Atlas new N scale model announcement

[thomasjmdavis]

The NACC car was announced I believe, but hasn't been released yet. I brought up some issues with the old Walthers tooling, and they were looking at whether it was possible to fix it (there were some areas of the car where the rivets were 6" tall.)

I have no need for that car, but I HOPE that with future releases of former Walthers tooling, Atlas makes a point of releasing information on how they are addressing issues with the old tooling.  I was set to buy several of the 50' single sheathed double door cars, but there was no indication anywhere on what, if anything, they were doing to address the warped doors and other issues with those cars.  The original release by Walthers disappointed a lot of folks, and even an email brought no response.  I did not pre-order, and apparently no one else did either, resulting in the release being canceled.  Maybe someday.

[ednadolski]

FWIW, the announcement does say ALL-NEW models.   To make it easy for them, I'll restrict my wish list to Master Line freight cars they already make in HO (all modern, of course),

"At the show, Atlas will be announcing THREE ALL-NEW PRODUCTS in N, HO & O Scales."

Atlas does sometimes re-use the same designs across scales (like the Evans 53' boxcar and the 17600 corn syrup tank car).   So I wonder if that actually means the same model in three scales; if so then an already existing HO model seems less likely.   It could also mean (say) one of the models that you mentioned in either N or O scales, and something else new in HO scales; or even something completely different in each scale.   We'll just have to wait and see.

(I would hope for the 73' centerbeam in O scale, as long as it is not a Trainmaster (aka Chunkymaster) level...  There are plenty of gaps in O scale, esp. modern era.)

Ed

Edit: we seem to be presuming a freight car, but it could be anything from track (even a code 40 line in N scale, lol) to signals to structures....

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I have no need for that car, but I HOPE that with future releases of former Walthers tooling, Atlas makes a point of releasing information on how they are addressing issues with the old tooling.  I was set to buy several of the 50' single sheathed double door cars, but there was no indication anywhere on what, if anything, they were doing to address the warped doors and other issues with those cars.  The original release by Walthers disappointed a lot of folks, and even an email brought no response.  I did not pre-order, and apparently no one else did either, resulting in the release being canceled.  Maybe someday.

The warped doors were entirely due to Walthers using the wrong glue. I can guarantee this will not be an issue with the rerelease. I didn't even realize they had scheduled this car.

[basementcalling]

I interpret All New as a never before offered product, though not neccessarily the same one in all 3 scales.

If All New Product is a Walthers retool, that is not accurate billing in my version of the English language.

Intermodal would make sense if Atlas wants to sell more of their containers.  I'd hope they give Scale Trains a bit more space in the market before doing the Multi Max auto racks in N. Last thing we need right now is duplication on such an expensive offering.

No one has mentioned a tank car possibility, and it's not like their are not plenty of those to choose from in all 3 scales.

[learmoia]

I have no need for that car, but I HOPE that with future releases of former Walthers tooling, Atlas makes a point of releasing information on how they are addressing issues with the old tooling.  I was set to buy several of the 50' single sheathed double door cars, but there was no indication anywhere on what, if anything, they were doing to address the warped doors and other issues with those cars.  The original release by Walthers disappointed a lot of folks, and even an email brought no response.  I did not pre-order, and apparently no one else did either, resulting in the release being canceled.  Maybe someday.

Did Atlas ever say the reason to cancel was a lack of Pre-Orders?..
Or, are we assuming.. and maybe it was a production issue?

[thomasjmdavis]

The warped doors were entirely due to Walthers using the wrong glue. I can guarantee this will not be an issue with the rerelease. I didn't even realize they had scheduled this car.

In the case of the ones I have, not so much "wrong" glue as that they used enough to assemble one at 1:1 scale.

Turns out the announcement "due date" was only 2 years ago (seems longer, but then, 2020 was a very long year).
http://archive.atlasrr.com/NFreight/arc-n50ssboxcar.htm (note that it is marked "run cancelled")

Certainly not my intention to "bash" Atlas over this.  But I think if they are going to bring out new versions of older Life-Like/Walthers tooling that had identifiable issues, they will be well served to be clear and "loud" about the improvements they are making, especially given the doubling and tripling of MSRP on rolling stock since the Walthers days.  When the 50' cars were announced, I was hoping to read that they were being brought up to a standard similar to the Atlas USRA cars.  But if such announcements were ever made (beyond "free rolling trucks and knuckle couplers" noted on the product page), they never made it to my ears or email inbox. 

The conversation has inspired me to pull an old Walthers car out of my junk pile and I've discovered that while they used enough glue to warp the doors (and to a lesser degree, the sides), it really crappy glue, and with the aid of an Xacto cutting through the glue from the inside, I have managed to remove the doors without destroying the sides.  I figured I might get away with it when I realized the end panel was de-laminating due to the glue having dried out to the point of failure. (they had one replace-able end to allow for end doors on some cars).

[Missaberoad]

Did Atlas ever say the reason to cancel was a lack of Pre-Orders?..
Or, are we assuming.. and maybe it was a production issue?

Lack of interest was the reason given, with the possibility of a future release.

[GaryHinshaw]

Atlas does sometimes re-use the same designs across scales (like the Evans 53' boxcar and the 17600 corn syrup tank car).

Actually more than half of their HO Master freight cars are also offered in N, so lots of precedent there.  It makes sense when they already have the research and artwork done.  In any event, my post was not meant as speculation - just a wish list. 

[greenwizard88]

A retooled F40PH might be possible, but that would need a lot of work - new fans, pilot, chassis, cab glass. I think it would just be easier to make totally new tooling. I think it could make for a good Trainman line engine though.

I hope not. I'm quite patiently waiting for Rapido to make one with all of the bells and whistles and lights (ditch lights, strobes, ground, etc) of their HO scale one. Having one from Kato, and another from Altas, would put a crimp in my plans.

[thomasjmdavis]

Did Atlas ever say the reason to cancel was a lack of Pre-Orders?..
Or, are we assuming.. and maybe it was a production issue?

I asked the same question on a forum here 2 years ago, and got this response from @EmdFan , who I assume, due to the context of his remarks, was speaking on behalf of Atlas:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=46961.msg627468#msg627468

It was lack of orders. We knew the car was a bit...generic, shall we say? But we were hoping enough folks would be interested regardless. Maybe we'll shelve it for a while then try again at a later date. We were going to tweak the mold a bit to fix the known issues had there been enough demand.

I think I have taken this thread far enough down the rabbit hole.  If/when I get some new doors on my old Walthers cars, I will start up a thread for those cars.  Now back to our regularly scheduled prognostications on the upcoming Atlas announcement.

[wazzou]

I had originally purchased two of those.  One in GN and the other in NP. 
The plastic was unusually soft, the doors in particular.  I tried to remove the doors from the worst of the two and I actually tore them.
The other one, I braced from the inside with thick Styrene strip to some good affect but the doors are still concaved.

[peteski]

If All New Product is a Walthers retool, that is not accurate billing in my version of the English language.

It wouldn't even have to be a retool. I would expect this type of stuff from any salesperson.  They result to all sorts of "almost lies" to drum up the hype.  Or even use photos of H0 models to depict N scale offerings. The English language is there to be bent.     Typical sales stuff.  Yes, I'm generalizing, but it happens often.

[PRSL66]

C'mon Alco  C424/425....please!!!
 

[CBQ Fan]

C'mon Alco  C424/425....please!!!
 

I’d be in for the SP&S units.

[learmoia]

I think I got a sneak peak this morning having access as a dealer with a booth..

I won't say what it is.. but scanning through comments..
I don't think anyone has guessed correctly..
It IS brand new tooling..
I think It will be well received.
I will buy a couple.. when released in the correct road name.