mdvle Posted July 30, 2020 Author Share Posted July 30, 2020 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted August 1, 2020 Author Share Posted August 1, 2020 (edited) The Athearn guys spent part of their Friday evening doing a live session to discuss the new Athearn GE Dash-9 model. Beyond the obvious differences in the cabs there are actually a lot of differences between the various orders of these locos, and Athearn has tooled up almost all of them (beyond the ones shown in the video, the tooling had been done / also allows for various roadnames not in the first announcement). Note: the AC4400's are also planned, though no date yet. This project was started in July 2017 and they were too far along when ScaleTrains announced their model to stop. Times : 00:10:20 - NS 00:22:30 - BC Rail 00:29:40 - CN 00:37:15 - BNSF 00:51:20 - C&NW 00:56:55 - UP 01:18:25 - images of several EP samples, more should be available to be shown on Tuesday Edited August 3, 2020 by mdvle 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allegheny1600 Posted August 1, 2020 Share Posted August 1, 2020 Thanks again, mdvle! Having watched about half of this video, I can certainly see why the higher price is justified. PHEW! That's a heck of a lot of details. And features, the BCR version has ten working front lights, 10! Gulp, the my problem now is that, were I to buy one, it would so outshine my Kato versions details wise, which are detailed up from standard but I couldn't do the different walkways, see through radiator grills and so forth. I don't even know if such details exist now, they didn't back then, I'm sure. Staggered in Warrington, John. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted August 3, 2020 Author Share Posted August 3, 2020 Athearn Train Tuesday Friday - July 31st Late, but here are highlights - as usual possible errors in my recollections/notes. Started at 1:20:00: VIA & GO? - still haven't heard back regarding license various Dash-9 rebuilds? - planned but no schedule more steam? looking at a couple of steam - 1 or 2 on list Superliners? - not going to say no, possibility with something else 90/43? - good possibility Arkansas & Missouri SD70ACe? - working on license Genesis 2.0 freight cars? - not sure what that will be given what is already in current Genesis freight cars Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted August 3, 2020 Author Share Posted August 3, 2020 Athearn employee has posted some photos of the EP sample to Flickr: BNSF version NS: Grill Detail: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted August 4, 2020 Author Share Posted August 4, 2020 (edited) Athearn Train Tuesday - August 4th - recollections - as usual possible errors Times 02:10 - 30,000 gallon tank cars 12:05 - FMC 4700 23:00 - Dash-9 - showed test shot photos, some taken outdoors 27:20 - Dash-9 -will look into with engineering improving the screens 35:50 - Q&A Dash-9 - CN/BC Rail tear drop - coming in a future run, already tooled Dash-9 - Australian - good chance (the SD90's did well) Dash-9 - second run likely 1Q 2021 ATSF Hudson - will look into, may tie in with some other possibles F125 - would love it **BUT** only Metrolink... Single operator makes sales problematic, so unless others buy it... Hyundai Rotem cars - have been considered with some other projects rerun of 844 - maybe in the next 6 to 9 months UP Turbines - keep an eye on announcements looking at GP7/GP9 upgrades/updates Genesis 2.0 DD40AX UP - hold on to your hats MP15AC - needs updates before another run (SW1000/SW1500 also mentioned as possiblilities), maybe fit into schedule sooner rather than later Fed Ex / ABF trailers & containers - can't get licensing PTC roofs for NS/UP heritage SD70ACe's as separate part - maybe, would need to be a preorder item SD70ACe - sometime next year, working on licensing for some new paint schemes Edited August 5, 2020 by mdvle added YouTube link 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted August 11, 2020 Author Share Posted August 11, 2020 Athearn Train Tuesday - August 11th - recollections, possible errors by me Guest: Tony Cook, editor of Model Railroad News, providing some stories from Athearn's history 01:30 - FMC 50' Box Car 14:00 - 40' Flatcar with Boat 29:15 - 50' Double Door Boxcar 44:00 - Q&A (started when Matt lost Internet, resumed after he returns and they do the deco samples) reminder Athearn does not control prices on eBay SD45 B-units - most B units of that sort are railroad made and thus unique, often even each unit a bit different on the same railroad. Makes tooling difficult, thus other things are a higher priority. weekly California Car reminder, interest isn't restricted to California 51:39 - decorated samples of the 50' FMC Superior Plug Door Boxcar (should also be posted to Facebook later) Greenbrier (Gunderson) 72' Cryo-Trans modern refrigerator car - serious contender Buffalo & Pittsburgh TriClops - worth pursuing, maybe on the 2nd or 3rd run Matt - will be on Trainworld Live (Facebook) on Thursday 13th to discuss the Dash-9's 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted August 12, 2020 Author Share Posted August 12, 2020 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted August 13, 2020 Author Share Posted August 13, 2020 Couple of things from Rapido. FIrst, order deadline Monday August 17th for the F59PH and M420, with a September 15th order deadline for the SW1200, Comet Coaches, and Steam Generator (some of these didn't get order deadlines initially). Second, they have put up a Master Class on the Amtrak Horizon cars - https://rapidotrains.com/master-class/horizon-coaches/amtrak-horizon-cars There is also a page of other Master Classes Rapido has done - https://rapidotrains.com/master-class The LRC coaches and containers have just arrived at Rapido and start shipping next week, the Canadian RDCs ship from China next week for arrival in September. Finally, they are doing another Facebook Live session on Monday August 17th at 8:00pm EDT featuring Jordon, Dzobby, Josh and Dan Darnell. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 Not much from the Rapido Live event: won't help those in the UK, but the Proto-Paint line will relaunch in a couple of months - they have been solving some problems with the manufacturer Angus caboose - will have a circuit board with a plug for a user installed DCC decoder use of Kadee couplers - based on customer requests for scale couplers on freight cars Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 Today's Athearn Train Tuesday cancelled due to technical difficulties (the one guy's internet has gone down 6 times today). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 Atlas today posted to their Facebook page the news that the HO U33/36B cab for their just announced run has been retooled to fix accuracy issues with the previous version: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted August 21, 2020 Author Share Posted August 21, 2020 Includes an explanation between the Rivet Counter and Operator versions Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted August 25, 2020 Author Share Posted August 25, 2020 (edited) Atlas today announced on Facebook what was suspected, that they have purchased tooling from True Line Trains (and thus it appears True Line Trains is officially dead). The HO scale tooling includes the just announced Slab Side Covered Hopper as well as the following items: C-Liner RS-18 (unclear what this means - is it the incomplete new tooling True Line was working on until Rapido announced theirs, or the old P1K tooling that was inaccurate) 50' Newsprint Car Fowler Stock Car Bulkhead Flat Car CN/CP wood caboose 40' AAR Box Car Tooling currently unaccounted for from TLT are the MPI36PH/MPI40PH, the CN 4-8-4 Northern and the CN Pointe St. Charles caboose https://shop.atlasrr.com/b-atlas-acquires-true-line-trains-molds.aspx Edited August 25, 2020 by mdvle 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted August 25, 2020 Author Share Posted August 25, 2020 Athearn Train Tuesday - August 25 My recollections, possible errors New Brand Manager introduced - Jim - going forward Matt and Janek will be stepping back to their regular duties and won't typically both be on at the same time - GO / VIA licensing - still no progress, anyone with influence who can get things moving would be appreciated as they would like to offer them - there will be a live session on Friday for the next announcements - 25 minutes of packet summary - Q&A about 30 minute mark - feedback to help@athearn.com - let them know what you would like to see in an Athearn t-shirt - CSX 5161 Trinity covered hoppers - interested, would like photos - 6-axle tank cars - interested, particularly if multiple roadnames - candy can ballast cars maybe - like idea of Australian Dash-9s - Amfleets - not really interested, existing models have issues but likely not best use of the tooling budget given those options. - next Genesis announcement is November - BNSF 25th anniversary - possible another manufacturer is negotiating an exclusive so that won't be able to Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share Posted August 27, 2020 ScaleTrains has just announced they have signed an exclusive 3 year agreement with BNSF to offer the 25th anniversary units in HO and N scales. Model announcement will happen on September 22nd (the BNSF anniversary date) with delivery in mid to late 2021. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share Posted August 27, 2020 (edited) ScaleTrains Q&A - August 27 following ES44 announcement Recollections (possible errors - difficult to keep up) next new tooling announcements scheduled for Springfield in January (4 to 5 items likely) 2nd kit classics item to be announced at Springfield next year looking like a very big year in terms of loco and freight car announcements C39-8 - poor seller - first run covered tooling, 2nd run small profit, maybe another run late next year carbon black cars bad seller new tooling for a loco is "multi 6-figures" in cost this means a lot of unique locos aren't viable as potential models SD70ACe T4 - not at this time - requires a new frame, bunch of new tooling, given lack of roadnames... Australian/Brazilian roadnames likely passenger cars - unlikely given tooling cost ($100k) vs roadname options - all the good choices already taken. parts - maybe in the future, adding them to the website would be labor intensive and cost a lot of money, would likely lose a lot of money on it - it would be a "labor of love" Money No Object models to make - Shane - C&EI Dixie Flagler steam loco - but Shane would likely be the only buyer Money No Object model to make - ScaleTrains - UP Coal Turbine - they have tried to research it but have been unsuccessful S scale / O scale - have seriously looked at it, maybe once they have more base products providing cash following Edited August 27, 2020 by mdvle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted September 1, 2020 Author Share Posted September 1, 2020 Athearn Train Tuesday - September 1st DDA40X - note requires 2 DCC decoders if using DCC, a combination of: 2 non-sound / 2 sound / 1 sound 1 non-sound CA-9 (about 22 minutes in) Q&A (about 33 minutes in, Jim's Internet connection died) - Dash-9 grill improvement - haven't heard back from factory yet - CA-9 with K for kaiser coal - next release - reflective lettering - will look into - FP45 - next announcement 1Q2021 - GP39-2 with high clearance fuel tanks - need to look into, would require new tooling - RI GP7 - needs tooling, when that gets done would also allow Amtrak/CNW and others - UP 844 - announcement should be 2021 for next run 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted September 8, 2020 Author Share Posted September 8, 2020 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted September 10, 2020 Author Share Posted September 10, 2020 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted September 10, 2020 Author Share Posted September 10, 2020 Athearn Train Tuesday - September 8th coverage of the RTR SD40-2 they got an official paint chip from CP for doing the CP ex-Soo units the September freight cars will be discussed starting next week Q&A Rock Island repaired GP40 with mixed paint schemes - would be interesting to do but would need a GP40 to be tooled... lot of discussion about GP40's, lots of paint schemes, lots of requests from the people online for a Genesis GP40. BNSF slab cars - unit trains good as they require many purchases, so could be a possibility BNSF difco dump car - could be interesting but they would need access to a real one for measurements Bethgon Coalporter - another run to be announced next year GTW GP18 - coming in a future run Genesis C30-7 / C36-7 - could be interesting, Janek would like them to be done (caution - just because an Athearn employee wants something doesn't mean it will be done). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted September 10, 2020 Author Share Posted September 10, 2020 Two videos in one day from Rapido Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 Rapido Order Deadline - September 15th Next week is the order deadline for the following products: SW1200 Comet Coaches / Cab Cars Steam Generator Car Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted September 15, 2020 Author Share Posted September 15, 2020 Rapido Q&A - September 14th As always my recollections and scribbled notes, possible errors. -LRC coaches - replacement wheels can be purchased for the earlier runs for better performance - dealers can order or should be on Rapido website soon EP-5 - finally close to production, pantograph should be finished soon with a sample on video following shortly after EP-5 - much like with the Royal Hudson factory has undergone a learning curve to deal with a pantograph EP-5 - will have a surprise sound CPR D10 - 3D printed samples to check clearances done, close to tooling, hopefully samples by end of year F59PH - Metrolink/TRE order books kept open, will be renewed promotional push for them GM fishbowls - should arrive by end of year Amtrak Turboliner - still finishing the drawings but getting close, hopefully tooling by end of the year Flexi-Flo - arrived in Canada, should arrive Rapido within 2 weeks - production sample photos on website Flexi-Flo - the yellow photographed badly 53' containers should arrive within a week Budd passenger cars - upgrade to HEP - not likely, changes are extensive enough that it would likely mean entirely new tooling X72 design complete, into tooling queue B100 - design about 95% done X31 - tooling shop adding final rivets repair times have improved dramatically after the Covid shutdowns H16-44 - joined tooling queue PA/PB - tooling about to start NH County Cars - in tooling queue F7B - production well underway, leave China in October? FL9 - starting production very soon, hope for arrival in November/December Amtrak F40PH - awaiting final samples before announcing order deadline new diesels, passenger cars and freight cars in the works. UK - discussing a few projects, interesting stuff next year, definitely an area Rapido wants to grow UK - Covid and its related travel restrictions have been a problem. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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