I wonder how many others will keep starting a new thread about this development? http://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/atlas-buys-walthers-tooling.118036/
Quoting the announcement off of the Atlas FB page, "Walthers will continue to offer N scale items in its Cornerstone, SceneMaster, and Walthers Controls brands, including new items as well as items currently in those lines."
Point353 and all, My apologies I didn’t know a thread was started about this development, sale. I think someone said here stated so the rumor starts. Again I apologize. Tom
Here's a vote for a new Erie-Built with DCC. The Erie-Built should have been the best puller of the whole line of diesels (FA-1, FA-2, C-Liner) that shared close cousins of chassis, but it may have been overweight for the motor or suffered from some drivetrain friction or had some adhesion problems with the long trucks. I put DCC in 8 FA-1s, 8 FA-2s, 4 C-liners and 3 Erie-Builts. All required milling a recess in the split frames and also grooves down sides to drop the wires, as well as a little machining around the motor contacts to ensure they were isolated. After the second or third, the rest were not that time-consuming, although cleaning up the metal chips usually took some time and care. They were among the best-running and especially pulling engines I had.
Atlas seems to be convinced that we N scale guys are serious about spending our money on those who are giving us what we want. I thought the BLMA purchase was a leap for them and now Walthers. I'm happy to see this as there has been so little interesting items from Walthers that I quit looking entirely. I work hard for the chump change I get, so when I use my dismal purchasing power the product best be great. Not good, great.
Great news. I've been using Atlas wheels and motors in my Life-Like GP20's along with TCS decoders to get a good running DCC locomotive. Now with this, rebuilds maybe a thing of the past AND as someone pointed out, parts maybe available again.
When I saw the email newsletter from Atlas I was immediately pleased with the message. Consolidation of tooling is a good thing if the purchaser is committed to the release and redevelopment of existing models and exploring new models which could be offered. Walthers never really committed to releasing N scale locomotives from the existing LifeLike line... and even less interested in creating new locomotive tooling. There are some really nice models which Atlas can modify for both DCC/Sound (FM Erie in particular) and the potential warehousing of necessary replacement parts would be very welcomed. As I thought about this development, I recalled the National Train Show (NTS) in Orlando last year (August 2017). I went around looking for the manufacturers tables to see what was in the works (not that they were saying anything) I probably spent the most time at the Walthers display and spoke with a couple of the reps... particularly about the release of N scale LifeLike locomotives. I got a 'chilly' response on the questions about releasing more N scale locomotives. Instead they were pushing the new N scale 'Modern Distribution Warehouse'. I told them it was nice and I might get one when released. They admitted that they were most interested in the N scale structures field... but... did mention there 'might be' something coming in a locomotive. I said... it's been a long time since the FM Erie was released... no real emotion to my remark. However, true to their word... they released the SW9/1200... and included D&RGW, Santa Fe and Southern Pacific (yay!!). Now something I noticed... which didn't really spur any thoughts at that time... but now looks more plausible. I kept walking by the Atlas display to see what was on their pre-release table. The Walthers reps were always there snooping around the Atlas table... video taping was going on (not by Walthers) but they were present every time I scooted by (I was on a scooter). I wanted to speak to Paul Graf about possibly releasing some Baldwin road-switchers like the AS616, DRS6-6-1500 etc... and perhaps a VO 660. Never got a chance... because when Paul was there... so were Walthers reps. I didn't think it was necessarily peculiar... but... I went to several other manufacturer tables and never saw the Walthers reps there. Maybe... the deal to buy the Walthers N scale tooling was hatched around that time.
Ah yes, corporate intrigue at its best. We, the poor consumer, hope that corporate management and advisers listen to our pleas. Fortunately they do for the most part, especially Paul Graf, an ever-listening (lurking?) member of TB. Thanks Paul, your products are excellent and timely.
I happily eat humble pie and love being wrong in some cases. The BLMA deal was one of those instances. I remember Paul coming here and telling all of us, myself included that the BLMA parts would still be produced even though I was skeptical. Now I'm finding BLMA detail parts for my projects, so thank you Paul! This latest effort by Atlas shows they ARE listening to the N scale community and filling a void. I have nothing against Walthers, my theory is they have been busy with the lines that sell, frankly, HO and their structure kits. Atlas is more focused on locomotives and rolling stock and can better focus on the N scale. I'm excited to see what Atlas does.
I would much rather Atlas produce these items than Walthers. This sounds like 100% win for N-scalers, for Atlas, and even for Walthers.
Given how long it can take to close a deal like this, almost certainly the Walthers and Atlas folks were already in initial talks about the idea of a sale. Indeed the whole thing *might* have been kicked off at that show. Walthers probably had finding some buyer (not necessarily Atlas) for the N scale stuff in mind the whole time they were buying LifeLike. I would not expect PG to either confirm nor deny this. It's just my supposition.
Glad y'all can get items. I left n scale for 2 reason's 1 being I bought 3 Atlas classic Dcc ready rs11's they had flaws in their shells I didn't know about until 8 months ago when I went to detail and paint them I noticed these flaws. Email Atlas about this was told they don't plan on carrying undec shells for the rs11. Called talked to a gentlemen and was told on the phone no dice on getting any rs11 shells from the China run. That's the day I switched backed to Ho. And I'm sorry if this post doesn't fit here but being based on it being about n scale and Atlas I thinks it belongs here. Really wanted to stay n scale but why have $200 worth of engines you can't use due to lack of parts.