ModelRailroader.com Reader Poll – February 12, 2003

[Bergie]

When was the last time you built an HO scale Athearn freight or passenger car kit (sold in the familiar blue box)? Please vote then share your comments below.

Polls on Trains.com are not scientific and reflect only the opinions of the users who have chosen to participate. The results cannot be assumed to represent the opinions of Internet users in general, the readers of our magazines, nor the public as a whole. Bottom line, our polls are meant for fun and to stimulate conversation amongst our forum users.

[CP5415]

Last month here.
I have several more to go.
My LHS has at least a hundred kits to choose from.
I do plan on buying some more

Gordon

[CBQ_Guy]

Erik,

I had to vote "two years ago or more", BUT, let me qualify...

I am in the basement prep stages of the new layout and haven't been building since we moved here six years ago next month. In that time I also came down with a disabling joint disease which really put a crimp in things for a couple years. I COULD be building kits but since I would have to unpack one from storage, build it, and put it back in the box, well only the 40 footers fit in the box with the couplers installed.

Having said all that, in the past, and if I were currently building, the vast majority of my kits have and will be Athearn, simply because I am a "good enough-er" and more of a model railroader than a modeler.

Regards,

[Anonymous]

The SENSE I have of Athearn is it doesn't have the variety of Roundhouse/MDC. That's an entirely subjective reaction to the brand.
An expansion of the Q goes back a few polls to whether Horizon will make any changes or have any impact.

[Anonymous]

I put together the "blue box" Atherns all the time...They are a terrific product for the money..I really hope they dont cease to exist as is the rumor. With a little light weathering they become a far superior (to other low cost kits including model power, mdc roundhouse, rivarossi, bachmann, etc) Only Accurail has an equal for the price product, and they will get all my business if Athern stops producing the blue box kits. The Genises line is great but way too expensive for the average modeler with 100 freight cars & 20 or so passenger cars......We dont all desire super detailed (and difficult to build) craftsman kits or expensive rtr ....The blue box kit is the perfect "in between" model........Please send this reply to Athern...Thanks..Paul(spsmoke)

[Anonymous]

The Athearn "Blue Box" kit -- isn't it sad that we have to specify that, now -- has been the base of the hobby, at least in HO, for more than thirty years. Quality has increased over time, with painting and printing that would have been unbelievable in the 1970's. Other manufacturers - MDC/Roundhouse, Atlas, Kadee, LBF -- have equalled or exceeded the quality and price, with additional variety of models, so the days of the Blue Box may be over soon, if Horizon doesn't figure out that they can't have it all to themselves. I've already received cancellation notices from several retailers who can no longer buy Athearn, or won't accede to Horizon's demands. Too bad they're killing an icon.

[Anonymous]

Years ago, I used "blue box" kits as a starting point for more accurate models. They made for some good models in their day, but these days I prefer Resin, or some of the newer plastic KITS. I would hate to see the Athearn kits disappear though, as not everyone has the time or desire to build more complicated models, and many of us do not like this trend toward RTR .... kits are an important part of MODEL Railroading!

[Anonymous]

I have so many Athearn freight cars, it's almost an, Athearn RR! I buy them throughout the year. I enjoy these products. They are priced fairly. They assemble without problems. They look good and are very reliable in any consist. I do, however, always add metal wheel sets in place of plastic. This is to minimize the dirt and residue on my tracks. May all your signals be GREEN!
Richard [:D]

[h42man]

Many years ago when I was into "O" gauge, I purchased one of Irv's boxcar kits. I was impressed by the detail and price. I then switched to HO and have quite a collection of Athearn products. Also family members and friends know that Athearn kits are desirable gifts for the old "guy who plays with choo choos"

h42man

[Anonymous]

I got about 12 Athearn/ Bev-Bel cars for Christmas. A local hobby shop was getting out of the business and had them at 1/2 off. The paint jobs were great. I find it relaxing building athearn cars - probably because of their easily assembly. Athearn cars build rather quickly - unlike the month or so I would usually spend on a resin kit!

[Anonymous]

I selected "last month" but I have three on my bench right now that I have not had time to build since I moved last year. My layout is currently in the rebuilding process.

The RTRs have become part of my rolling stock but my first kit was an Athearn blue and that was a long, long time ago. As long as they build them I will buy them.

[dwaneet]

I bought two 86 foot long boxcars at my favorite hobbyshop in Anchorage, there was a third but I choose not to buy it. These were the last of the "blue boxes" kits at the store. [:(] All the "blue box kits" have been replaced with ready to run stuff. [xx(]

[Anonymous]

I like the blue boxs i got about 20 or more cars from Athearn three are 86 foot boxcars. I have many others But Athearn kept it simple for all ages.

[Anonymous]

I voted "last week". I almost always have several blue box kits waiting to be assembled. While I do buy some RTR, Genesis, MDC, Branchline,Walthers RTR & kit, Athearn Blue Box far outnumbers all the rest. One of the best values and varieties on the market. I even have Globe kits.

[Anonymous]

After getting back into the hobby 3 Christmases ago, I started collecting Marx O gauge so it's been quite awhile since I built an Athearn (about 20 years) but those Blue Boxes bring back a lot of fond memories.

[Anonymous]

Any way you cut it, Athern Blue Box are still some of the best.

[Anonymous]

I love Athearn's "blue box" stuff. Unfortunately, I had to select two or more years ago because my local hobby shop only has Athearn kits in road names that no one wants. They are the kits that never sold, and now they take up all of the shelf, so there is no room or money (I am assuming) for new stuff. Because of this, I have only built one car recently (I really needed a caboose) and it was an Atlas or Roundhouse or something, I don't remember. Athrean's kits are about all that I will buy.

[trainchaser]

It would be sad to see the "Blue Box" kits go. I started with them and eventually graduated to the more complex kits. I think they are exceptional for the money and a good starting point for young modelers.

[johncolley]

I used to build a lot of the Athearn 40' cars, which I am now having to go back and retrofit. The kit mfr's don't add sufficient weight to meet NMRA standards. Also I am eliminating the"other brands" going back to the old dependable KD couplers, and I am changing out all my wheelsets to metal wheels for much improved rolling characteristics. I am modeling mid to late '40's so I have to check the build date and service dates on all cars.

[RonaldB]

The Athren Blue boxes, I've been building them for over the last, on and off, 4 decades.
Now my grand kids are beeing introduced to them and the hobby of model railroading.
For the money they can not be beat. Even on thier allowances, the kids can build as they please. We are now learning to detail them with loads and other details. Keep them around, please.

[Anonymous]

I have 2 of them on the workbench right now, making 2 pulpwood bulk head flats. I found an article from several years ago by Tony Koester on kitbashing 2 bulk head flats into 2 bulk head flats. Yeah, well he even had a problem explaining it. JOHN

[Anonymous]

The Athearn blue box kits are a great value. I don't like the RTR kits because I have to open them up to add weight. I can add the weight as I build the blue box kits.
I have yet to see an Athearn kit or RTR that met NMRA weight standards.
Athearn is asking "stupid money" for the Genesis boxcars. Foreign labor is cheap so they could sell them for half of MSRP and still make money if they were not greedy.

By the way, the Athearn steam locomotives suck if you have any grade at all on your layout. They are way to light, and they should have added power pick up on the tender.

Oh yeah, I built a kit earlier this week.

[Anonymous]

I usually buy up a dozzen or so" blue box "kits when I go to a model show & then put them away until I can find time to tinker with them. Most of my rolling stock is from the blue box kits. After working with our horses & all of the other daily projects I don't have alot of time to go to the hardcore diehard kits. Athearn makes a pretty good product with very nice detail & is very simple to construct. I'm happy with it............"Happy Trails"..............Oh & by the way, I just put an Athearn 54' Milwaukee Road PS covered hopper together last week .

[alpreston]

I don't remember how many years it's been since I bought an Athearn kit - I've been modelling mostly narrow gauge for years, and Athearn doesn't make any.....

[skerber]

Although I own a lot of old blue box kits, I like the RTR line a lot. I am limited for time, so the less putting together I have to do, the better.

[Anonymous]

In the past month I picked up a Bachmann "War Baby" SP GS4 from Historic Rail. Of course I needed some cars to add on to this locomotive & tender I am most please with. I went to Discount Trains On Line and picked up the Athearn SP Bay Window Caboose, 40' Wooden SP Box Car, 40' AAR SP Box Car and the 50' SP automobile box car. I found these kits very nice and easy to assemble, with the usual Athearn high detail. These are the first Athearn Kits I have purchased since I assembled my Great Northern Empire Builder Passenger Car set from Athearn back in early 2002.

[brothaslide]

What is the point of this pole?

Hey Bergie - Let Athearn do its own market analysis!

[Anonymous]

The pending rumored demise of the "blue box" will hurt the hobby. Reasonable price, reasonable detail. Seems like lots of folks started this way. What will be left for anybody to get into the hobby without committing a substantial amount of money at the beginning, or do the manufacturers think somebody will jump in full force by buying a $120.00 locomotive and a bunch of $20.00+ cars?

[flatrainchaser]

I have 300+ Athearn car kits of which around 250 have been assebled. I still look for and purchase the kits over the RTR because of the value. When I can get 3 or 4 car kits for the price of one RTR, I'll go for getting more cars. I do convert them all to Kadees and add additional weight to bring them up to NMRA recommeded standards. Even change numbers on them so that I have multiples of the same road names. I started with Athearn kits and will continue with them. They provide me with a great way to relieve the stress of the day.

[Anonymous]

The familiar Blue Box Kit, is kind of rare here in the UK. I haven't ordered any for a while, but I do like them and would like to see them continued. I have helped several boy scouts get their railroading merit badge with the blue box.
I would rather experiment, try new things and hone the weathering skills with the $8.00 blue box as opposed to the $35.00 RTR frieght cars.