Safety Valve wrote: WCfan wrote: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=THLDAthearn and Horizon hobbies DOES have a website that is updated fairly often ya know....
WCfan wrote: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.
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/JR7582 My Flickr Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcfan/
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.
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.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
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.
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.
Don Gibson wrote:If a RTR car - and same as a kit were offered - say at only a $5 saving would YOU (as a "modeler") buy it?
If a RTR car - and same as a kit were offered - say at only a $5 saving would YOU (as a "modeler") buy it?
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.
Just a thought.
Texas Chief wrote: 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.DickTexas 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
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.
Will the anniversary stuff be applied to N scale? They only entered that market a couple years ago, but I'm just curious...
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
BRAKIE wrote: jeffrey-wimberly wrote: 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.
jeffrey-wimberly wrote: 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.
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.
"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)
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
WCfan wrote: BRAKIE wrote: espeefoamer wrote: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.
BRAKIE wrote: espeefoamer wrote: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?
espeefoamer wrote: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?
BRAKIE wrote: 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.
Best Regards, Big John
Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona. Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the Kiva Valley Railway
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ericsp wrote: canazar wrote: . . .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.
canazar wrote: . . .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.
Safety Valve wrote: 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.
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
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.
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.