Athearn/Walthers AMD103 Phase V
- Thread starter NYSW F45
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Southwest Chief
Matt
What you may be seeing on eBay are custom paints or at the least custom renumbering. With Microscale decal set #87-1267 you can renumber your P42s. I know I've seen a few custom painted and lettered P42s on eBay, although they are fairly rare. But doing a quick search on eBay found this neat custom painted little guy:
Custom painted Amtrak switcher eBay auction
However I think you may not know that in addition to #10 and #55, there have been many other Walthers/Athearn phase V P42s released over the years.
These Walthers/Athearn phase V P42s go back several years. Two even have the relatively short lived high stripe phase V paint. These included #146, and #134.
The others, in the now standard low stripe phase V, include: #7, #10, #28, #47, #55, #116, #163, #182 (with Tommy Thompson lettering), #184, #204, and #207.
So if you want a factory painted phase V P42, you'll most likely have to get a Walthers/Athearn loco.
Walthers has the exclusive rights to Amtrak phase V (as well as phase IVb) paint in HO scale. So if someone wants to sell products with these paint schemes in the HO market, they'll have to either get a license from Walthers or partner with them on the release.
I also believe Walthers has the exclusive HO rights to the Surfliner and Amtrak California schemes. Could be a reason why we have not seen these paint schemes or even an attempt to manufacture the body style of these cars in the HO market. However, since both the schemes (Surfliner)(Amtrak California) are now appropriate for use on a select few Superliner I coaches, perhaps Walthers will release these schemes on their improved Superliner I coach in the future.
Custom painted Amtrak switcher eBay auction
However I think you may not know that in addition to #10 and #55, there have been many other Walthers/Athearn phase V P42s released over the years.
These Walthers/Athearn phase V P42s go back several years. Two even have the relatively short lived high stripe phase V paint. These included #146, and #134.
The others, in the now standard low stripe phase V, include: #7, #10, #28, #47, #55, #116, #163, #182 (with Tommy Thompson lettering), #184, #204, and #207.
So if you want a factory painted phase V P42, you'll most likely have to get a Walthers/Athearn loco.
Walthers has the exclusive rights to Amtrak phase V (as well as phase IVb) paint in HO scale. So if someone wants to sell products with these paint schemes in the HO market, they'll have to either get a license from Walthers or partner with them on the release.
I also believe Walthers has the exclusive HO rights to the Surfliner and Amtrak California schemes. Could be a reason why we have not seen these paint schemes or even an attempt to manufacture the body style of these cars in the HO market. However, since both the schemes (Surfliner)(Amtrak California) are now appropriate for use on a select few Superliner I coaches, perhaps Walthers will release these schemes on their improved Superliner I coach in the future.
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NYSW F45
Active Member
Thanks guys after googling for hours i had found a page which listed all the Amtrak phase V runs. All were for Walthers but some did come in the newer style RTR boxes which are yellow. This years are in a blk/blu/gry scheme which I have. I was just hoping the ones i had seen on ebay weren't so hard to come buy.
Southwest Chief
Matt
Yeah it's definitely tough to get them after they are first released.
But don't worry. Your two locos (#10 and #55) are better then the rest. What makes them better is the correct smaller nose logo. Plus they are fully DCC ready. I also have #10 and #55. My #10 got an ATS shoe for use as a lead unit on the Southwest Chief.
If you want more, I'd wait for the next release. Because all of the others have the large nose logo. And some have older style Athearn motors which are not the best.
Oh and thanks Josh for pointing out the Athearn F59PHI. Completely forgot they both came in Amtrak California and Surfliner schemes. So Walthers probably doesn't have the exclusive rights to those schemes.
Steve, if you aren't a member yet, you might want to join the Amtrak Modelers Yahoo group. Great information there.
But don't worry. Your two locos (#10 and #55) are better then the rest. What makes them better is the correct smaller nose logo. Plus they are fully DCC ready. I also have #10 and #55. My #10 got an ATS shoe for use as a lead unit on the Southwest Chief.
If you want more, I'd wait for the next release. Because all of the others have the large nose logo. And some have older style Athearn motors which are not the best.
Oh and thanks Josh for pointing out the Athearn F59PHI. Completely forgot they both came in Amtrak California and Surfliner schemes. So Walthers probably doesn't have the exclusive rights to those schemes.
Steve, if you aren't a member yet, you might want to join the Amtrak Modelers Yahoo group. Great information there.
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