Don't forget the old 50' gondola as well. Which also was based on no known real life car, and was too short (the standard size for a mill gondola was 52', not 50'). I think their passenger equipment was pretty generic as well.
Actually the saddest thing about the demise of the Blue-Box line is that it's not really gone; most of that old grossly inaccurate tooling still lives on in the RTR line.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
cv_acrActually the saddest thing about the demise of the Blue-Box line is that it's not really gone; most of that old grossly inaccurate tooling still lives on in the RTR line.
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
The following pictures are the reason why I like kits, plain simple kits! Liam did this a few years ago. He was 5.
While I like RTR, it doesn't teach boys how to build things.
Thankfully Accurail is still around & making kits.
Gordon
Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!
K1a - all the way
jeffrey-wimberly cv_acrActually the saddest thing about the demise of the Blue-Box line is that it's not really gone; most of that old grossly inaccurate tooling still lives on in the RTR line.I agree. Why sell it cheap in kit form when it can be sold pre-assembled with some details added for a higher profit. I've seen some that are just pre-assembled BB kits with no details added.
Jeff,You may find this interesting..Athearn releases far more of their former MDC cars then the old former BB cars..
These old MDC kits has been vastly improved..
I gotta agree the BB cars left a lot to be desired for those that wants accuracy but,for many of us they were our first choice of cars..
Even the Accurail kits have a issue-the gap in the door.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIEJeff,You may find this interesting..Athearn releases far more of their former MDC cars then the old former BB cars..
Have gotten a few Accurail kits and liked them. Haven't detailed them, just built them, added Kadee couplers and fine scale wheels. I really liked them and although I plan to build a small N scale layout at home and use R-T-R cars in HO at the club, I want to get some more kits. The LHS has lots of Accurail kits so I should be good. I will probably get a few and at first and do some at a 'good-enough' level and one finely detailed with things like wire grabs, etched watch ways, fine scale wheels and scale couplers, and weathering. I think some of my first cars will be some single-sheathed outside braced box cars. I have an Atlas MILW one (with opening doors ) and it's one of my favorite cars.
jeffrey-wimberly BRAKIEJeff,You may find this interesting..Athearn releases far more of their former MDC cars then the old former BB cars..I know. The last few I've gotten have the MDC style coupler pockets with the plastic covers.
This actually depends a great deal on the prototype era in question.
Many of the more modern prototypes in the Athearn RTR line are MDC tooling.
But a great many Athearn BB items remain in the RTR line - I posted a list in thread some time back, but here are a few:
All the 40' tank cars, 40' and 50' flat cars, 50' piggy back cars, the whole passenger car line, 200 ton crane (with an MDC tender added), all the cabooses, with the MDC Northeastern also added, the 40' stock car, 34' hoppers, 40' reefers - wood and steel, 40' quad hoppers, pickel cars, and more.
It is mainly in the area of more modern prototypes that the MDC tooling as replaced BB tooling. Your era of modeling is what will effect what precentage of your Athearn RTR purchases are MDC or BB tooling.
I model the 50's, many to most of the Athearn RTR of that prototype era are still BB. Covered hoppers, many (but not all) of the box cars of all eras, most all of the more modern stuff are MDC.
I think a detailed accounting would find lots of BB items - some revised and improved - and that the lines were very effectively intergrated to provide the best queality models at the lowest prices.
Sheldon
I am another one that despises the RTR stuff, most have way to fragile extra details. Our local modeling community is based around operation and interchange, so cars swap homes and may visit 1-3 layouts before returning to the home layout. All those extra details get easily broken and most cannot be glued due to the type of flexable plastic used. The old BB kits, MDC, Bowser ect are robust enough to handle being taking to other layouts ect, but still realisitic enough to my eyes and most others localy. My whole layout is built around the "old school" modeling style, and by old school I mean, BB kits, wood craftsman kits, Tenshodo brass diesels and older kit built structures. The tables of older kits and trains at shows are the ones I stop at. I skip the dealers with the new stuff unless I need glue, can motors, Kaydee's ect. I grew up with BB kits and locomotives, graduated to brass and craftsman kits in my teens and have never moved to RTR, my brass is the closest to RTR I have. The work assembling the kits, espicialy the wood kits, is where my enjoyment comes from. Espicialy during the long winter months when there is nothing else to do. I would rather build a kit, then surf the net. I love Accurail's kits, have several in the que to build yet. I cant wait for the next couple of shows to restock my winter kit supply. I also have another Tenshodo diesel on the way to tune up for layout duty. For those that love BB kits or just older kits in general, pick up several copies of the older MRR or Model Rail Craftsman magazines, loads of ads to look at, both kits and brass to remind us what to look for at that next show! Cheers Mike
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
keithh9824 I miss the athearn blue box kits i loved them most of my trains before i sold them where athearn blue box starting over again and finding some out there just wished they would come back
I miss the athearn blue box kits i loved them most of my trains before i sold them where athearn blue box starting over again and finding some out there just wished they would come back
In my experience, there still seems to be an aweful lot of unused, unsold, unbuilt stock out there at train shows and different vendors. Athearn reported they weren't selling enough to justify production anymore and I expect the availability out there will have to diminish significantly before Athearn might consider rerunning kits again.
Long story short, you don't have to miss Athearn blue box really, just get out to a good sized train show in your area and fill your bags and you'll be good for a while.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande5761 keithh9824 I miss the athearn blue box kits i loved them most of my trains before i sold them where athearn blue box starting over again and finding some out there just wished they would come back In my experience, there still seems to be an aweful lot of unused, unsold, unbuilt stock out there at train shows and different vendors. Athearn reported they weren't selling enough to justify production anymore and I expect the availability out there will have to diminish significantly before Athearn might consider rerunning kits again. Long story short, you don't have to miss Athearn blue box really, just get out to a good sized train show in your area and fill your bags and you'll be good for a while.
And MDC kits are still plentiful as well. I see both lines frequently under $10 and occasionally as cheap as $5.
Enjoy
Paul
IRONROOSTER And MDC kits are still plentiful as well. I see both lines frequently under $10 and occasionally as cheap as $5.
I've seen BB kits $3/100.00,$4.00 used with KDs.I've seen the MDC kits $3/12.00 and $5.00 used with KD.
Then there's still the old English kits,Bev-Bel/Athearn,Rail Runner,CM Shops and other kit lines.
No wonder Athearn couldn't sell them.
A dealer in the third Largest City in Louisiana has a considerable number (very large inventory) of Athearn Blue Box, MDC Roundhouse and Athearn Bev-Bel.
Most of the Blue Box in stock was Made in China, but does have a number Made in U.S. of A.
His ad is in the back of the current MR under dealers.
Run EightA dealer in the third Largest City in Louisiana has a considerable number (very large inventory) of Athearn Blue Box, MDC Roundhouse and Athearn Bev-Bel.
How about just posting the information? I don't see any listing called "dealers" in the February MR. There is only one listing for Louisiana under "retailers", and the web address given doesn't seem to be working for me.
Thanks
Trends and Trains
7143 Mansfield Rd
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
I picked up a few at the NMRA convention in Grand Rapids last summer. There were fun, but Accurail is about the same thing in my book. I do appreciate the level of detail available now in some higher priced offerings but can only afford one at a time as opposed to 4 at a time.
As these things go, a blue box in mint condition is probably worth more than what it contains.
There's never time to do it right, but always time to do it over.....
Check out M.B.Kliens right now,
Pretty great sale on Bowser kits
Johnboy out........................
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
I want Blue Box back too. A few years ago you could still get them, but now they can only be found at train shows. For $10 you could get a kit that was easy to put together, fool-proof, and looked great after being weathered.
RTR can be a pain since to weather it or modify the weight, etc. you need to pull the whole thing apart and hope that you don't break anything. Besides, you saved about $5 by putting it together yourself.
Accurail is great, but most boxcar kits are pretty much the same as Blue Box from the running boards up, but they cost a few bucks more than the BBs used to! Blue Box engines were pretty good too...
Somebody should tell Athearn about this thread! 70-some posts might convince them to bring Blue Box back.
Modeling the Pennsy and loving it!
Ya but the ones that want them back are the ones that enjoy putting them together.
I had a lot of fun watching/helping Liam put together his first BB kit. He'd get frustrated putting together a Branchline or Proto kit.
I have several "5800" BB series 5344 boxcar kits I haven't built yet. I wish Athearn would have continued with these instead of RTR. Separate applied grab irons & ladders, they're a brilliant kit.
Susquehanna and SouthernSomebody should tell Athearn about this thread! 70-some posts might convince them to bring Blue Box back.
This decision isn't driven by post counts, it's driven by profits, like everything else in the world.
Ebay and train shows is your source for those of you longing for blue box, myself I miss Roundhouse kits, but now look at Tichy, Accurail and others for my kits.
Susquehanna and Southern Somebody should tell Athearn about this thread! 70-some posts might convince them to bring Blue Box back. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Athearn has stated time and again BB kit sales was down 80%... And in that light was there anybody really buying those kits? I think not since there are still thousands available on e-Bay and at train shows and some of those boxes has worn marks from being unpacked and repack. Where are all the buyers that wants these kits back?
BRAKIEWhere are all the buyers that wants these kits back?
Jeff,you do not want anything like that do ya.
Russell
csxns Jeff,you do not want anything like that do ya.
I love BB kits. I don't have the steady hands nor fingers to add grab irons and can't afford RTR cars. As for craftsman kits, no way.
Flip
jeffrey-wimberly csxns Jeff,you do not want anything like that do ya. I used to buy two or three every time I went to the LHS. Now I get them from Ebay when I the money for it. I get the ones I like on Buy It Now with free shipping if I think the price is good. Some of those guys must think they have gold.
You notice that too?
Maybe they are buying those 3/$10.00 BB kits I see at most train shows and asking ridiculous prices on e-bay?
I see used Athearn cars with KDs priced between $3.00-5.00 at just about every train show I have attended.
I admit the last Athearn BB kits I bought was two undecs back in '07.I just needed t parts and the price was right 2/$7.00..I still have the bodies weights and frame..I doubt if I will ever buy the needed trucks and coulper boxes and build them.
Keith
As you must know, they are gone forever according to Athearn. If you want a bunch of those cars both built and unbuild, email me with a PM. I have so many purchased between 1975 and 1990 that are in the box and were never used.
CZ
Hi,
The Athearn BB kits and locos were the backbone of the hobby, along with Atlas, MRC, and a few others. The value and quality of their product was absolutely outstanding.
Folks today tend to want instant gratification, and interest in "building it yourself" is just not what it was. Personally I think that is a shame, for to me that was what the hobby was all about. But, its a different world today, and "time marches on...."
But the kits are still available - if only one is patient and persistant. Whatever you want will sooner or later come up on Ebay.
Why do I say that? Well, in the late '90s and early 2000s, I amassed an Athearn inventory of well over 500 pieces. Then, in the last 4 years I've sold over 250. Lots of other folks have done the same.
Note to the powers that be........ I'm not selling any Athearn stuff now (but did in December), so my comments should not be considered "advertising".............
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I have little or no interest in assembling railcars. I'd much rather devote my modelling time to other facets, like structures and such, than glue boxcar body on to frame, screw on trucks. Plus the BBs are downright crude looking by most standards and don't really fit my era anyhow. Walthers, Atlas, Intermountain, and Exactrail fit better.
NittanyLion I have little or no interest in assembling railcars. I'd much rather devote my modelling time to other facets, like structures and such, than glue boxcar body on to frame, screw on trucks. Plus the BBs are downright crude looking by most standards and don't really fit my era anyhow. Walthers, Atlas, Intermountain, and Exactrail fit better.
All generalizations are false.
So you are a diorama builder who just happens to included trains in your scenes - that's OK, it is a diverse hobby.
But a complete examination of the Athearn product line, both current RTR and the Blue Box and Roundhouse kits most of them came from, actually covers quite a wide range of prototypes and eras.
Agreed, some are more detailed than others, some are some what generic, but again, all your generalizations regarding them can be proven wrong by more than one example.
In fact, a great number of them require little or no glue, and virtually none require glue to hold the body to the frame. And some of the newer tooled items have exceptional detail.
You have no interest in older prototypes, I have no interest in prototypes past 1954.
DISCLAIMER - I buy it all - Athearn RTR and old Blue Box kits, current "high end", "high detail" RTR like Intermountain, Fox Valley, Kadee, etc,etc, and lots of craftsman kits - old and new. So I have no particular agenda supporting one type of rolling stock over the other.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL NittanyLion I have little or no interest in assembling railcars. I'd much rather devote my modelling time to other facets, like structures and such, than glue boxcar body on to frame, screw on trucks. Plus the BBs are downright crude looking by most standards and don't really fit my era anyhow. Walthers, Atlas, Intermountain, and Exactrail fit better. All generalizations are false. So you are a diorama builder who just happens to included trains in your scenes - that's OK, it is a diverse hobby. But a complete examination of the Athearn product line, both current RTR and the Blue Box and Roundhouse kits most of them came from, actually covers quite a wide range of prototypes and eras. Agreed, some are more detailed than others, some are some what generic, but again, all your generalizations regarding them can be proven wrong by more than one example. In fact, a great number of them require little or no glue, and virtually none require glue to hold the body to the frame. And some of the newer tooled items have exceptional detail. You have no interest in older prototypes, I have no interest in prototypes past 1954. DISCLAIMER - I buy it all - Athearn RTR and old Blue Box kits, current "high end", "high detail" RTR like Intermountain, Fox Valley, Kadee, etc,etc, and lots of craftsman kits - old and new. So I have no particular agenda supporting one type of rolling stock over the other. Sheldon
I don't disagree with anything you said. I was merely stating my own reasons for not missing the old BB kits. I do miss the BB locomotives though.
And, for the record, I'm not sure I ever glued most of my old BBs together back in the day.