A search on eBay for kit in Athearn turns up 1371 listings. Looking at the first 100 listings, most have no bids and are priced higher than train shows.
If you're anywhere near Timonium Md, the GSMTS is this coming weekend, 2-3 Feb 2013. Lots of BB at the last one in Oct and I expect they'll there again.
Given how many are still left after 4 years, I'd say discontinuing kits was the correct business decision.
Enjoy
Paul
Most of my freight cars back in the 80's were Athearn blue box. They were cheap and easy to put together and with a little tweaking rolled very well even with plastic wheels. The balance of my rolling stock was Bachmann, Tyco, AHM, Walthers, Varney, Life-Like, Roundhouse/MDC. I currently have one all Athearn loco (KCS SW1500) and eleven others that are variety of parts including Athearn, all from blue boxes. Right now there are eight Athearn BB freight cars on the layout and many more on the shelf. I buy more when I can find ones that I like at an affordable price or get junk ones for next to nothing and rebuild them. You'd be surprised what some people call junk. With a little work they're back in service again. I try to avoid the detail-laden RTR models. Too many things that can get broken.
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
Geared Steam Trends and Trains 7143 Mansfield Rd Shreveport, LA 71108 ph: 318-671-8896fax: 318-671-8897trendsandtrains@bellsouth.net
Trends and Trains
7143 Mansfield Rd
Geared, thanks for the info. I saw that listing in MR. I don't now why they pay to list a website if it doesn't work.
maxmanI don't now why they pay to list a website if it doesn't work.
I agree, I ask him all of the time to sell over the internet. He is 70% RCC, but has a great inventory of MRR items, if you wish I will ask him if he would consider taking phone orders and shipping, if not, I will attempt to get a list of BB kits and email them to you, if there is anything you want I can pick them up and mail them to you. Let me know (PM) if either way, he is not far from work and many times I go there at lunch to escape.
Edit: Is there a certain kit(s) you are looking for?
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Dave,
If you ever decide to want to let those BB kits go, private message me & I'll roll on down the highway n pick them up!
Gordon
Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!
K1a - all the way
Geared Steam maxmanI don't now why they pay to list a website if it doesn't work. I agree, I ask him all of the time to sell over the internet. He is 70% RCC, but has a great inventory of MRR items, if you wish I will ask him if he would consider taking phone orders and shipping, Edit: Is there a certain kit(s) you are looking for?
I agree, I ask him all of the time to sell over the internet. He is 70% RCC, but has a great inventory of MRR items, if you wish I will ask him if he would consider taking phone orders and shipping,
maxmanThey actually had a bunch of them, so I passed the info along. I suspect that an order will be placed within the next day or two.
So he will accept phone orders then? That's good news.
He built his inventory by (unfortunately) buying the inventory of LHS's that were wanting to close down in the area. The positve side of this is he has a lot of items that are out of production, and everything is on the shelves in order and in the open. I found several old MDC 3-1 kits there, I paid more the the MSRP ($5.00 ) but the price was reasonable.
I can't buy locos from him though, all are MSRP, and he won't come off them much.
The offer still stands if you or your friend need assistance.
Geared Steam maxmanThey actually had a bunch of them, so I passed the info along. I suspect that an order will be placed within the next day or two. So he will accept phone orders then? That's good news. He built his inventory by (unfortunately) buying the inventory of LHS's that were wanting to close down in the area. The positve side of this is he has a lot of items that are out of production, and everything is on the shelves in order and in the open. I found several old MDC 3-1 kits there, I paid more the the MSRP ($5.00 ) but the price was reasonable. I can't buy locos from him though, all are MSRP, and he won't come off them much. The offer still stands if you or your friend need assistance.
I miss the BB kits... Ever try putting together a "Blueprint Series" boxcar? It's a real pain to get all those separate grab iron parts on, and they're PLASTIC, not brass, so they break really easily. The "Yardmasters Series" kits are better, but even though they have cast-on details, you still have to assemble the car ends, roof, and roofwalk! It takes about 30-40 min to assemble one of those kits, when with BBs you could get the car running and up to standards in 10-15 min.
In addition, I don't want to spend any more on cars than I have to (I'm on a budget), so a $9.95 BB beats a $10.98 Accurail kit any day. In addition, when weathered and viewed in mass, I would say that they look about as good as a string of Atlas RTRs.
I focus on OPERATIONS, and BBs are cheap, look decent, and run reliably. From an operational and practical standpoint, BBs are just as good as the RTRs. In addition, though Exactrail cars may look superb, it just isn't possible to make a fleet of 50 to 100 cars and have them be Exactrail - the cost would be phenomenal!
Rather than spending $50 per freight car, I would rather spend $10 on a kit and spend the money I saved on more cars or a new loco.
Modeling the Pennsy and loving it!
I doubt that Athearn will ever release the BB kits again, since some people have been told by Athearn employees they were losing money on them.
I agree, the blue box kits are what I grew up on. There is nothing like taking a bb kit and making it your own, especially the undecorated ones. I like putting them together and detailing them, the rtr are nice, but I like to say i built it, painted it, decaled it and weathered it.
Schuylkill and SusquehannaEver try putting together a "Blueprint Series" boxcar? It's a real pain to get all those separate grab iron parts on, and they're PLASTIC, not brass, so they break really easily. The "Yardmasters Series" kits are better, but even though they have cast-on details, you still have to assemble the car ends, roof, and roofwalk! It takes about 30-40 min to assemble one of those kits, when with BBs you could get the car running and up to standards in 10-15 min.
Yes, I have put Blueprint Series cars together...........decorated and some that I've painted/decaled. They are not that difficult. And I'm not certain where all the it's plastic and breaks easy complaints come from. Certainly these cars are more fragile than the Blue Box cars, but I handle my cars with care. I've seen in some posts where the posters show how they store their cars. Piled on top of each other in boxes. If you're going to do that, then you really need durable equipment. Might as well put trucks and couplers on a length of 2 X 3 and draw on the ladders, doors, and grabs.
Modelling HO Scale with a focus on the West and Midwest USA
alexstanI did a few Athearn BB kits a few years back, loved them, Wish they were back too.
Athearn has stated several times on Face Book BB car kits sales was down 80%..How long do you think Athearn could stay in business with 80% in lost sales?
Frankly I don't miss 'em..I built hundreds over the years and the majority required straightening the frame,floor or weight so the couplers would be at the correct height..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Just give it up. Athearn has made a business decision based on their customer's demand for the blue box kits and they found the demand just wasn't there.
Remember, Athearn's customer base is the retailer, not the end user. When the average Athearn customer has a ton of these kits and they are not moving, they are not going to order more. Having stock that sits for years is not what they want. Until they move a substantial amount of dead stock, they have no incentive to order more, nor do they want more kits that are just going to collect dust for another year.
If the hobby shop customers have no interest in what is on the shelf, ordering new kits probably won't change that either.
Athearn found that the cost of the kits didn't justify continuing them, especially when they are just not selling. It is cheaper for them to retool for ready to run product, which their customers want on their shelves.
So just give it up. They are not coming back. If you really need one, haunt the train shows. There are often lots of them doing the circuit, the wear on the box indicates how often they've been handled.
I realize one of the things people are unhappy about is that since Athearn isn't producing blue box kits, there isn't fresh stock on many hobby shop shelves. But what they don't realize is there is a MASSIVE quantity of Athearn blue box and other similar level kits out there (Accurail, MDC, FR, Walthers, etc) that manufacturers there isn't the demand there for Athearn to make more and make a profit.
I just got back from the Saturday Timonium show north of Balitmore Maryland. This show was packed to the roof with kits of all kinds including Athearn blue box, Proto 2000 kits, MDC, Walthers, you name it - and MANY priced in the $4-10 range. In fact at this show there were several sources where you could get nicely detailed RTR Intermountain, Atlas, ER and other HO rolling stock for $8-12 prices!!! But I digress!
The point is, for everyone lamenting the loss of blue box kits, there is no shortage, there is an abundance! the problem mainly is the distribution and availability of these - and they are avaible in spades. In the present day, people need to learn how to access this abundance of kits. Yes, Ebay has them, but train shows very much do... People who don't have access to large train shows may need to get help from those who do, or join HO Interchange and watch the offerings - lots of kits come up there for decent prices.
Really if anything needed to be stickied, it would be topic like this to "ground" the people who "think" there is a crisis of lack of kits or bb kits. There is NOT a crisis, or a lack. You just need to change with the times and get access - there is an old saying, where there is a will, there is a way. Those who feel a pang of nostagia for the olden days can still feed that nostalgia if they put a some effort forth.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Jim,I don't to sound harsh but,the majority of the folks that still want the BB don't attend train shows because :
1.Its takes time away from the TV.
2.They double time through the show and miss the 3/$10.00 prices on the BB kits and the hundreds of used BB cars that sell between $3.50-5.00 most with KDs.
I seen BB kits that has boxes so worn from the dealer packing and unpacking them I must ask where are the buyers for these kits?
But,then there's always they can't let go of the wife's hand long enough to attend or momma won't let 'em go which ever comes first.
The one BB Kits that i have not seen at shows is the two crane boom tenders and the crane itself.
Russell
Well here is the truth no body will talk about,
Market for easy kits or not, if Athearn was to produce BB kits today, with the improvements they have added to the Ready to Roll line, they would be basically the same price as the RTR line is now.
Back in the late 50's and early 60's, Athearn did sell the whole BB line both RTR and as kits. Even then the price difference was very small, typically 1.99 for the kit, 2.25 RTR.
Do to a number of factors we are not allowed to discuss on this forum, it is unlikely that Athearn could produce the kits measurably cheaper than the current RTR line, even if there was a market.
So stop crying and be glad we have the wide choice of products we do.
Sheldon
Using 1959 as the base, the equivalent prices today would be $15.70 for the kit, $17.75 for RTR and that's not accounting for any improvements that have occurred in the last 54 years.
Andre
Soo, what you are all saying, is I need to save moneys so I can hit up the Tittletown Train show AND the Madtown model train show.
So just for a heads up what all car types did BB make?
BerkshireSteam Soo, what you are all saying, is I need to save moneys so I can hit up the Tittletown Train show AND the Madtown model train show. So just for a heads up what all car types did BB make?
Gidday, Courtesy of the Hoseeker site..........
http://hoseeker.net/athearn.htm
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
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
Well, you've got two options:
1. Train shows/Swao Meets/eBay
2. Time Machine
BRAKIE Jim,I don't to sound harsh but,the majority of the folks that still want the BB don't attend train shows because : 1.Its takes time away from the TV. 2.They double time through the show and miss the 3/$10.00 prices on the BB kits and the hundreds of used BB cars that sell between $3.50-5.00 most with KDs. I seen BB kits that has boxes so worn from the dealer packing and unpacking them I must ask where are the buyers for these kits? But,then there's always they can't let go of the wife's hand long enough to attend or momma won't let 'em go which ever comes first.
Fer sure!
You couldn't swing a cat at the Timonium show without hitting a pile of low priced kits!
Speaking of worn boxes, there is a dealer who comes to the various show in this area who has boxes and boxes of HO rolling stock which are the most worn I ever saw. I was at one show with my wife and was walking by the "worn box" vendor (I'd seen this display before several times) and I commented on the high prices on the boxes and how worn the boxes were, drawing the conclusion as to why the rolling stock was still unsold and getting more worn every month. Then the vender butted in on the conversation saying I was wrong, and the prices were actually not high - all the while I was still talking to my wife and trying to put some distance between us and the uninvited interloper. I thought later if that vendor had some manners and common sense, he would:
#1, not offend the customer buy telling him he was wrong (remember rule number 1: "the customer is always right!" and
#2, he would not play games with the prices by leaving the high prices on the boxes forcing the customer to look at his signs and figure things out.
My guess is, if this vendor would take a weekend and reprice the individual rolling stock boxes to make it CLEAR what the discount prices was, he would have gotten rid of alot of that stuff months or years ago, instead he keeps carting it around and they look the most worn I've ever seen. If you take the time to figure out his actual prices, the much of the stuff is a decent deal, but most people are browsing, see the high price on the box, see how worn it is and draw the same false conclusion I did and don't try to figure out the price game. I don't think I've ever bought anything he has, although the last time I think he had stuff I might get, 'cept I'm still mad at the way he was rude to me a year ago, I kinda feel like he burned his bridges with me!
I've seen dealers like that as well..
Most the signs I seen has large lettering that would do CSX proud..
Our train show is in April and I suspect I'll see the same sign for the same kits as I did the last two years.
I do look through the used Bev-Bel/Athearn cars and kits for odd ball short line cars..
That's how I found this little Jewel for $3.00 with KDs..
90% of the current Ready to Roll line were once offered as Blue Box kits.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL 90% of the current Ready to Roll line were once offered as Blue Box kits. Sheldon
Since I have around 60 Athearn RTR cars I don't think 90% BB is very accurate.
Maybe 20% while the other 70% is upgraded MDC cars with metal grabs,metal wheels and stirrups or newly tooled cars while 10% would be the MDC cars that hasn't been upgraded such as the 52' mill gon,bulkhead flat,the 60' flat and several other cars.
BRAKIE ATLANTIC CENTRAL 90% of the current Ready to Roll line were once offered as Blue Box kits. Sheldon Since I have around 60 Athearn RTR cars I don't think 90% BB is very accurate. Maybe 20% while the other 70% is upgraded MDC cars with metal grabs,metal wheels and stirrups or newly tooled cars while 10% would be the MDC cars that hasn't been upgraded such as the 52' mill gon,bulkhead flat,the 60' flat and several other cars.
Larry, I will once again remind you that it depends on the era modeled. A review of the entire selection of recently available RTR includes most every BB car.
A few BB cars are totaly retired, in favor of newer tooling for MDC, and some have been upgraded a lot, some only a little.
In addition to most every BB car, the line does include a large portion of the MDC line as well, many of them also once offered as kits.
I have hundeds of BB kit cars, and hundreds of new RTR cars, most match up exactly - all the 40' reefers, wood and steel sided, 50' flat cars with vans, 34' hoppers, 40' flat cars, all the BB 40' tank cars, etc, etc.
These may not be what you are buying, but they are in the line and just like they were as BB kits.
So maybe I sohould have said 90% of the current RTR line was once BB or MDC kits.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL So maybe I sohould have said 90% of the current RTR line was once BB or MDC kits. Sheldon
No problem..I should have been more clearer and said modern cars..
Its getting harder to tell since a lot of the modern BB boxcars have been upgraded to MDC tooling "standards" with the door claws removed and now with metal grabs and stirrups..A far cry from their BB roots.
Seems to be 2 or 3 phases of modern RTR cars-the early releases which was indeed nothing more then built BB kits,then phase two with upgrades.There could be a phase 3 with a upgraded frame/coupler box and etched metal crossover above the couplers..I haven't really research that possibility yet.
I do know the modern boxcars has 2 different styles of coupler box and a etched metal crossover..
Some of the older BB and MDC covered hoppers has not been upgrade except for metal wheels.
I have no idea who made these cars before they became RTR and I've got 5 of 'em.
http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH89177
http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH91328
Larry,
The first one was tooled for Athearn and is relatively new, might have been Genesis before they moved some of the Genesis to RTR.
The second car is the old Details West FGE kit, which has some accuracy problems but not enough that I would not use them. Walthers makes a similar kit, and it has problems also.
Rick J
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