Wayne of NSCALE.Com does not expect them until Jan/Feb and he can't get any firm information from Athearn on the Challenger. Or from Atlas on the Shay, although it is still scheduled for January. I've got one of each ordered and can't wait. I've gotten so excited in anticipation, I've grown 3" taller mg: just sitting in my chair. See ya
Switchman, Look at www.nscalesupply.com Information in the newsletter added yesterday is the Challengers are "on the water" and should arrive for mid-January delivery. Don't know where Scott got his info but I can hold my breath that long. Ben
I sure want one too, but I don't want to be the first to have one. I want to see what others say about the performance and detail before I lay out the dollars. I realize that by not pre-ordering I am taking a chance on them being sold out. I just don't have that much confidence in Athearn yet. I hope this loco is the best one ever and that Athearn raises the bar on performance and detail. A line of locomotives that all perform well right out of the box. I think of Bachmann where the detail is excellent, but half the locos don't perform worth squat. (4-8-2, 2-6-6-2) Call me a skeptic. Make me a believer. Pete S
The Athearn Challenger in D&RGW may become scarce if you wait til after they arrive and are tested. If they run poorly you'll be glad you didn't buy and saved the money. If they run good... they will evaporate by the time the initial reports are out. 'Ya roll the dice an' take ya chances' You and I may not be the only ones thinking alike... but I still reserved one of the Challengers. If it 'flops' like a dying fish... Athearn can forget about selling me any motorized N scale stuff in the future.
From Athearns newsletter 1/13/07 ------------ Late News ------------ The N Challengers are still running late. We want them to be GREAT, so we are making sure that they are great before they are shipped from the factory. Horizon shows them due early Feburary now.
I hope they are as well, Hemi. I have an Undec ordered that will be "changed" to become a NP Z6 class loco ... :shade:
What kind of surgery do you need to perform to mod that engine for Z6 class? Other than the monster firebox, the cab, tender,a nd boiler fittings likely need modified?
GNFA310, Hemi, convering a UP Challenger to a NP Z6 will require soem major surgery. First of all the NP Z6 is huge. It is several feet longer than the UP, most of the additional lenght in the firebox area. The boiler is different as well: Different sand hatches, different stack (UP double-stack, NP single)and small differences in the pipng. UP Cab is slightly longer. Different running gear. Different tender, UP uses "Centipedes", NP Z6 had 6-axle tenders. Attached a few photos, comparing the RR UP Challenger with the More Z6. My plan is to utilize the GHQ Z8 Conversion kit on the new Athearn Challenger. I understood from Athearn that they will work with GHQ to test if the kit will fit. So I might get another Z8, but I will limit myself to one Z6 (another one would be too hard on the wallet....) Cheers Dirk
Wow, I thought it would be major... On a completely unrelated note, nice washout on that rear track.... Might wanna send in the B&B gangs!
I'm waiting for the one I reserved. I had two on reserve but thought the better of it until I see how the first one works. I'm just going to add dual airpumps to the front of the boiler and renumber and letter it for NP. It's close enough Dirk, are you going to scratchbuild the wood trestle under the line leading up from Union Station to the Prairie Line? The layout looks great.
