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Latest hobby industry news?

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  • Member since
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Latest hobby industry news?
Posted by oldline1 on Sunday, July 12, 2020 1:38 PM

Another site is talking about Horizon Hobbies being sold and also about some seemingly dumb changes at Caboose (Hobbies) in Denver.

Anything to report about this from MR?

oldline1

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Posted by rrinker on Sunday, July 12, 2020 1:56 PM

 Nothing with google searches. Maybe Caboose is reopening, they've been closed and can't even go to the store to ship mail order because of the current situation. And nothing on the Horizon Wikipedia page - that stuff usually gets updated faster than anything.

                                    --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by oldline1 on Sunday, July 12, 2020 1:57 PM

Look on the MRH site for the info.

oldline1

 

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Posted by rrinker on Sunday, July 12, 2020 2:03 PM

 Search there on either topic didn't find anything recent - strange.

Edit: Found the item in the news section. Too political to post here. And someone from Athearn is going to now work for Caboose as GM, that seems the extend of the Horizon portion.

                                 --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by kasskaboose on Monday, July 13, 2020 7:31 AM

Is Horizon Hobbies reputable?

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Posted by rrinker on Monday, July 13, 2020 7:45 AM

 Horizon owns Athearn, Roundhouse, and nearly every RC manufacturer, and has for years. Yes, they are reputable. Bigger hobby distributor than Walthers, but mainly because they handle all those RC cars and planes.

                                        --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by jjdamnit on Monday, July 13, 2020 12:25 PM

Hello All,

kasskaboose
Is Horizon Hobbies reputable?

If you ever have to order parts for any Athearn product they are the ones that fulfill those orders.

Recently I ordered the wrong replacement part.

Their return process is straightforward. The only "glitch" was due to COVIID-19 their returns department was temporarily closed.

I was contacted several times from a customer service rep to keep me updated on my return.

As soon as they were able to they process my return.

From my experience, they are definitely reputable.

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

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Posted by chris.mincemoyer on Monday, July 13, 2020 3:13 PM
Chris Palomarez from Athearn is now with Caboose, that fueled SPECULATION that something his happening at Horizon.
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Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, July 13, 2020 5:38 PM

Chris.mincemoyer Welcome to the forum.  Your posts get hung up in moderation.  That one hit just at the right time to slide right in.

My first search of the site turned up a 6 year old post by none other than Chris P, from 6 years ago addressing employee turnover at the time.  He suggested not making too much of internet speculation.  Then I found the relevant thread and I agree with Randy, it took a turn that we can't discuss here.

Ruble (Caboose) is a sponsor of Ken Patterson and if I recall correctly, he owned a shortline that he ran as an employee owned operation, although he was the owner.  He is applying the same philosophy to Caboose. 

Palomarez hangs out with Patterson, so we can speculate there was some networking.  One guy changing jobs, shouldn't foretell much of anything.  If I had a chance to live and work in Illinois or Colorado, which would I choose?  Let me think about that 3 or 4 nano seconds.Big Smile

On the MTH thread, that got locked, I wrote I was surprised how big a company MTH was, just in terms of real estate holdings.  Athearn just has to be bigger and it will either continue with Horizon, or be sold.  It's too big just to close the door, turn off the lights and lock the door.

 

Henry

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Posted by BRAKIE on Monday, July 13, 2020 6:51 PM

BigDaddy
It's too big just to close the door, turn off the lights and lock the door.

After the death of Uncle Irv Mrs. Athearn was talking about shutting Athearn's doors. Thankfully Athearn became under the control of Bob Macias and later as chairman Mike Geddes.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


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Posted by Doughless on Monday, July 13, 2020 7:03 PM

I don't follow the people in the companies, but recent years Athearn has made the right decisions about their products, IMO.  I can't see where this job switch by an executive could portend something bad for Athearn. 

- Douglas

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 13, 2020 8:09 PM

rrinker

 Search there on either topic didn't find anything recent - strange.

Edit: Found the item in the news section. Too political to post here. And someone from Athearn is going to now work for Caboose as GM, that seems the extend of the Horizon portion.

                                 --Randy

 

Page number?

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Posted by rrinker on Monday, July 13, 2020 8:26 PM

 Third item on the first page of the News section - NOT in the forums or blogs.

                              --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by BRAKIE on Monday, July 13, 2020 8:44 PM

Doughless
I don't follow the people in the companies, but recent years Athearn has made the right decisions about their products, IMO.

Indeed. According to what Athearn said the sales of BB kits was down 80% so, they had to enter the RTR market. As you may recall the early RTR models was nothig more then assembled BB kits. Today those RTR BB cars are in the Roundhouse line.

At one time Athearn was simply Athearn.. Today we have Athearn RTR,Athearn/Roundhouse and Athearn/Genesis.

 

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by rrinker on Monday, July 13, 2020 8:56 PM

 They swapped around what they used the ROundhouse name for a few times before the way it is today - originally it was the old ROundhouse items, of which there was a wide variety, from old timer to modern. Then there was Roundhouse beign the brand for allt he old timer stuff, with RTR and Genesis in the Athearn line. Now it's more or less a third trim level, low man on the totem pole, with RTR next and Gensis top of the line.

 Some former RTR locos like the RS3 are now Roundhouse (considering the original tooling was Roundhouse, I guess this is to be expected), but some of the old Roundhouse passenger cars are under the RTR series. 

                                            --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 13, 2020 9:32 PM

The July 2020 3rd item in the online edition is about a CMRI mega node?  Im confused.  I feel like something is missing?

 

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Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 11:12 AM

 Not in the issue, on the web site. They have a web site like here, with the current issue, industry news, and forums.

                                       --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 11:42 AM

BMMECNYC
I feel like something is missing?

There was a thread too; it got locked. 

Henry

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Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by maxman on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 11:45 AM

BMMECNYC
I feel like something is missing?  

I did look at it before, and I don't think you're missing much.

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Posted by pwaka88 on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 12:20 PM

BMMECNYC

The July 2020 3rd item in the online edition is about a CMRI mega node?  Im confused.  I feel like something is missing?

 

 

MRH main website. Top right click news/events. It is the third item down titled "Big changes at Caboose and Athearn". 

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 20, 2020 4:12 PM

Oh that news release.  Not sure what the big deal is.  

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 6:11 AM

BMMECNYC

Oh that news release.  Not sure what the big deal is.  

Some see a statement in the release as strongly political.  Maybe the chorus of a Dave Mason song says it well enough.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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