Both woo woo woo ¤¤¤¤¤s and Athearn responded immediately and both were happy to assist. In the end Athearn are sending me a replacement railing
There is one thing about going from N to HO which doesn't get much mention is the relative sizes of rolling stock to structures. In N scale it's reasonably easy to make a huge building that really dwarfs the cars and the whole scene is contained in that scene. In HO you only have so much vertical/horizontal space (that your eye takes in all at once) to try to pull off the same trick. Plus the fact that HO buildings take 4x the amount of material to build than N scale -- I see you have a huge brewery building on your plans. That's going to be a lot of construction to be a really hefty-sized structure. One thing that HO seems to share with N is that there are very few kits of really huge industrial structures. Just like N you have to kitbash things together. Yet to me crowded structure scenes on HO layouts (except very large ones) seem overcrowded. Maybe because an an N scaler I'm not accustomed to the larger proportions. I don't have anything against HO or anybody switching to it. It does seem like everything in it, including ability to find the equipment and road name you want, is much much easier.
I have to agree it will be a challenge with building on the layout. One advantage I do like is more readily available equipment in HO. I have kept some n scale as some of my friends still have n scale layouts which I will operate a few Texmex geeps and a couple of MoPac sd40
Just jumping in a sec, anyone know why Athearn and Atlas both do not offer (HO) steam locos ? Or do/did they ? Their diesels are various and quite nice. I bet they both could make good solid steamers..I guess tooling up is easier with diesel. And maybe they simply just do enough business without dealing with steam and its mechanics, no ?
Not sure why Atlas hasn't jumped in, but you're probably right on the cost of tooling, etc. Athearn has done 4 steamers under the Genesis flag and will release the 4-6-6-4 Challenger again this summer. Look under the Genesis Steam Engine tab. http://www.athearn.com/Products/HO/ Brian
At one time Athearn did make one steamer in their Genesis series. I believe it was a Mikado. I saw one the other day on ebay. I had considered one as a mike would be the largers locomotive I would run on my layout. I don't know if they are still making it. I would still be interested.
I'll try this again.-------Athearn has manufactured a Mikado, Pacific, Northern, Challenger, and Big Boy. These are very nice DCC/Sound models. I cannot find, nor remember Atlas steam models. THIS REPLY FORMAT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN!
Yeah Pete, Brian, others I forgot about all those Athearn steam. So I guess then it is only Atlas who doesn't offer steam.. But they sure offer a ton of other items !; Flex, switches, signals, bridges, cars, structures, diesels in many scales...Personally I think their switches still look better than Peco that many guys have gone to now...Peco's point rails are (too) closer together and I like atlas switch ties more..Peco throw rod is better though. The spring-action doesn't attract me as a locking ground throw is still needed in the end, anyhoo...I'd say Atlas and Kadee are at the top of the list of positive influence on MRRing...I would like an Athearn DCC/sound Mikado..Bet they're solid runners.
If they aren't on the layout, they are in their original boxes stacked on a shelf under it..... 22 is a pretty good haul... Brian
Umm, yea.... threads on "how to" are not one of my best attributes... guess that's why I'll never be published... I can try, but it might be ugly. Maybe the next car I do, I'll remember to take in progress photos and give a step-by-step account. No promises though... Brian
I have been very tempted to get a few Exactrail cars, although having never seen one in real life I am holding off, plus the fact that I like to do my own super detailing.
Weathering cars is something I was never good at. I'm so bad at it that I've developed a fear of even starting one.
They are excellent quality I will post pics in the what have you bought recently thread over the weekend
They sure seem like extremely well detailed models BUT, they sure are proud of them. I het emails from them and saw a beautiful Milwaukee box car, but expensice ! Wow !
Candy, I had very same fear..Many do.. Best to just jump in somewhere or you'll be continually wondering over it..Just paint diesel trucks with grimy black and a smidge of rust. If steam, what I do is get engine rolling on the rails at like 5 mph, held in place with a rock or such. Hold brush with grimy black against drivers and paint them in seconds flat (pun intended) ! It takes away the toyishness which is subconciously irritating to a modeler of your caliber...Move brush around here and there to avoid rods colliding.. Rust up your car trucks.. Do couplers but keep it away from coupler knuckles..dulcote spray almost all cars. Steam counterbalances look great after they're grimy as they become more apparent opposing side rods..
I might buy a cheap car and have a go I did weather all my N scale cars and locos. I found using chalk worked because if it didn't look good you just washed it off and once you were happy with it I would seal it with dull cote
