Athearn HO "Fantasy" C44-9W

To All:

NOTE:

I have deleted the original poll because I wanted to add the caveat concerning precedent over other already requested products. For those of you that voted you will need to vote again.


Should I request Athearn to produce a "Fantasy" C44-9W locomotive and would you consider buying one? If they follow suit the MSRP would probably be in the $119.95 range.

As a matter of reference they have produced these for several other Fallen Flag railroads including the Rock Island and the Western Maryland.

I am going to offer 3 choices in the poll. I am leaving the option of taking a wait and see attitude with a Yes answer but only if producing it doesn't take precedent over other Athearn projects already requested (i.e. Genesis GP7. RTR SW1500 and SD45). Of course the matter of a color scheme comes into play meaning should it be B&Y or O&W. If there is enough positive response, I would consider having someone on the loop submit ideas for both and then submit them to Athearn.

Bottom line, if produced we want this to sell!

 

I know of another thing for you guys to consider on this matter. I could see it being a way to get people atracted to the Frisco. Senerio in my mind: Guy walks into a hobby shop and he wants a C44-9W and doesn't care what road name. Hobby shop hands him a Frisco C44-9W. Goes home and does research on the Frsico, finds this web site and finds his new favorite railroad.

Maybe it would work, maybe it wouldn't

Just a thought

Ethan

 

Agreed. As long as it didn't bump a model of a real prototype to the side, what would it hurt? All of us here would love to see a modern engine wearing a Frisco scheme. And it would gain more exposure for "our" railroad, which hasn't always been well represented in the hobby.

 

One of our members posted two different modern Frisco diesels in O/W week before last. I can´t relocate them but one was standard Frisco with the Coonskin herald on the nose (looked sharp!). The other was a BNSF "Heritage" sort of scheme in O/W although it had the swoosh BNSF lettering on the side.

In view of the fact Athearn HAS released three fantasy schemes themselves I thought it should be brought to all members attention so that the folks at Frisco.org be able to submit such a scheme should Athearn decide to include the Frisco in this program. In the event Athearn does release a Frisco fantasy scheme and it isn´t in keeping with what most members wanted to see, then please remember, it was brought to your attention here. I honestly think that Frisco.org should have first crack at presenting Athearn with the idea that a Frisco unit be run with an endorsement from Frisco.org so it be manufactured to be attractive for all members to be inclined to purchase one.

I think it should have a "class" number as if it were the first in a group of newly purchased locomotives. I personally don´t plan to model in HO when I make the move to return to model railroading and despite my interest in S scale in regards to space, the models and equipment I see on a future terminal switching pike I find in O scale. With Proto 48 flex track being offered on the market now (visit www.proto48.org) and "nice price" brass diesel kits being produced in Great Britian which include several models that the Frisco rostered, I feel this is the scale where I can best model the Frisco to fit my needs and desires. Andre Ming will probably throw a spike in my direction for deciding to stick with O scale and I just hope I can duck to avoid same. Sorry Andre!

I am interested in an Alco RS1 and the Atlas-O Frisco pulpwood cars as a starter. The Athearn HO fantasy model would be placed on display as a "memory reminder" as I still have fond memories of my entrance into HO scale in 1962 when I sold off my Lionel O27 to finance Athearn´s Hustler freight starter set. I might start to add a few of the new fine scale freight cars that have been released for the Frisco behind my C44-9W on a display track and the Atlas HO Frisco pulpwood cars too!

Joe Toth
The Trinity River Bottoms Boomer

 

To All:

Hopefully someone can find the locomotives that Joe is referring to and post the link. Having said that, the poll is set to close after two weeks and that time we should have a better idea how everyone feels.

 

In case anyone questions my memory. The two modern diesels were posted on this site week before last. I wish I had had enough sense to mark the person´s name. At any rate, it should be said now, that in the event Athearn does produce their own fantasy version of a modern Frisco and it doesn´t please any member who voted not to approach Athearn with a proposal in that the members of Frisco.org could have helped design, please do not post any negative comments regarding Athearn´s own design!

They have produced the GN Big Sky Blue, RI black and red, and WM "circus" scheme so far. No doubt the UP´s Heritage Program sparked the idea at Athearn. Reconsider before you cast your vote. I personally think the idea is sound due to the fact Athearn has started this program.

I would like to request that the member with the modern Frisco models please repost your photos for all to see.

Joe Toth

 

Joseph and All:
In the sake of fairness to Joseph who is fairly new to the forum and as a matter of clarification, I posted the below referenced thread on 12/10/2010 asking for ideas in all scales of what those of you would like to see produced in the upcoming months. Many responded publically and some chose to contact me privately including requests for more Athearn SD45’s.
http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?4760-New-Product-Ideas-(O-HO-amp-N)
Also, since then the Genesis GP7 project has begun with two of our forum members that are experts on that era working on plans and photos to submit to Athearn. Please reference to below thread that I started on 01/26/2011.
http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?4898-Athearn-Genesis-GP7-9-Project
I then followed it with the below referenced poll on 06/09/2011.
http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?5312-Athearn-GP7-Project-Poll
These threads are partially the reason that I added the second choice (YES, as long as this project doesn’t take precedent) option in the current poll.

 

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BAD MEMORY KEITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT'S NOT APRIL FOOLS DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

If a fantasy FRISCO loco was made I would definitely buy one, go ahead and ask em to make a run of em!!!

 

To each his own, but fantasy ("What if") paint schemes fall into the catagory of steam excursion trains with diesel helpers and rich guy's private cars named for their wives and painted in Home Depot colors. Not real railroading! But, then again, neither is model railroading...

Tom

 

Howdy y´all!

Please understand that in no way do I want any projects that are on the drawing board to be switched to a passing siding in order to give priority to a fantasy scheme!

I thought that I would bring the suggestion to the main line in view of the fact that Athearn HAS already released three fantasy schemes themselves and it would be pratical for members at Frisco.org to insure that Athearn produce one that would do justice to the Frisco be it B/Y or O/W should they decide on themselves to consider including the Frisco in this program.

It might be feasable to contact Athearn in regards to their future releases of any fantasy schemes to make it known that should they consider doing a Frisco for this program to please contact the officers so they can be included in the selection chosen, be it B/Y or O/W.

I think this is a sound suggestion and in no way should it be taken to be a "forced" request for Athearn to produce one ASAP. I only wanted Frisco.org to make Athearn aware that in the event they do consider doing a Frisco to please work with Frisco.org officials to insure that any scheme chosen be one that will guarentee sales and be one that all members and collectors can be proud to own or operate.

I agree on the choice of several of the UP´s heritage schemes that were way too far out of contrast to invest the financing involved to not produce schemes that brought out the true spirit of the Fallen Flags. I find the Rio Grande and Mopac schemes to be quite attractive whereas the ones chosen for the SP, WP and Katy to be right down ugly in appearance. The original UP scheme consisted of Armour Yellow and Leaf Brown and a unit in this scheme with the "Overland Route" herald would have honored the men who designed the M-10000 and painted the unit in the original version of the scheme that has graced UP diesels with the exception of the change from Leaf Brown to Harbormist Gray. A pity, it didn´t materialize either.

I hope this clarifies my position regarding a fantasy scheme and please...don´t make me eat crow, again!

Joe Toth