Atlas buys Walthers tooling

[jpwisc]

If Atlas does update the cryogenic reefers, since they need a new frame and underbody, maybe they could add sound to it as well. I love that Athearn did that on their reefers. It’s nice to have some audio in the middle of the train. When railfanning you hear the reefers running all the time.

[Cumbo2000]

So what would that include in regards to freight rolling stock?


Log flats
Difco side dump
Russel plow
Coil car
OB auto box
NACC insulated boxes
Greenville 100T
Cyro reefer
GSC Commonwealth flats
GSC Commonwealth bulkhead flats
Pulpwood flats
PD Hopper
PS 4427
Bay window caboose

What am I missing?

fixed a micro-font issue - gfh

The Life-Like version of the Northeastern caboose WM/RDG/CNJ/ etc. prototype.

Bob Witt

[cjm413]

Was the Life-Like F40PH included?

With a new drive and a few upgrades, it may be a viable Trainman-quality Phase I F40PH that Kato or Rapido probably won't release in N in the near future

[peteski]

Was the Life-Like F40PH included?

With a new drive and a few upgrades, it may be a viable Trainman-quality Phase I F40PH that Kato or Rapido probably won't release in N in the near future

Kato never makes "Trainman-quality" variants of their models. Neither does Rapido.  So you are correct, I doubt that either would ever make such model.  But Kato's F40PH is a very good looking model, runs like a Swiss watch, and its street price is not that much more than Atlas Trainman models.  I guess time will tell what Atlas does with the molds they acquired.  Even if they did what you are hoping for, I would still rather have a Kato.

[peteski]

I wonder if Walthers will drop N everything .

Not sure what you mean. Walthers sold all of their N scale rolling stock and locomotive tooling.  But they stated that they will still manufacture N scale structure models. That statement is posted in the thread about the NSE convention going on now.

[cjm413]

Kato never makes "Trainman-quality" variants of their models. Neither does Rapido.  So you are correct, I doubt that either would ever make such model.  But Kato's F40PH is a very good looking model, runs like a Swiss watch, and its street price is not that much more than Atlas Trainman models.  I guess time will tell what Atlas does with the molds they acquired.  Even if they did what you are hoping for, I would still rather have a Kato.

No $#!+ Sherlock, nobody expects Kato or Rapido to offer any new products to actively compete with the Atlas Trainman line of products.   

A Phase I F40PH from any manufacturer is another story, whether Kato, Rapido, or an upgraded version of the old Life-Like F40PH...assuming it still exists and was included in the sale...

[peteski]

No $#!+ Sherlock, nobody expects Kato or Rapido to offer any new products to actively compete with the Atlas Trainman line of products.   

A Phase I F40PH from any manufacturer is another story, whether Kato, Rapido, or an upgraded version of the old Life-Like F40PH...assuming it still exists and was included in the sale...

Sorry to have ruffled your feathers.

I guess the "Phase I" part think eluded me.  Are you talking about the Amtrak paint scheme, specific body details, or both?  I would not expect the all the variation of that model as done by Rapido in H0 ever rendered in N scale. But one could dream.

Back around 25 years ago, using the Model Power F40PH body (that was before the Life Like model was produced), and then-new Bachmann GP40 mechanism, I modeled few phases of Amtrak locos.    While not 100% true to the prototype, I did model different underbody bits (fuel and air tanks, batttery boxes) and paint jobs.  They looked pretty good.

[cjm413]

Sorry to have ruffled your feathers.

I guess the "Phase I" part think eluded me.  Are you talking about the Amtrak paint scheme, specific body details, or both?  I would not expect the all the variation of that model as done by Rapido in H0 ever rendered in N scale. But one could dream.

Back around 25 years ago, using the Model Power F40PH body (that was before the Life Like model was produced), and then-new Bachmann GP40 mechanism, I modeled few phases of Amtrak locos.    While not 100% true to the prototype, I did model different underbody bits (fuel and air tanks, batttery boxes) and paint jobs.  They looked pretty good.

Phase I as in EMD phase of production.   Amtrak had already adopted the Phase II paint scheme when these started showing up.

[hnipper]

+1 

+1 more about the speedlettering, especially!

[jagged ben]

Oh hey...

I wonder if this includes the containers.
40' logo-panel hi-cube - sure would be nice to see some new schemes on this one.
and
48' exterior post (but it's an inferior model to the ones MT is now pumping out).

[wes_sutton]

I think Walthers proved that they couldn't sell to the N market at the prices they thought.

Atlas' tendency to rerun ad-infinitum with a new paint scheme should keep them busy for another 20 years, and the paint quality is first rate even if some of the older tooling isn't.  There are gems and stumps in there.  It doesn't solve the problem of Chinese production unless, by some miracle, this deal actually includes all the tooling and it can be relocated to another production site.   

Hmmm.   I've had a bunch of SW's, the Berk, a 424 (original Canadian), GP20.   The only flaw I ever attributed to all LL production was an odd wheel alloy that got better tractive effort than slippery Atlas, but tended to corrode up and seemed to need cleaning more, then fine for a long time. 

Just think.  Atlas now has a PA.  And the real historic mess of all LL- NO FREAKIN PARTS - might be addressed as well.

But on the downside, the incentive to invest more money in any completely new tooling?  Well.... you may never see that RSD15 at least from them.

The Atlas comminque specifically states Walthers and LL tooling as part of the deal.

You make a very good point that no-one else has about keeping Atlas busy for the next 20 years. Atlas's N scale output while steady is hardly herculean these days and to keep their fans happy with the new tooling over the next twenty years they would have to either double their output or cut back heavily on their existing model line.

I'd rather see a RSD-15 from Atlas than some of the former Life Like clunkers given a new lease on life.

[jdcolombo]

I'd rather see a RSD-15 from Atlas than some of the former Life Like clunkers given a new lease on life.

Just remember that your clunker might be someone else's diamond.

John C.

[nkalanaga]

I'll be looking for the 50 ft auto box, as it's very useful for the early BN.  A few more log cars wouldn't hurt, and I have lettering for my logging company, so there's another possible purchase.  And another side-dump car would be nice, for my work train.

[Chris333]

This means the AS616 can't be far away? 

[cfritschle]

If Atlas does update the cryogenic reefers, since they need a new frame and underbody, maybe they could add sound to it as well. I love that Athearn did that on their reefers. It’s nice to have some audio in the middle of the train. When railfanning you hear the reefers running all the time.

The Walthers model was of the original cryogenic reefers that were cooled with carbon dioxide "flakes" that sublimed from solid carbon dioxide to carbon dioxide gas.  I am not sure if there would be any "sound" associated with that process.

However, many, if not all, of those cars were rebuild into mechanical reefers, and I would really like to see that version, with or without sound!