Redesigned layout

Ethan:

Recently you have heard mention of he discontinuance of Athearn "Blue Box" kits. Back in the late '60's (now you know how old I am which is 60) when I was your age that was all there was. I still have fond rememberences of some of them, especially ones my Dad bought for me in Kansas City.
Now to my point. These were readily available over the years so if one missed getting one, they could just order it. In later years, if my memory serves me correctly, Athearn would make them in batches so one may have to wait, but should still be able to get one. I might add that their production was mainly popular roads such as Santa Fe and there were very few if any Frisco models (maybe a boxcar) available. I might add that there were companies like Bowser that made what we called "shake in the box" kits also. Bowser actually made a U25b in the Frisco B&Y paint scheme which is one of the first factory painted Frisco models that I can remember.
So, if one wanted a Frisco model, they had to buy an undecorated one, paint, detail and decal it. To that end, there are several friends of mine lurking on this list that made some of the most beautiful models you will ever see.
Then along came the idea of "Limited Run" highly detailed RTR models that were assembled in China and if you didn't buy one when they came out you would probably be out of luck unless you could find it on Ebay. Case in point, try and find an Atlas B&Y GP7 even on Ebay. Sure, as a Frisco modeler we are now able to get many nice things, but at the price of having to buy them and put them on the shelf until our layouts are started. Many of the older models that pop up on Ebay came right off the closet shelf after years of collecting dust.
I hope this short message helps answer your question as to why we buy things and never run them! Have fun and never lose your enthusiasm!

 

Ok, thanks for explaining that to me.

 

Bob Hoover's post on the Athearn "Blue Box" kits generated some fond memories of my early days in model railroading. Many will not agree, but it wasn't that bad. The locomotives were relatively cheap, easy to obtain and were reliable. No Frisco, no problem. A propellant driven cheap air brush and Microscale decals and you were set. I remember Rick McClellan had a brass template for the masking tape mask for the nose of an F unit. I cut open a few fingers carving off ladders and grap irons. And all those articles in the mags of cutting up three or four locomtives to build a loco not available. Ever carve off the dynamic brakes on an Athearn Geep, that was a time eater?

Now, just go to the hobby shop and drop down $30 for a letter perfect box car. I suppose it's better, but I certainly have scaled back on what my "dream layout" is going to look like. Anyone interested in a fleet of pre-DCC Rock Island equipment NIB.

John

 

I think it is kinda interesting hearing about the stories of the "older" guys buyin BB kits and painting them. I try to paint something and I cant get the white stripe to come out correctly.

Nope, I'm a good at soldering, but no go at hard wiring. I tried to convert an athearn GP40-2 to DCC. It was a RTR with a BB type frame. I couldn't get the wires to 1. cram under the shell 2. stall soldered. Now it's a dummy.

 

Ethan:
You need to attend the El Bob Oh school of DCC installs. I noticed some Athearn motors laying on your layout in your You tube video and wonder if you might not have had a problem installing a decoder. I can tell you from experience that you left too much of the wiring harness intact and need to shorten them up. Any time you want some help I will be happy to help you.
El Bob Oh
DCC Installer

 

Yea, I had took the motor out of my GP40-2 because I couldn't get it to run right. And I took the motor out of my F7 because I didn't have a decoder for it. MY plan was to use the dummies rarely on helper service.

 

Ethan, here is a response to your below quote fom one of the "older" guys.

 

I'll agrea with that. epecialy with the Atlas train man. The locomotives are about as good as the silver series, just that the shell has a few less details. But they are about $70 cheaper. Like the Trainman frisco GP38-2 MSRP $80, a silver series MSRP (now) $150. Of course there are swap meats were you can find these cheaper than MSRP with all the details installed.