New Product Ideas (O, HO, & N)

To All:

Several of us have made contacts with various manufacturers that have produced some great new models which have either been released or are announced for delivery next year. Having said that I would like feedback from all of you about more products you would like to see produced in the next year or two. From my perspective, I need for you to limit your requests to either Atlas or Athearn. I know others on the forum have made inroads with other manufacturers and they can weigh in here if they want. Below are the parameters that I need for you to please follow. They affect all scales.

(1) Only request products produced by either Atlas or Athearn (unless other choose to weigh in)
(2) Limit your requests to models that the above companies currently have molds for.
(3) Be sure that the requested model is reasonably accurate for the Frisco or related subsidiaries (i.e. the Atlas caboose is close to prototypical but has the wrong cupola).
(4) This can be a model that was previously produced but would warrant a re-run in possibly an improved or upgraded version. An example would be the SW1500 from Athearn now that the color has been corrected.

I will go through the list of ideas and let everyone know if I get any positive feedback from the manufacturers.

Thanks in Advance,

 

Atlas, 36' Foot Frisco Box/Ventilation and Refrigerator cars.

Athearn 30' foot flat cars

 

HO scale:

Athearn F7A/F7B in the Genesis line with the Highliner shell. Either in b/y or o/w.

Failing that, an Athearn F7A/F7B in the Ready-to-Roll line using the Blue Box shell. Again either in b/y or in o/w.

Rich

 

Manny:

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't find a 30' flat car listed in Athearn's regular line and only a 36' Refrigerator car in Atlas's line, not a boxcar. To make this happen I will need someone to supply me several quality clear photographs and/or detailed lettering diagrams.

In the case of cars of the era that I believe that you are modeling, possibly the old MDC Roundhouse line would be a better option as it does have a 30' flatcar. Again I will need the same kind of drawings unless they choose to do a "foobie" car.

I do realize that MDC/Roundhouse is a division of Athearn.

 

To All:

Please specify the scaleof the models that you are requesting, i.e. HO Alco RS-2 in the B/Y scheme with the Roman lettering.

Thanks in advance,

 

SW1500 in HO scale.

 

Thank you for your reply. Yes, you are correct. My bad.

Atlas is a 36' Refrigerator. Athearn did make a 30' flat. It may have been shifted off to Roundhouse. Roundhouse does have a 30' flat.

I think I can help you out with drawings. Let me check on that.

No, I wouldn't want "foobies". If you're going to do it, do it right or go home.

 

Manny:

Get me the drawings and/or photos and I will submit them for you. It might be nice to get an offering or two from that era.

 

Ditto on the Alco S-2 with Roman lettering

Also:

Walthers:
Troop Sleeper configured as a baggage car Pullman Green and Silver MOW
Frisco had the both door versions boxcar styled door or baggage door

Pullmans in red/silver or shadow-lined

This last Walthers wish would require a bit of retooling, but would be useful for their other roads as well. Walthers needs to produce a arched/turtle back roof for their hvywt chair cars and head-end cars

 

Athearn does offer a round (turtleback) roofed heavyweight coach:

http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH78775

Rich

 

I would like to see a 14-4 lightweight Pullman-Standard sleeper in smooth side and with stainless trim. I realize there are variations, but 14-4 cars were purchased by Frisco, Katy, MP, B&O, Southern and KCS that I know of. For this reason a 14-4 car should appeal to a broad spectrum of modelers.

GS

 

More request. I don't know how relevant the Frisco SD38-2's are to the Athearn SD38, but maybe a run of those. Also I'm in favor of Heavy weight passenger cars in Green and Gold passenger car. I need a few for my layout and no one makes them. And one last interesting piece I would like to see, one of the cranes they make painted for the Frisco.

Thanks for the consideration

Ethan

 

Here's another idea for HO scale: How about an Athearn 40' double door steel box car done in this paint scheme:

http://www.frisco.org/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=9198&d=1255815053

I realize that this isn't 100% accurate but would add some variety to a late steam or steam/diesel transition roster. If they insisted on doing a splashier scheme, they could paint it like the boxcar on page 262 of Collias' Frisco Power.

Ken, I like the idea of a Genesis F9B, but I don't think that Athearn releases stand alone B units. How about a F9A/F9B set? The Frisco had 2 F9A's rebuilt from F3A's. Like others, I prefer the black & yellow scheme, but sooner or later I would like to see an F unit in orange & white.

This is a longshot but how about a 2-6-0 from the Roundhouse line?

Rich

 

Those Athearn cars are 70' shorties and closest to SLSF chair cars 768 and 769, which were the only 70' steel chair cars. However the roof profiles are very low similar to the Reading RR cars and don't look very "Frisco-esque."

Tom

 

Tom is right about 768 and 769 being close in length to the Athearn model. Here's a diagram:

http://www.frisco.org/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=2457&d=1140803040

It fits the bill as far as having a turtleback roof and single (unpaired) windows. However, it appears to be a "divided" coach with a blank space on the outside where the partition is.

Rich

 

The Athearn car roof profile is really too low profile for the Frisco company turtle back roof.

Tom

 

Here's Arthur Johnson's 1964 picture of #769.

Tom