News From Athearn...

[ezielinski]

Starting with June 2007 production, Athearn Blue Box kits will have metal wheels, AND new road numbers. The kits should start arriving in stores in early July. You can recognize them by the 60th Anniversary logo printed on the front of the box.

2007 marks 60 years of Athearn products. We are going to celebrate the second half of the year with several very exciting items.

We'll have some rolling stock decorated with special paint (to be announced in July), and we're also planning to have a prototype car decorated in a special livery (details on this will come as soon as everything is completely finalized).

Just figured someone might want to know.

[canazar]

I have seen 2 of them at my LHS.  I dont know if they will all be like this, but odds are they will.

I noticed they had light gray under frames, metal wheels, 7.75 retail and a "Made In China" on the box.

 

[loathar]

Bring em on!!!

[Anonymous]

DINNER TIME!

Bout time they issued road numbers.

Working on 6 of the old ones this weekend.

Need a listing of the new kits by part number so I can send in some orders.

[ericsp]

. . .and a "Made In China" on the box.

If Athearn is moving Blue Box kit production out of the USA, there goes a major motivation for me buying them.

[ericsp]

DINNER TIME!

Bout time they issued road numbers.

Working on 6 of the old ones this weekend.

Need a listing of the new kits by part number so I can send in some orders.

http://www.athearn.com/Content/PDF/Summer_2007_ATH_KIT_Production.pdf

[Anonymous]

. . .and a "Made In China" on the box.

If Athearn is moving Blue Box kit production out of the USA, there goes a major motivation for me buying them.

 http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070630/bs_nm/books_madeinchina_dc_1;_ylt=AhYRT35ntMU32w_ohN2DSsxkM3wV

Well it appears we are going to have to continue to feed the dragon. And it is our fault for exporting our stuff, jobs and work overseas for cheap profits. We deserved it too.

I started off with these box kits and they are still good after 30 years.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I've been buying Athearn BB kits since the early 80's. I'm not bailing on them just for moving their production to China.

[BRAKIE]

I've been buying Athearn BB kits since the early 80's. I'm not bailing on them just for moving their production to China.

 

Nor am I since 90% of the models I own been made in China including my Atlas engines and cars.

We can't over look the cold facts that Walthers cars and P1K,P2K locomotives are made in China as well.

I am also cautious about  BB kits being made in China statement..I have NOT seen or read any proof of this and feel it may be no more then another  Athearn Internet myth much like the old worn out "Athearn stop making BB kits" cry which still surfaces from time to time.

[WCfan]

Well that's good. Will this affect the cost at all? Also, do you know if Athearn is still going to make there RTR SD45? I sent them an Email but they haven't replyed yet. One of the fourms memebers said they where but just wanted to make sure.

[canazar]

I am also cautious about  BB kits being made in China statement..I have NOT seen or read any proof of this and feel it may be no more then another  Athearn Internet myth much like the old worn out "Athearn stop making BB kits" cry which still surfaces from time to time.

You are right about the rumors, there have been plenty.   But, you couldnt argue with "we" saw.  (We being the employee and I)  They had recieved 2 kits, they were reefers cars with the painted "snow" on top.   They had them in display mode, lid turned upside down, and wrapped in plastic so you could see the contents.   But, plain as day in the end of the box, written in white ink, "MADE IN CHINA".   We stared at that for awhile.   Just didnt look right.

Now, I will not say that the whole line will be, but logic says, probably is.  But I can say for sure that these 2 were.

[espeefoamer]

I guess this means the BB locos are made in China too.

[BRAKIE]

I guess this means the BB locos are made in China too.

Yup just like Atlas and Walthers P1K,P2K..Not sure about Stewart locos.

Of course the BB RTR has always been produce in China as is the newer Athearn RTR so whats new?

[WCfan]

I guess this means the BB locos are made in China too.

Yup just like Atlas and Walthers P1K,P2K..Not sure about Stewart locos.

Of course the BB RTR has always been produce in China as is the newer Athearn RTR so whats new?

My BB loco says on the box "MADE IN THE U.S.A", but that might not apply to the loco.

[Anonymous]

I for one choose not to pick on China when it comes to Athearn. I believe that the company is part of the USA. There may have been some tooling or perhaps a few parts from China but looking back into the Blue Box kits of 20+ years ago I dont see it.

[BRAKIE]

I guess this means the BB locos are made in China too.

Yup just like Atlas and Walthers P1K,P2K..Not sure about Stewart locos.

Of course the BB RTR has always been produce in China as is the newer Athearn RTR so whats new?

My BB loco says on the box "MADE IN THE U.S.A", but that might not apply to the loco.

 

There's the rub..BB RTR and new release  RTR China..BB kits" Made in USA  with flag logo" so says the box lid on the last 3 BB car kits I bought 2 months ago..

I have not seen the new kits yet...Big John reports the BB kits are made in China..

Scratching head here..How about the new production site in Carson Ca? Remember when Athearn moved to Carson in 2004?

 

[Anonymous]

i  went to  my  local  hobby shop  and  i  seen  the  bb kits  and  from  what  i  got  from  it  was  the  wheels  and  couplers  were  made  in  china  i  could  be  wrong  though. but,  most stuff  is  made  overseas  it's  a  shame  i  cut  my teeth  on  these  kits.  i  buy  others  but  i  have  a  soft  spot  for  the  old  bb's  and  from  what  i  gather  they  don't  make  that  many  of  them  anymore.  as  far  as  somebody  said  about  stewarts  the  wheels  and  couplers  are  made  in  china  i  ordered  13  kits  and  i  asked  before  i  placed  the  order.

thanks,bill

[ericsp]

I've been buying Athearn BB kits since the early 80's. I'm not bailing on them just for moving their production to China.

 

Nor am I since 90% of the models I own been made in China including my Atlas engines and cars.

We can't over look the cold facts that Walthers cars and P1K,P2K locomotives are made in China as well.

I am also cautious about  BB kits being made in China statement..I have NOT seen or read any proof of this and feel it may be no more then another  Athearn Internet myth much like the old worn out "Athearn stop making BB kits" cry which still surfaces from time to time.

I try to buy American made products. As an example, my entire Center-flow fleet consists of Athearn Blue Box and Accurail. There are no Athearn RTR, Intermountain, or Atlas (unless you want to count Pressureaide hoppers), even though they have more detail.

I sent an e-mail to Athearn asking where they make their Blue Box kits. Hopefully, I will get a reply.

[wm3798]

Will the anniversary stuff be applied to N scale?  They only entered that market a couple years ago, but I'm just curious...

Lee

[Texas Chief]

The "Made in China" could be correct. That seems to be the norm these days. However, that statement could be misleading also. A good example is Intermountains RTR cars and diesels. The parts are made in Colorado and sent to China, where they are assembled and packaged in boxes that are marked "Made in China" and sent back to Colorado.

Dick

Texas Chief

[BRAKIE]

The "Made in China" could be correct. That seems to be the norm these days. However, that statement could be misleading also. A good example is Intermountains RTR cars and diesels. The parts are made in Colorado and sent to China, where they are assembled and packaged in boxes that are marked "Made in China" and sent back to Colorado.

Dick

Texas Chief

 

Dick,You bring up a interesting point..The BB RTR cars-these are the former BB car kits that is still available as kits-are assembled in China..Athearn could shift the BB production to China after all -guessing here-they apparently send the BB cars to China for assembling as RTR cars.

Still scratching my head here.

[Don Gibson]

Since the 'costs' of assembling a kit in China are so low - maybe $5 retail - (with  over half of that being retailer & distributer profit) - maybe  the market won't bear stocking duplicate items as kits.

If a RTR car - and same as a kit were offered - say at only a $5 saving would YOU (as a "modeler") buy it?

Just a thought.

 

[TwinZephyr]

If it is something simple like an Athearn blue box model, I'd buy the kit.  The answer isn't quite so clear cut with a complex model such as a Proto 2000, but certainly a kit would be preferred if the assembly work on the RTR model is sloppy. 

 

If a RTR car - and same as a kit were offered - say at only a $5 saving would YOU (as a "modeler") buy it?

[nucat78]

If anybody is serious about boycotting Chinese products, you better be prepared to quit buying a lot of your prepared groceries and most of your clothes.  Even when the prepared food packages don't say anything about China, a lot of food additives DO come from China.  Even chewing gum has Chinese ingredients in it.

This is the economic reality of the world we live in.  Fewer and fewer US companies actually produce tangible products and if they do, it's very rare that all components are made in the US.

'Course you always have farmers' markets and craft sales if you want pure US goods. 

 

 

 

[BRAKIE]

Don,I suspect you haven't look closely to the RTR cars?? While these are great looking and running cars there is three types of coupler boxes in use.The former BB RTR cars has the coupler clip like before.Some of the newer boxcars has the removable coupler box while others use the end of the frame for a coupler box.All 3 works as design BUT,and IMHO the removable coupler box is the better of the three designs.

 

Many still prefers the BB kits over the RTR cars..I prefer RTR but,like both.

 

For your information

http://www.toytrainheaven.com/.sc/ms/dd/HO%20Cars%20Athearn%20Group%202--ACF%20Covered%20Hoppers%20(RTR)/20806380/Athearn%20Cvrd%20Hop%20ADM%20Blue,%20LIST%20PRICE%20$15.98

http://www.toytrainheaven.com/.sc/ms/dd/HO%20Cars%20Athearn%20Group%201--Blue%20Box%20Frt%20Car%20%28Kits%29/20804562/Athearn%2054%27%20ACF%20CENTERFLOW%20ADMX-BLUE%2C%20LIST%20PRICE%20%248%2E75

 

So you see there is a choice..A RTR car or kit.

 

[Anonymous]

I do buy some RTR Athearn cars. They "Drop right" into the train with other cars both Blue Box or RTR without any trouble.

In fact, I order RTR when it suits me. Im waiting on that RTR Crane and boom tender from Athearn because I cannot stand to string all of that cable. Let someone else do it.

I have no trouble ordering more expensive RTR, especially when similar kits are made from a bazillion tiny rivets and grab irons.

Now if I can only get Athearn to re-run the long discontinued and out of production reefers from 20 years ago I would be in hog heaven. And no Im not talking about the standard athearn reefer either.

[WCfan]

Sorry for inturupting you disscusion on Athearn shipping over seas or somting like that, but does ANY one know if Athearn is still going to make there RTR SD45?

[Anonymous]

Sorry for inturupting you disscusion on Athearn shipping over seas or somting like that, but does ANY one know if Athearn is still going to make there RTR SD45?

 http://www.athearn.com/Search/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=SD45-2+ATHG&CatID=THLD

Athearn and Horizon hobbies DOES have a website that is updated fairly often ya know....

[WCfan]

Sorry for inturupting you disscusion on Athearn shipping over seas or somting like that, but does ANY one know if Athearn is still going to make there RTR SD45?

 http://www.athearn.com/Search/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=SD45-2+ATHG&CatID=THLD

Athearn and Horizon hobbies DOES have a website that is updated fairly often ya know....

Yes I know. I go there quite often. But I was asking SD45. Not the SD45-2.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I have no problem with buying the RTR cars, especially as I have a hard time with kits with my hands being numb from nerve damage. Try assembling a kit with gloves on and you'll quickly see what I mean.