what is you favorite HO engine manufacturer
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I look forward to the Gevos also! I was at the National convention and they had a few running around on a test track. The sound is awesome and the paint schemes are extremely sharp
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wheeler1963
Aurora & Portland Owner
Athearn Blue Box period. For the money, detail level, and possibilities, can't be beat in my book.
jeffrey-wimberly
Dr Frankendiesel
I have three favorites.
#1 Athearn blue box. I've been using them steadily since 1981. I later learned that I had 2 Athearns in my younger days. The first was in 1967, I forget what model but it was for the Milwaukee Road. It was a 6 axle model. The second was an Ontario Northland GP9 from Cox that I got in 1974. Cox sold Athearn locos under the Cox name (Athearn locos in COX boxes) from sometime around 1971 to 1975.
#2 Bachmann. That's another I've gotten great use from, excet during the 80's and 90's when they were mostly garbage. The 2 oldest Bachmann's I have are GP40 I got in 1977 an dan early 70's era 0-6-0 that an uncle left to me. I like the newer DCC models and have recently purchased 2 GP30's and 2 GP7's.
#3 Proto 2000. I have many Proto 2000 models that were made back before Walthers acquired the company. Mostly E units. I also have a Alco PA1 and an EMD SW1200 as well as a GP38-2.
#1 Athearn blue box. I've been using them steadily since 1981. I later learned that I had 2 Athearns in my younger days. The first was in 1967, I forget what model but it was for the Milwaukee Road. It was a 6 axle model. The second was an Ontario Northland GP9 from Cox that I got in 1974. Cox sold Athearn locos under the Cox name (Athearn locos in COX boxes) from sometime around 1971 to 1975.
#2 Bachmann. That's another I've gotten great use from, excet during the 80's and 90's when they were mostly garbage. The 2 oldest Bachmann's I have are GP40 I got in 1977 an dan early 70's era 0-6-0 that an uncle left to me. I like the newer DCC models and have recently purchased 2 GP30's and 2 GP7's.
#3 Proto 2000. I have many Proto 2000 models that were made back before Walthers acquired the company. Mostly E units. I also have a Alco PA1 and an EMD SW1200 as well as a GP38-2.
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Tough question. I chose Athearn because I like the Genesis line, and because they have been very kind to Espee modelers over the years, but I also own Walthers P2K, and Atlas. Kato has very nice mechanisms, but I have not yet seen one that you can get sound into without having to mill the frame. The Walthers Trainline series is excellent value for the buck.
Overland is nice if you're into paying $800.00 for a brass diesel...I'm not, but I'm not above paying that for a brass steamer
.
What you model will also determine how you answer this question.
Overland is nice if you're into paying $800.00 for a brass diesel...I'm not, but I'm not above paying that for a brass steamer
.What you model will also determine how you answer this question.
Selector
Well-Known Member
I would guess that, when all is said and done, the modern diesel fellas will heavily favour Athearn BB or Genesis or Atlas, maybe Kato, with some Stewart or Intermountain for the older diesels.
As for steam, Bachmann would do well in the polls, certainly for some engines, and otherwise BLI should be the big one. I really like the finish of the older Heritage Series Proto 2000 steam, but they are rare now and pricey, and also still a bit light as pullers.
-Crandell
As for steam, Bachmann would do well in the polls, certainly for some engines, and otherwise BLI should be the big one. I really like the finish of the older Heritage Series Proto 2000 steam, but they are rare now and pricey, and also still a bit light as pullers.
-Crandell
Trucklover
BNSF SD70MAC's
This is a tough one, but I went with Athearn because i like their RTR and Genesis lines. I also model BNSF and UP, as well as a little CSX and they have countless engines in a variety of paint schemes to offer for those 3 Class I Railroads.
My second choice would be Atlas with their Silver and Gold Series, and a close third would be Intermountain. That may change though with the release of the ES44's Intermountain is doing, if there as good as im hoping they will be, I will have a whole fleet of 19 ES44AC's and ES44DC's with DCC/SOUND for BNSF, UP, CSX, and EMD Demo's to play with
My second choice would be Atlas with their Silver and Gold Series, and a close third would be Intermountain. That may change though with the release of the ES44's Intermountain is doing, if there as good as im hoping they will be, I will have a whole fleet of 19 ES44AC's and ES44DC's with DCC/SOUND for BNSF, UP, CSX, and EMD Demo's to play with
Rico
BN Modeller
I went with Atlas simply because they vary from the simple Trainman line up thru the Classic, Silver, then Gold line which covers a lot of budgets and tastes.
They run extremely well by my experiances and are easy to deal with.
I like a lot more manufacturers as well but if I had only one Atlas would be it.
They run extremely well by my experiances and are easy to deal with.
I like a lot more manufacturers as well but if I had only one Atlas would be it.
jeffrey-wimberly
Dr Frankendiesel
I agree with that. Atlas locos are very well made. I have two GP40's taht were made back in the 70's. I also have two Atlas silver locos that were made in this century. A SD24 which I converted to my fictional SD27J and a GE U30C that I kitbashed to an EMD rebuild I call a U30M-R-EM-645. I incorporated parts from an Athearn SD40-2 into the design.
Secondhandmodeler
All new now!
Bachmann, because I like steam but don't have the funds for anything more expensive. My Spectrum Consolidation and Regular Berkshire are quite nice for the money I think. Less than $100 each.
Both are DCC but I run DC.
Both are DCC but I run DC.Cjcrescent
Master Mechanic
I had to vote other. My absolute favorite is Akane, last made 1965, and United/Atlas Industries, imported by PFM, last made 1977. Both have absolutely bulletproof mech's and the detail is still equal to todays standards.
Boo Rim Precision -the best running and looking brass model I've ever purchased. I also like Ajin Precision, but they're factory paint jobs and the placement of their lettering, stripes, and numbering are at tad sloppy. Not what one would expect for a model that costs over a $1000.00!
I love my two NW2 Katos, but Kato haven't made nothing for my era since their release of the CNR NW2s. However I am satisfied with the Proto switchers I have, which run very nice, slow, and smooth to this day.
Kadee and True Line Trains cars I find to be excellent, but sometimes True Line Train's car have the heralds and numbering askew.
I love the paint jobs on the Rapido products, but the assembly of them can be sloppy, but easily corrected with some patience.
I love my two NW2 Katos, but Kato haven't made nothing for my era since their release of the CNR NW2s. However I am satisfied with the Proto switchers I have, which run very nice, slow, and smooth to this day.
Kadee and True Line Trains cars I find to be excellent, but sometimes True Line Train's car have the heralds and numbering askew.
I love the paint jobs on the Rapido products, but the assembly of them can be sloppy, but easily corrected with some patience.
diburning
AlcoHaulic
I like Athearn, Atlas, and Kato.
Each manufacturer has their pros and cons.
I like Athearn RTR since the models are decently detailed for the price, and the drive is easy to disassemble and clean. There is also ample room inside to add speakers for sound. The drive, however, can be a hit or miss.
With Athearn Genesis, I like how they have ditch lights as appropriate to the prototype, but with some of the models, the motor leaves a lot to be desired. Also, Athearn messed up quite a bit in the Genesis line, basically quality control problems, but generally I would not hesitate to buy an Athearn Genesis engine.
I also have quite a few Atlas engines. They are nice and smooth and relatively quiet although they don't like to add ditch lights to anything except widecab GE diesels.
As with Bachmann.... Lets just say that I haven't met a Bachmann that I've liked, in any of their lines.
BLI engines are heavy and run great, but I'm not a huge fan of the sound (I'm spoiled by being around the prototype very often). The SD40-2s are similar to the Kato shell with finely molded fans that aren't see-through.
I don't have any Intermountain engines so I can't comment on them. They haven't made anything that fit my era (yet).
Kato engines are the smoothese running by far, but some models such as the early SD40-2 have a really weird pickup system. The shells have finely molded fans that are not see-thru, and the handrails are fat and not scale. The details aren't up to today's standards, but the drives are the best in the industry.
MTH - Lets not go there.
Walthers - The trainline locos aren't the best detail-wise, but have a smooth drivetrain.
Each manufacturer has their pros and cons.
I like Athearn RTR since the models are decently detailed for the price, and the drive is easy to disassemble and clean. There is also ample room inside to add speakers for sound. The drive, however, can be a hit or miss.
With Athearn Genesis, I like how they have ditch lights as appropriate to the prototype, but with some of the models, the motor leaves a lot to be desired. Also, Athearn messed up quite a bit in the Genesis line, basically quality control problems, but generally I would not hesitate to buy an Athearn Genesis engine.
I also have quite a few Atlas engines. They are nice and smooth and relatively quiet although they don't like to add ditch lights to anything except widecab GE diesels.
As with Bachmann.... Lets just say that I haven't met a Bachmann that I've liked, in any of their lines.
BLI engines are heavy and run great, but I'm not a huge fan of the sound (I'm spoiled by being around the prototype very often). The SD40-2s are similar to the Kato shell with finely molded fans that aren't see-through.
I don't have any Intermountain engines so I can't comment on them. They haven't made anything that fit my era (yet).
Kato engines are the smoothese running by far, but some models such as the early SD40-2 have a really weird pickup system. The shells have finely molded fans that are not see-thru, and the handrails are fat and not scale. The details aren't up to today's standards, but the drives are the best in the industry.
MTH - Lets not go there.
Walthers - The trainline locos aren't the best detail-wise, but have a smooth drivetrain.
IronBeltKen
Lazy Daydreamer
I had a lot of Athearn when I first got into the hobby as a teenager; blueboxes really were the only game in town for a young money-challenged modeler back in the 1970's. But that's all in the past, and times are definitely different today.
When I came back to the hobby, Stewart F units were hitting the market - I was instantly spoiled by their smooth, quiet Kato drives. Soon afterward I acquired some Kato SD40's and GP35's with the same smooth-as-silk drive. If KatoUSA were still releasing new models every year in HO, I would have marked them as my favorite - but they've abandoned the HO market. Atlas has filled the Kato void IMHO, with their smooth drives and detailed bodies - plus, I don't have to install the handrails & grab irons. And their Trainman line offers great value for the price. So Atlas gets my vote.
When I came back to the hobby, Stewart F units were hitting the market - I was instantly spoiled by their smooth, quiet Kato drives. Soon afterward I acquired some Kato SD40's and GP35's with the same smooth-as-silk drive. If KatoUSA were still releasing new models every year in HO, I would have marked them as my favorite - but they've abandoned the HO market. Atlas has filled the Kato void IMHO, with their smooth drives and detailed bodies - plus, I don't have to install the handrails & grab irons. And their Trainman line offers great value for the price. So Atlas gets my vote.
I look forward to the Gevos also! I was at the National convention and they had a few running around on a test track. The sound is awesome and the paint schemes are extremely sharp
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