jerrytbirdsc
New Member
I just got a new Athearn RTR AC4400 and a 54' FMC covered hopper. This is my first experience with buying a Athearn RTR line. I have a collection of 20 year old Athearn Blue Box line of locos and cars and was dismayed to find that had went to the RTR line and with an increase in cost.
Well my fears were unfounded as the quality has made a leap with the cost. The new AC4400 loco is the smoothest Athearn I have ever had with very nice detail, the couplers are Kadee style and already mounted at the correct height. The 54' hopper is also very nice with metal wheel sets and kadee style coupler set correctly.
20 years ago I would buy Athearn diesels for less than $20 and freight cars for less than $4. I would also add Kadee couplers for around $2 a pair. If you wanted to add metal wheel sets to your freight cars that would add to tthe cost as well. So with the added quality and ready to run aspect plus inflation then you are still getting good value for money.
I still like Athearn products.
Here I am comparing the new Athearn loco wheels to my polished original wheels. I just took my original Athearn wheel halves and chucked them in a Makita cordless drill and spun them while applying aluminum mag wheel polish with an old sock. They came out better than new as they were a real mess from being used and stored for 20 years.
Well my fears were unfounded as the quality has made a leap with the cost. The new AC4400 loco is the smoothest Athearn I have ever had with very nice detail, the couplers are Kadee style and already mounted at the correct height. The 54' hopper is also very nice with metal wheel sets and kadee style coupler set correctly.
20 years ago I would buy Athearn diesels for less than $20 and freight cars for less than $4. I would also add Kadee couplers for around $2 a pair. If you wanted to add metal wheel sets to your freight cars that would add to tthe cost as well. So with the added quality and ready to run aspect plus inflation then you are still getting good value for money.
I still like Athearn products.
Here I am comparing the new Athearn loco wheels to my polished original wheels. I just took my original Athearn wheel halves and chucked them in a Makita cordless drill and spun them while applying aluminum mag wheel polish with an old sock. They came out better than new as they were a real mess from being used and stored for 20 years.
as well as the fuel filler being an added part, not molded to the fuel tank
