Athearn Announcements May 31, 2024

[Mark5]

1. N F89-F Bi-Level Auto Rack  https://www.athearn.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-athearn-us-Library/default/dwe89d7450/announcements/june-2024/03_GENN_F89F_AutoRack_052424.pdf

I think they got me with those side guard racks (NW) ...

2. N 50ft FMC 5277 Box Car  https://www.athearn.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-athearn-us-Library/default/dw8f23b8de/announcements/june-2024/06_ATHN_50ft_FMC_5277_052424.pdf

Mark

[garethashenden]

I think they got me with those side guard racks (NW) ...

At least they're labeling it as a foobie.

[lock4244]

Partially enclosed autoracks get me going pretty squirrely. There was some real variety in racks in my era (Ontario late 80's); open, mesh sides (CN and CP cars only), partially enclosed with vandal panels, fully enclosed. I'm not sure these fit the bill, but I suppose they're better than nothing. The Southern white sided cars appear to be somewhat accurate, seen a few in old vids from late 80's or very early 90's and they are white. Can't say I've seen a proto for the N&W. RI car, while very cool, would not have been around by my era.

That price though.

[jagged ben]

It's kind of a shame because N scale really does need partially enclosed auto-racks, but this was not a very typical prototype.  When I got my Southern one from the previous run I was disappointed because it wasn't what I was expecting, but later on I researched some photos and found it to be accurate, including the white color of the panels (although they are modeled a bit thickly).  But most prototypes looked rather different in the details, mainly having unpainted galvanized panels.  We really need more like the ESM/MT collaboration, or someone to make good etched panels as an aftermarket product.  And we need a tri-level.   To date I think this will be only the third commercial release of a partially enclosed autorack in N.  I would definitely pay the street price these will have for a quality product.

[Dwight in Toronto]

@lock4244
When I was a high school student (David & Mary Thompson), a drop-out friend used to come around and recruit some of us for the occasional low-paying, but hugely fun and exciting after-hours jobs.  He worked for a guy who would buy collector cars at the Cooksville auto auction by day, and then needed drivers to pick up his purchases in the west end, drive back east across the 401, and load them onto auto racks in the yard just south of Warden and Eglinton.

Damn, it was fun … Corvettes of all vintages, Barracudas, Novas; we even had three E-Type Jags once, and a late ‘40’s Bently limo (it had a velvet curtain to pull across the back so the driver couldn’t glance in, and small signal levers that flopped out of the door pillars as turn signals).

Relatively expensive autos, mostly muscle cars, that we would tie down on the auto racks in prep for shipment to Vancouver.  Can you imagine entrusting all of this to a bunch of yahoo 17 year olds with literally only a few MONTHS of driving experience!  On my very first trip I was given the keys to a manual shift Camaro - I learned to drive a standard that night (it was NOT a pretty sight; that poor car!). 

Anyways, thought you’d enjoy the story ‘cause you know the ‘hood!

[Mark5]

At least they're labeling it as a foobie.

Thanks for pointing that out. 

The real TTBX 910533 is an F89-GH with a Darby rack (NW Norfolk & Western)

[Mark5]

Can't say I've seen a proto for the N&W.

If you registered at railcarphotos, you can see TTBX 910533 https://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=67906

And TTBX 965306 https://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=46177

That price though.

Better hope for a big discount 

[jagged ben]

Wow, so the information checking is an absolute mess again.   The eras are half wrong, too, since the yellow Trailer Train scheme debuted in 1970. 

Namely...
The NW car apparently shouldn't have the 'Legendary Liveries' foob tag after all.
The Frisco and Southern eras should be 70s, not 60s.
The CB&Q era should be 60s not 70s
'The Rock' paint scheme debuted in '75, so they could have said 1975+.

[jagged ben]

Well, I take it back about the NW not being a foob.  Here's the Southern prototype and model.
http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/freight/autorack/930213.jpg
https://www.trovestar.com/generic/zoom.php?id=132001

It's rather different.  And an accurate model of the NW version would be a better stand-in for so many other prototypes, as I alluded to above.

[Mark5]

Here's the Southern prototype and model.
http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/freight/autorack/930213.jpg
https://www.trovestar.com/generic/zoom.php?id=132001

Eyeballing the proto photo, I gotta think those side panels should be silver. 

Maybe they'll fix that on this run.

[C855B]

I like the idea of auto racks, but the reality of modeling them in my preferred era (~1970) means open racks, which implies they need to be populated. Vehicle models from that era are few and far between, at least RTR, and if they were, every loaded rack would cost well north of $100. Non-RTR (3D printer output)... well... you know... do you want to be tasked with painting/detailing 50 or so automobiles just so a handful of nicely modeled railcars don't look like toys?

Of course empty racks moved around the country, but what I recall from railfanning in that era is that loads were what one noticed.

This was the issue that stopped me from acquiring these cars on the previous run, and obviously I'm still dealing with the same quandary.

[DirtyD79]

They got some nice HO scale stuff too like FMC 5277 50 foot boxcars and the 50 ft. exterior post high cube plug door boxcars. I like the 20 foot tank containers and drop frame chassis too. Yeah, some of the boxcars are foobies but the foobies pay for the more prototypical stuff otherwise ***** would be selling for like a hundred bucks a pop and I ain't down with that.

[jagged ben]

I like the idea of auto racks, but the reality of modeling them in my preferred era (~1970) means open racks, which implies they need to be populated. Vehicle models from that era are few and far between, at least RTR, and if they were, every loaded rack would cost well north of $100. Non-RTR (3D printer output)... well... you know... do you want to be tasked with painting/detailing 50 or so automobiles just so a handful of nicely modeled railcars don't look like toys?

Of course empty racks moved around the country, but what I recall from railfanning in that era is that loads were what one noticed.

This was the issue that stopped me from acquiring these cars on the previous run, and obviously I'm still dealing with the same quandary.

Awww come one, just look for a deal on one of these one eBay and repurpose the autos.
https://www.trovestar.com/generic/zoom.php?id=122880
 

[jagged ben]

Honestly I spent an embarrassing amount on the recently released Atlas Ford Fairmonts to populate an Athearn open tri-level, but it looks effin great.    These did often run as loners in mixed freight in 1970.  So buy two, and spend the money on vehicles for one, and run the other empty.  You won't be sorry.  I do commiserate on the question of vehicles for ~1970, but if Classic Metal Works has nothing acceptable, and you need to go for 3d printed, it's just 8-10 trucks for a bilevel.  No need to commit to 50.

[cfritschle]

Awww come one, just look for a deal on one of these one eBay and repurpose the autos.
https://www.trovestar.com/generic/zoom.php?id=122880
 

Those 1968 Fords shown on the old Arnold Rapido auto rack can be improved with some wheels that are somewhat larger in size.  The wheels that come with the model are best suited for a small compact! 

This 1968 Ford station wagon from Boyd ($0.89 for a 4-pack in my 1968 AHC catalog) has wheels from a 1:150 scale Tomix Toyota Crown.  The silver paint for the bumper and grille was applied in 1968, and obviously is in need of a touch up.