I am debating whether or not to get some Athearn SD75i's. Can someone give me an opinion on how does Athearn compares to Kato in quality?
Since Athearn has only done one loco so far in N-scale, I think it's way too soon to tell. Judging by what I have heard about their F59PHI, it's not a Kato. Not bad, but not too close to Kato either. But that's not to say they will make their SD70 locos better.
This very question has been on my mind as well. Kato has not announced beyond the SD70M quite yet, but additional SD70/75 series locos seem probable to me (although nothing is certain). As far as Kato quality goes, they are top notch in my opinion. Athearn has announced a broader range of SD70/75 locos and some cool schemes, but their track record for quality locomotives has reallly not been established in N scale yet (with only one release so far--the F59PHI). Russ
Based on the cars and loco I have seen from Athearn, I would say that if you value detailing, they might be better than Kato. However, the new AC4400's seem to be a step up for Kato, but it is still narrowly behind Atlas, LL and now Athearn! The one Athearn loco was a jackrabbit, and probably doesn't mate with anything, if not DCC, so that is a problem. And, Kato is still the best runner and puller for my money. At least Kato and Atlas have enough different diesel models out there that you can put together a like running consist of each, for example, SD 90MAC and AC4400's in UP, or Dash 9, AC4400 in BNSF, or even add in an SD 40-2! With the Athearn SD 70 series, (or even the much anticipated LL GP 60's) I fear I will have to run them as solid sets until Athearn and/or LL comes out with other locos. That's not as much of a problem for a BNSF modeller like me with the 60's - I think they often ran as solid sets anyway. Also, I find that I end up running just my best runners anyway, so there is a chance that if they are like the FP59 put out by Athearn earlier, they will simply decorate my engine terminal. But, that's the only downside. I look forward to the variety of SD 70/75 units and generally like new MFGs like Intermountain to offer us what the longer established payers won't or haven't.
I agree w/ Russ & Jeff - nothing beats a Kato. BUT, I've decided that I'm going to take a chance on a couple Athearn SD70Ms that I've preordered. As long as I've waited for this model - and considering the potential wait for Kato to announce them, I'm going to gamble on a few, and hope that they've gotten the feedback about the motor speed on F59's and fixed it. If and when Kato does announce them, hopefully I'll have some $ in the train budget to supplement the fleet. Time will tell I guess! Dave [ 23. August 2004, 20:23: Message edited by: dave n ]
Yeah, they did, but it it's the square-nose/flared radiator version - only NS and UP have them, and UP only has a few. I think folks were very confident that Kato would also release the 'standard' SD70M/75M, but then Athearn announced, so who knows? With so many roads to choose from, and what appears to be strong demand, perhaps we'll see both companies make them. I hope so (I model SP & ATSF in the mid 90's, so I can use some)!!! Dave
Guys,I am a Little optimistic seeing how Athearn has improve their HO Genesis and RTR units..I do not have the F59 but have 22 Atlas with 4 more on order( GP40 HH plus 2 HH B30-7s in NS.) and now 6 LL units..The only Kato I have is in HO and that amounts to 4 GP35s that I trade 4 Atlas GP40s for...I will not buy any more Kato GP35s seeing Athearn will be releasing a new RTR GP35 with the RPP shell. Back to N. I hope Athearn does the SD70 in NS with the Spartan cab. I plan on modeling the NS and of course my C&HV.. Now,I never judge a locomotive without seeing it and giving it the old test run at the LHS..Of course I have not seen a locomotive I can't tame save for one a Kato NW2 I had in HO years ago but that's another story.. It is my opinion we are bless with great looking and smooth running locomotives regardless if they are Kato,Atlas and the better LL units.. Again I can not judge locomotives I have not seen or test ran regardless of brand..Perhaps a test run of the F59 is in order?
The F59PHI was a little disappointing, both the shell detail and drive contstruction. Athearn has been slow in implementing their N Scale program and I think a part of this is they don't want to rush things to market just to get them out..... I hope and think they are applying the best of their HO design and toolmaking to their future N Scale items (having seen what Atlas and MicroTrains are doing recently) and know that they have to bring their mechanisms up to the Kato standard. It is possible that in head to head competition they can blow Kato away in the SD70M/SD75M market... it wouldn't take any new technology or advances in tooling to do it.... just watch the specifications, choices of material, quality control on fit and finish of mechanism parts, and put the decoration on the models the same as they do in HO.... and you will have a unit that will outdo anything on the market. And, oh yes, have it in more than three roadnumbers since you have seen and understood that N Scalers like to buy more than one set of road power!!!! Charlie Vlk
