New Atlas B23-7

Now I am going to take some time to knock the new B23-7. First, those stupid blobs of plastic that Atlas calls sunshades are pissing me off. They don't come close to resembling anything on the prototype. I would have prefered Atlas to leave them off so I can install some good Sunrise or GMM photo-etched shades. But they are glued on. I would have paid $5 extra per loco to have them left off. Second, the plow is glued on and it will have to be replaced with a sunrise plow that is correct for the prototype. The painted end rails are nice but Atlas did a sloppy job on some of mine and they will have to be redone. The cab roof on my BNSF units should be green instead of orange. I thought all these new improvements that Atlas was suspose to be making was to help serious prototypical modelers, like myself and others on this forum, save time detailing their locos. This just makes more work for me. Anybody that thinks Atlas is better than Kato in the detailing area...can... Both manufactures have the SAME LEVEL OF DETAIL. Just because Atlas paints their end-rails, fuel filler caps, and adds sunshades doesn't make their engines more detailed. Hard details that come from the mold are the same.

SCOTT, SEE MY POST BELOW. MAX

[ 04 February 2001: Message edited by: Maxwell Plant ]

 

What's the saying? You can please some of the people some of the time?

I guess we could all step back 20 years to when Bachmann and Minitrix were state of the art with their finely detailed moldings. Those were the days - making your own details because we weren't blessed with the likes of Sunrise Enterprises, or Detail Associates, or BMLA and others to provide good quality and prototypically accurate parts that are available off the shelf today.
Heaven forbid a manufacturer considering making life easier for anyone!

Useful critisism is best in a useful, and civil, way. Consider mine constructive.

Regards,

Gary.

 

From the pictures i have seen of this engine the snow plow is very close to correct.I for one am not happy that the engines are so lightweight and don't pull much but I like to run 4 or 5 engines in my consists.So the weight won't matter this much to me.You say that you like to custom detail your engines painting the roof on the engine isn't that tough.From the prototype pictures the engine needs a airconditioning unit on the top also.I haven't looked at redoing the sunshades yet.
I don't understand why you are getting so angry with something you bought on your own free will.Nobody makes you or any of us buy this stuff.This is a hobby if you are not having fun with it find something else to do.Nscale has come so far in the last 10 years that I personally am waiting to see what is next.This is supposed to be fun,and I for one am having a fun time doing this.
I think you had problems with atlas and the paint cracking on the sd60's.I too had this problem,but instead of voicing my frustrations everywhere I called Atlas and they sent me new shells for the engines no questions asked.Maybe you should try this approach with them.If they don't help you out in the way you feel they should QUIT buying there stuff.Maybe the hobby can once again be enjoyable for you again then.

 

Since I'm probably the one you're referring to on the Atlas forum, I'd have to decline the invitation. However, it's important to consider the "crawl before you can walk" dictum. Atlas is moving ahead in their thinking, thanks to Forums like this. And I'm sure Paul is using the feedback he receives in a constructive manner. That's good for all modelers, novice like myself, and the more accomplished.

 

Scott,did someone twist your arm to make you buy the B-23? If you don't like it why don't you take it back and buy a KATO?
Actually since you dislike ATLAS so much why don't you just quit buying their product period.Then we won't have space wasted by you ranting about something that YOU bought.

 

Hmm.. lemme think. Don't like the sunshades, don't like the plows. Now where's my Xacto at? Needs a paint touch-up, no prob, that's five minutes.

I think Atlas was trying to make their model look better "out of the box" and they did that. They look a lot more realistic than they used too. Besides, this is half the fun of the hobby, modifying the engines to suit your taste.

 

Personally I dont like Kato because of their "arrogance" but that doesnt stop me from buying something of theirs. But the critiscism by Scott shouldnt be scourned, hey, maybe he is right, the details can be or done wrong. However, instead of complaining you should email Paul and tell him what you think. I did a couple of times and he responded each time with what Atlas can currently do with my suggestions. And since when were our diesels perfect? Even $700 brass had some things wrong. These should be pointed out to the manufacturer, but until it is corrected it just gives me more modeling to do on my diesels, which I love doing. If everything WAS perfect and already done for us, we wouldnt be MODEL railroaders anymore, just Guys Who Buy Stuff Railroaders.
My 2 cents
Mike

 

Scott,
I suggest you realise this is a website that has many different age groups that post and read here. Please curb your tone and verbage. Also, you need to take up your beef with Atlas. I don't know if Paul Graff visits this site or not, so the Atlas forum is the place to take this sort of complaint, especailly with the tone you are taking. Please try to be more civil here.

 

Ahh maxwell why couldn't youy let the valgarty fly .

No but serously that was kinda uncalled for. I think Scott is just trying to get attention by bashing Atlas, We all know the problems with the B23-7 (and the B40-8 for the HO guys like me) But thats why Man created the acato knife the Atlas Super Saw and all those aftermarket parts companys. This kinda garbage is Trainorders stuff and is really not wanted here. I am glad Maxwell removed some protions.

 

ok time for my 2 cents. yes atlas did screw a few things up, big deal. let's see, kato messes up just as much as atlas. the snoots for instance, that's all you gotta say about those. i am kinda glad the plows break off the b23 it fills the holes in since the kato plows don't use the same holes also my handrails are to be yellow well atlas painted them white, now it only takes one coat of yellow instead of 2 or 3.my only gripe about them is the pulling power because there is no weight to them. they are the same length as a sd40 and less than half the weight of one.

 

I guess I did get a little carried way, sorry. I'm just so angry with Atlas after dealing with them and the SD60 problems.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Scott Siebler:
I guess I did get a little carried way, sorry. I'm just so angry with Atlas after dealing with them and the SD60 problems.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Scott you are entitled to you view of Atlas products. That is what shapes the market. I am not all that pleased with Atlas doing loco after loco that is all old line stuff. I want a modern loco as that is what I like. So I moved to Kato, and I'm quite happy. Actually I believe the Kato locos look better and run better. They don't pull better than Atlas though. So we win and we loose, but after almost 40 Atlas locos I doubt I will buy anymore until they produce a modern loco.
Art

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Art:

 

One good thing about the B23-7 is it wasn't overlubed with oil. The warning tags on the compartment doors are a nice touch.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Catt:
Scott,did someone twist your arm to make you buy the B-23? If you don't like it why don't you take it back and buy a KATO?
Actually since you dislike ATLAS so much why don't you just quit buying their product period.Then we won't have space wasted by you ranting about something that YOU bought.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

So you want to talk about wasted space? Well, I think it was you who acused me, and others on this forum, with trashing Atlas after we had discused the Atlas paint topic in a civil and constructive matter. You also made a statement that suggests that I wasn't smart enough to contact Atlas about a warranty and get replacement shells. You posted this message right after I posted a message that stated that I contacted Atlas and Paul Graf about this problem. When you posted these messages, I didn't acuse you of wasting space!

 

I also thought the warning tags and stickers all over is a very nice touch. I do think this thing is way to light though, it weighs barley half as much as my Kato/Atlas GP30 which is shorter then the B23. When compared with my Kato C30-7 I have to say Atlas detail is great but still not as good as a Kato produced 6 years ago. Also, why does this thing have a snowplow front and back?
Kevin

 

Can anyone tell me the "space" that is being wasted? If you say anything about space (memory) on trainboards servers I will laugh in your face. Your messages probably take up a few bytes, and memory is an infinitive quantity for computers.
Mike

 

Gentlemen
Lets calm down a little. There have been such great improvements just in the last 5 years of N guage model production. We should be complimenting the manufacturers for bringing new products to the market rather than slamming some minor shortfalls. They could retreat to HO and we would be back to the junk we had a few years ago.Think about it. John

 

I believe quite on the contrary. No one had the guts to say anything bad to any of the few early manufacturers that their products basically sucked. This led them to believe that everyone was happy with what they were producing and continued making it. When Atlas released the RS3 (?) about 10 years ago the huge sales proved to manufacturers that N scale was more then "toy trains". Some of the blame (my opinion) is due to Model Railroader mag. If you look back to any reviews a couple of years ago (1990-1994) reviews of horrible looking or running products (in any scale) were given good reviews. You should not commend on someone doing a so-so job. I personally have no beefs with the B23-7, but I support any critiscism given towards it as Atlas will strive to meet our demands.
Mike