people I work with are leaving China or putting in operations in other places(even back here in US) to guard against interruptions and cost over runs.
I just won a large mfg order from a Chinese competitor--all in we had a better value.
Richard
BRAKIETexas Zepher Atlas Roco drives were much easier to work with and better performing than any of the other brands Bachmann, Lifelike, AHM, Con-Cor, and Athearn blue box locos. While certainly not up to today's so called " detail standards" my Atlas/Kato RS1s and GP7s are still top performers.
Atlas Roco drives were much easier to work with and better performing than any of the other brands Bachmann, Lifelike, AHM, Con-Cor, and Athearn blue box locos.
Dannyboy6Sorry Tex...I can't agree with you. I have Kato HO Locos that run like swiss watches...I'd pay more for the same kind of quality I get in their N scale products than I ever would for any Atlas products. That said, my beef with Atlas is their lousy turnouts in N scale...built a pretty comrehensive N scale layout and ended up scaping it in frustration and then buying Kato track...flawless, just like their N scale products and their N scale locos. I'm a Kato fan in any scale; they know how to make quality products and deliver.
N-scale in general has improved 100% in both detail and drive quality since I attempted to "model" in that size.
My few Kato HO locomotives (about 40 or so) are great, but have not impressed me enough to put Kato at the top of my list. Locomotives are just one part of the equation, if I was rating only locomotive my "list" might different. Of course, I did get a batch of the bad GP35s (from 1998 or so) which sort of spoiled the milk so to speak on the Kato brand. Then I went to buy a bunch of the SD70s and found the BN Exectutive colors were just .... umm wrong. I did not buy them. That was the same timer period when Athearn had the warped trucks on their SD70s so I still don't have ANY.
And finally, I was trying to take an over all view of the company not focus on exactly a single product line. I cannot deny the Kato drive is one of the best. But an over all rating is all subjective, especially today with so many good products out there. It was much easier to rate things in the junk toy train era of the early 1970s.
dknelsonWhat I like about Atlas is that they take tank cars seriously in their rolling stock offerings. I happen to think tank cars are the most neglected, and yet in many ways the most interesting, of rolling stock from the 1930s right to the present. Atlas has featured a real variety in their tank car offerings, and the ones I have purchased seem to be quality merchandise.
I have to agre with you, Dave. There seem to be a shortage of at least close to prototypically correct tank cars in HO. I only have a few of their tank cars (price), but they do have finely detailed tank cars that fit well into most eras of modeling
Texas Zephyr,I'm afraid you've got the wrong memories about the history of Atlas Classic, Atlas Master, and Atlas Master Gold and Silver.The fist "Atlas Classic" loco was the 1998 run of GP7's:http://hoseeker.net/Atlasinformation/atlascatalog1998pg30.jpg
The first Atlas "Master Series" locos were from the GP38 & GP40 announcement in August 2000 (as seen in the 2001 catalog): http://hoseeker.net/Atlasinformation/atlascatalog2001pg08.jpg
The first Atlas Master "Gold" and "Silver" locos were the H24-66 Trainmasters in February 2004:http://www.atlasrr.com/HOLoco/hotrainmaster.htmAtlas "Master" engines were always advertized as having their dual mode DCC decoder installed. No more, no less. New engines were not available in non-Master; however, previous red box Atlas engines that were later upgraded to the Master line were on the secondary market. When the first run of SD24's were announced in September 2003, Atlas did not have any factory installed sound engines. All later runs of SD24's do indeed have the option of Gold (sound) or Silver (no sound), but not the first run. They were "Master" only and just had a dual mode decoder (and were never in red boxes). This was the case for all new Atlas Master engines for 4 years.
Paul A. Cutler III
Paul3Texas Zephyr,I'm afraid you've got the wrong memories about the history of Atlas Classic, Atlas Master, and Atlas Master Gold and Silver.
<What does everyone think of Atlas?>
While Atlas is strong, I think the Hulk could take him on a good day...
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstage <What does everyone think of Atlas?> While Atlas is strong, I think the Hulk could take him on a good day...
Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?
My opnion of Atlas' N-scale rolling stock and locomotives is pretty high. My guess is at least half of my freight cars are Atlas products with the other major manufacturer being Intermountain.
For locomotives, I think Kato is the cream of the crop in N scale. Somebody said Katos run like Swiss watches, and I agree with that. Atlas is a solid #2 IMO. I'm currently waiting for a pair of the S2s they are releasing and have high expectations from them. I've got a small fleet of RS11s that are good runners and about on a par with the various Katos on my roster.
I stopped using their code 55 flex track due in part of no availability. I'm currently waiting (hoping) the turnouts re-emerge on the market. They are not as bullet proof as Peco, but are easier to work with (the Peco double flange does not mate well with normal code 55 track) and I have not had any problems with them once they are installed.
The other thing I will say is spare parts availability is generally good, even for older models. Their customer service has always answered my sometimes stupid questions in a timely manner, and they recently even cannibalized some broken locomotive shells they had laying around to pull and send the headlight lenses I had asked about (and were not available as spare parts).
I've had similar experiences with Kato and Intermountain, especially in the customer service area.
So, they are #2 for me in locomotives (Kato being #1) and probably #2 in freight cars (Intermountain being #1).
Otherwise, I agree with Tom.....I think Hulk could take him.
- Mark
BRAKIE tstage <What does everyone think of Atlas?> While Atlas is strong, I think the Hulk could take him on a good day... Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?
No! - NOT Hulk Hogan, Larry. The "other" Hulk
In my opinion, Atlas O has been one of the best companies to deal with. Everything from a broken turntable belt to a bad switch motor. Customer service has been outstanding. Atlas O products are top of the line too. Albeit pricey, you get what you pay for.
AF
A long way from Long Island......Now in West Virginia.
www.artieslioneltrains.com
Maybe Larry had Hulk Hogan's daughter on his mind.
Cheers,
Frank
Modelling HO Scale with a focus on the West and Midwest USA