Basic Inexpensive Diesels Like Old Athearn

[BRAKIE]

cacole

They do -- the basic Athearn RTR locomotives are still Blue Box kit quality but everything is pre-assembled.  Only the more expensive Genesis locomotives have the 'superior detail' you mention.

 

 

Actually the RTR Athearn are superior to the older BB locomotives..They have the hex drive train, wire grabs and are smoother runners straight from the box.

[modelmaker51]

I find that the oportunities for kit bashing locomotives have increased over the years. While Athearn BB kits direct from the manufacturer are gone, there are still plenty available thru trainshows and Ebay etc. There are are also plenty of chassis and shells (from other manufacturers) available thru Ebay and the secondary markets and most of these with a higher level of detail and higher quality drives than those old Athearn BBs. I have always been a kitbasher and I never spend more than 50-75 bucks, now thats more than the price of the old BBs. but as I said the quality is better and the price of everything has gone up too. You just have to be creative.

[Southgate]

When I was new here, I started a thread "Left Behind by Technology, Am I Alone?.  What, about a year and some ago now...  It was the only thread I ever started that I couldn't read all the replies to!  I wasn't lamenting, just wanted to know how many guys like myself there are who like old school stuff.

The 'bay satisfies the supply/demand equasion for me, and I do have enough P2k and other nice engines to run the RR if I wanted to. But it's still fun to get the hands on and in the machinery and make them purr. Dan

["JaBear"]

While there’s not wrong with viewing the past nostalgically through coloured glasses, don’t be surprised, or even disappointed if others aren’t wearing the same glasses.

I must admit to be somewhat envious reading of these large amounts of BB kits, (for me kitbashing fodder), that are still available about at US train shows, and while I’m in no hurry to replace my BB locos, let alone freight cars, mourning the past is counterproductive, though I’d also argue that “evolution” is not necessarily all it’s cracked to be.

Cheers, the Bear.