Re: PC: Limited production and Athearn

[lnrr@xxxxxxxx]

Atlas is getting ridiculous on their pricing, especially with the
"Classic" models in HO. (Classic meaning they are just reusing the old
molds, with maybe a new drive.) It's funny how their prices went up and
not down when they switched production to the large Asian country noted
for slave labor. Their motto should be "Athearn Quality - Kato Price."

I thought Proto 2000 would drive down prices and drive up quality of
other makers, but the opposite has happened. Nobody's lowering prices and
only Athearn has made a major effort (albeit only on certain, new models)
to increase quality. I bought a Stewart Century (in L&N) and if I want it
to be close to accurate I will have to strip off the old lettering!

I've gotten fed up with the collector-limited edition hype. At one time,
I would rush out and buy everything that I was interested in when it
first came out. Now, I've started skipping some of these precious limited
runs and guess what? The world did not come to an end. If a few of the
over priced, under detailed runs sit in a warehouse maybe the makers will
get the message.

Bryan Turner
http://homestead.juno.com/lnrr/index.html

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