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  • 2 weeks later...

Catching up on some Athearn Train Tuesdays

 

Athearn Train Tuesday - December 1st 2020 - quickly scribbled notes, possible errors
 

00:05 - brief discussion of November releases
00:13 - Genesis GP9
00:29 - UP Turbine
00:33 - job opening discussion, answer some questions about job
00:41 - showed fantasy units, in stores soon
00:44 - project layout discussion
00:46 - GP 18 paint samples (NW, NP)
00:50 - Athearn Breaking News - November order deadline extension
00:53 - is there any interest in an Athearn podcast?
00:54 - photo contest - submissions to athearn-contest@horizonhobby.com
00:54 - see video for details/to confirm details, should also be posted to Facebook at some point
00:54 - contest runs until December 16th.
00:54 - prize - Genesis SD70ACe UP/Spirit #1943 DCC/Sound (check video to make sure)
01:01 - Q&A - Virtual Railfan - Flagstaff AZ
- Alco products? several Janek would like, what do people want?
- any more Wabash grey/blue? maybe next F unit run
- SD60M - another run coming in 2021
- MBTA HSP46 - difficult to do given tooling costs vs only one railroad/owner, might be something for 3D printing
- ACF 4600's, what future roadnames - ?
- Port Harbor 8955 GP40-2 first responder unit - seems they have the tooling, lots of photos online, good choice
- tank train cars - rerun in 2021
- Pan Am GP40-2 - Pan Am bought by CSX, more wide cab GP40-2 coming soon
- GP38-2/GP40-2 Seaboard patched for CSX - good idea when they do Seaboard units
- need more Kodachrome - Yes, wide variety coming in 2021
- MEC chop noses - absolutely, Janek working on it - improved MEC color chips should fix future runs
 

 

Athearn Train Tuesday - December 8th 2020

Next week - special guest George from Soundtraxx, will discuss the RTR SD40 and accept Soundtraxx questions
Jim alone today


00:03 - Genesis PS 2893
00:08 - RTR 50' FMC Offset
00:13 - RTR Bathtub Gons
00:18 - In stock/coming soon
- SD80MAC - early January
- GP40-2 - January
- Bulkhead flats - in stock
- GP7 - in stock
- 53' Reefers - in stock
- discussion of job opening
- discussion of photo contest
00:48 Q&A - Virtual Railfan Revelstoke BC
- open autoracks - good idea, need to discuss with Janek
- Pan Am heritage units - if enough requests would consider them
- low nose GP18/Canadian GP9u/Canadian GP9RM - looking into
- will be setting up a suggestion email address soon
- rerun of fire engines - stay tuned
- Roundhouse steam locos again - looked into, maybe 2021
- plans for expanding freight car line - not at this time, but taking suggestions
- ONE Pink Containers - stay tuned

 

 

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From Rapido's Twitter feed, Jason did an interview with a YouTube podcaster (a teenager, showing there are younger people in the hobby)

Took some notes, possible errors, all dates are from recording date whenever that was

  • talks general timelines to bring a model to market, how available research materials impact things
  • Rohr Turboliner is going to tooling
  • PA samples on way
  • D10 samples being assembled in China, should arrive before Christmas
  • the UK GWR1600 steam loco tooling was 1/3 the cost of the Royal Hudson tooling - North American steam has a lot more parts
  • CN H-6 - likely set an order deadline of a month after the D10 arrives so people can see the D10 in operation
  • guesses 2/3 to 3/4 of Royal Hudson models were for a display case - people don't want to buy workhorses like D10/H-6 for a display case
  • next all new steam loco (after D10/possible H-6/regular Hudson) - something shiny that people will want in a display case
  • M420 - leaving factory in 8 days
  • BC Rail M420 - only shared parts with CN M420 is the trucks, everything else would need to be all new tooling
  • may try and go the Turboliner route for a BC Rail M420 - open up to orders, if they don't meet a needed number they won't proceed
  • undecorated models days are numbered - not enough people ordering them
  • will do un-numbered models in batches of 6
  • F40PH - the only paint scheme to not make it was VRE (I think)
  • sold more LRC cars than all the NH cars combined
  • March/April -ish will see another batch of 2 unannounced product reruns used to make the factory happy, small production number to be sold until sold out.
  • Jason needs Canadian 40' and 50' boxcars for his layout

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

During an online event hosted by a retailer tonight InterMountain showed a painted sample of the long ago announced GP16, so it really is coming.  There will be 16 paint schemes to be announced soon-ish.

 

As well they have worked out the issues with their 3 suppliers so stuff should start arriving more regularly, and one of the first things is their wheelsets are in stock again.

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Rapido Trains - MB Klein / modeltrainstuff.com virtual event - February 2nd, 2021

possible errors by me making notes

  • handrails - $8k to $10k for molds to inject plastic stanchions around the handrail
  • F59PH - GO sold well, other not so well - others selling better with the Bi-Levels announced
  • Bi-Levels - in tooling, early to mid April samples expected
  • Bi-Levels - won't make money on first run given how complicated a project it is
  • SW1200 - arriving in 2 batches, first batch end of April, 2nd batch 30 to 60 days later
  • later phase/commuter F40's - in production - biggest seller Amtrak (12 numbers), but Ski Train with 3 numbers strong 2nd place
  • 4th factory comes online next month
  • each Rapido factory about 70 people - nearby Athearn and ScaleTrains factories much larger with 100's of people
  • 5th factory for a new product line starting up in April (expect product announcement then)
  • Amtrak Turboliners - tooling just started, samples expected May
  • E8 - most successful Rapido project launch ever
  • F30* - best selling Rapido freight car
  • goal - by 2022 having a freight car (new tooling or additional release) each month
  • new tool freight car announcement next week
  • X72 / B100 samples very soon
  • CN H-6 steam - new marketing will be done once D10 arrives
  • Q&A from viewers:
  • designing a new Canadian passenger car (revealed in discussion of project process)
  • production - takes 3 to 6 months, first month taken up with ordering supplies, setting up paint masks, etc.
  • production - then cutting parts off sprues - freight cars typically 10k units...
  • buses - very pad printing intensive, factory works on them during slow periods given low profit vs train items
  • N scale fishbowl bus - thought about, high on list
  • N scale RDC's - though about, not certain, warming up to
  • U33C/U30C - U boats in general have come up, lots of early GE fans at Rapido
  • Alco RS3, C628 - if someone else has done a good model recently then won't happen, but stuff that hasn't been done in decades and their is room for improvement like the C424 would be fair game
  • B36 - look into another run
  • BC Rail RS18u - unlikely, problem with BC Rail (in general) is that they did things unique so models need extensive tooling for just BC Rail version - example, the RS18u would be almost entirely new tooling compared to CP version which had greater numbers and longer life
  • BC Rail - but if someone wants to give Rapido $95kUS they could do the BC Rail M420
  • next run M420 - 3500 series
  • F40PH2-CAT - extended frame, thus all new tooling, don't think sell enough
  • commuter modellers are dedicated, but there aren't enough of them to make many projects feasible
  • Amtrak Talgo - would be interesting
  • F40PH phase 3 with quiet fans - maybe in a couple of years
  • passenger cars cost almost the same to tool as a loco, but sell for much less than a loco - this is why foobies are necessary
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Rapido has just announced that the Alco PA-1/ PB-1 will now come with ESU sound decoders instead of the planned TCS decoder.

 

The order deadline is April 15th so people have time to change between sound or no sound orders if this changes their plans.

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ScaleTrains - February 11th 2021 - Q&A

 

very likely errors - moving very fast at times

 

new email address for suggestions - ideas@scaletrains.com

 

- MTH - NYC steam upgraded to Rivet Counter?
- MTH - won't see to many external changes, maybe a few minor things
- aware from time at Athearn and the Front Range GP7/9, Tower 55 acquisitions that often better off tooling from scratch
- what first from MTH? Daylight
- S scale? freight car first, then maybe some locos.
- S scale - if goes well maybe some new tooling
- some MTH tooling could become a new sub-brand
- Big Blow Turbine - #28 Museum Quality, working on tooling
- Big Blow Turbine - #6, #18, #26, #30 rerun - announce this spring, eta early 2022
- SD40-2 with ditchlights - sooner rather than later, next run likely March announcement (SF, MILW, Admiral Cabs), eta later this year
- SD40-2 - tons of new variations being tooled - ICG, etc.
- SD45 - this spring announcement, Southern - eta later this year
- C39 - announcement later this year, eta 2022
- SF Dash-9 - aware of paint color complaints, have new paint chips to use in future runs
- AC4400 - natural extension, but more Dash-9 first
- can't share specifics of projects they are working on
- items other than rolling stock? - working on trailer, hoping announce this year
- like to get into structures
- replacement parts - support@scaletrains.com
- wheels & couplers - this spring (some already in warehouse, just need to add to website)
- offer retrofit kits for MTH?  maybe, depends on how complicated the switch would be
- auto racks, tank cars, coil cars in Kit Classics - unlikely, need few parts to keep costs down
- 4-axle diesel - in the works, no timeline yet, hopefully this year
- most rewarding part of owning model railroad company - meeting fellow modelers, see ScaleTrains products on layouts
- weathered models - not really practical
- unnumbered models - problem is decals, lots of leftover decals in warehouse, maybe in future with no decals
- why start ScaleTrains - Mike & Shane @Athearn, Atlanta NTS joked cool to have own business, went from there.
- why? - lots of projects wanted to do @Athearn but couldn't get approval
- like to product but can't? - how close is close enough - some items require tooling that wouldn't be paid for by sales, would a 90% accurate loco be okay?
- Kit Classics locos? - price point would be at Operator level, so no
- ScaleTrains is hiring - 2 or 3 product development, later on product support and shipping
- if someone willing to pay for tooling?  yes, would consider it - recently had discussions for an S scale item and 2 O scale items
- tooling costs - new locos average $200k plus, freight car $60k to $100k
- moving location for MTH acquisition - not likely, exploring options - addition or new building on property, or ?
- shirts ? yes, new website and logo coming, then shirts and hats
- 3D printing - not there yet, too slow for mass production, not in the near future
- new retailers? - email now to be added to list for later this year (didn't get email address)
- gunderson covered hopper - greatly exceeded expectations
- dummies - little in way of savings, detail parts assembly driving costs
- smoke units in steam locos - yes
- Freight Car America aggregate hoppers - trying for 6 years to get a contact at Freight Car America, if anyone can help email ScaleTrains
- open house - they had visitors from 20 states and 4 countries, would like to do again when safe to do so
- CSX pride locos - so far $5k to each of the 5 charities (total $25k), when next locos arrive additional $1k to each of the charities
- SDL39 demand?  already at 90% of expectations and most dealer orders not yet in
- makes more obscure items possible in future
- coming up to 7th anniversary
- will company be constrained by MTH purchase? no, have already added capacity at factory, full steam ahead
- over 20 non-MTH all-new-projects in pipeline currently (no eta)
- loyalty program in future
- hobby dying? they don't think so, made major commitment yesterday
- contacted by 6 shows for this summer
- undecorated? - factory can't pack them properly, sales very low, don't know the future
- late this year for first MTH product announcement(s)

 

 

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No online survey, so response to their suggestion email, but Athearn at the end of today's Train Tuesday asked about interest in new steam locos in their Genesis line - do people model steam, do they want more steam models, and what models are they interested in.

 

Anyone who wants to provide feedback can do so to their product suggestion email:

athearn-productsuggestions@athearn.com

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Posted to an email list:

 

Quote

In The Pipeline: A New HO Scale Santa Fe Prototype Model

Sometime next month a major manufacture will announce a new, plastic R-T-R HO scale model of a Santa Fe freight car from the early and second-generation diesel eras.

This will be an accurate, highly detailed model developed from official engineering drawings and photographs. With small effort this car can be kit-bashed into other Santa Fe prototypes.

For me personally it represents a five-year quest to bring this car into the market. Along the way I was joined by a small group of very knowledgeable modelers and researchers who contributed greatly to this project.

Expect an announcement from the manufacturer around March 15.

Bob Chaparro

Moderator

Railroad Citrus Industry Modeling Group

 

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Online Canadian Train Show - Sunday 21st February

 

Rapido starts at the 1h40m point, on for an hour

 

  • starts with a joke, Jason telling Jordon that they aren't making the Krauss-Maffei locos, Jordon saying wants to
  • HO New Look buses should cost $100+ due to the labor involved in making, hence why the factory prioritizes other projects
  • RS-10 8558 will be done at some point in the future
  • NSC Barrel Ore Car - in tooling, samples end of April-ish
  • why do something already done? some of their better sellers have been projects people said there was no point in doing
  • example, RDC - over 15k sold so far
  • E8's - fastest selling model for Rapido yet
  • E8 tooling starts next week, samples in approx 2 months
  • E8 order deadline July-ish
  • but Amtrak special edition E8 will go into production June-ish, with delivery late summer/early fall
  • RS-18u/RSC-14 - tooling done before Chinese New Year (CNY), samples soon as factories restart
  • CNY caused real problems this year as employees starting leaving in December to avoid the crowded conditions due to Covid fears
  • as result, 2nd week January one factory was down from 70 employees to 20, this has caused delays
  • RS-18u/RSC-14 likely order deadline May/June
  • they have full blueprints for RSC-24 due to person in the Maritimes who allowed them to copy them, but unlikely to ever make given only 4 prototypes ever made
  • but in general they are always looking for accurate drawings/good photos to help with potential future projects
  • in particularly, would really, really like accurate drawings for the 1937 CN balloon top cars - they have floorplans but need all the other stuff (underbody, etc)
  • CP freight car coming, design is done, maybe announced before summer
  • one reason for new interest in freight cars is ability to always have something to sell - some of their items need 4+ years between runs which isn't good for cash flow
  • when Jordan joined in 2016 they had a 3 month gap between deliveries.
  • EP-5 - 2nd run won't be for 6+ years, will take that long to allow demand to build up - hence why it costs so much, all costs need to be paid by first run
  • FPA-4 - maybe soon for another run, but don't think demand is sufficient yet.
  • VIA Rail Historical Association (VHA) - goal to have equipment certified to current Transport Canada standards so can actually run / be used
  • 2028 will be VIA's 50th, VHA would like to have several items ready by then so VIA can use them across Canada
  • looking for volunteers to help run the VHA - if interested send email to VHA, though response may take a while given a current lack of volunteers
  • D10 - Dan currently painting it and installing sound, then film a video
  • D10 - order deadline likely this spring
  • Procor tank car in production, aiming for this spring arrival
  • Meat Reefer - leave China late March hopefully
  • 3rd factory should be starting up now that CNY ending, first product will be the X31A
  • new run of the Turbo is required, but no timeframe.

 

 

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