Atlas purchase of BLMA Models

If Atlas would be do the BLMA modern signal bridges in O Scale I would be all over that.

If Atlas would offer them in O-Scale, I would also buy the modern cantilever signals, the modern concrete panels for grade crossings & the modern billboards. I was thinking about buying some of these HO models, reverse engineering, then scaling them to O-Scale & 3-D printing them but it would save me a lot of money & time if Atlas were to offer them in O-Scale.

These are just my opinion,

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

nw2124 posted:

The Atlas acquisition BLMA may give the O scale market some very nice sought after Master-Line models.

 

I don't understand this reasoning at all.  Isn't BLMA HO and N scale only? 

Can Atlas take an HO tooling from BLMA and somehow use it to manufacture an O scale model?

Martin,

Tooling – No, but the drawings & CAD models, if any, could be scaled to make models with comparative level of detail or refined to get more details for a larger scale, if needed. It should take a lot less time than trying to create the drawings from scratch since BLMA might have already collected the photos, catalogs, specifications of the prototypes to make their HO-Scale or N-Scale models & Craig from BLMA is supposed to be involved as a consultant for Atlas for the next few years. Just like Atlas has offered rolling stock & possible locomotive models in O-Scale that they had been offering in their smaller scales. Obviously it would be a lot easier if the tooling for O-Scale models was already available like when they acquired something for the Weaver 20’ containers.

These are just my opinion,

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

I hope you are right, Naveen.  But the way they sent out the announcement seemed to imply that this was a benefit for HO and N guys only.

Realistically thats clearly the case,its possible sometime in the distant future Atlas could use some of the data and proto info to produce an O scale model although there are plenty of their HO and N products that have not made it to O scale production,Just saying.

Maybe they'll put China Drives in all the new BLMA HO and N offerings.  

Butch

up148 posted:

Maybe they'll put China Drives in all the new BLMA HO and N offerings.  

 

Butch

LOL!  Wouldn't that be a kick in the shorts!    Let's hope the signals, trinity spine cars, road crossings make it to O Scale.  Certainly wouldn't mind the Bx-166's , Trincool reefers, Trinity 5660 PD Covered Hoppers, PS4000 Covered Hopper and the Trinity 31K Crude Oil Tank Cars!!!   Atlas would do them extremely well!

Paul Graf at the NMRA in August said Atlas planning on getting back into signals next year (that would be this year now) and that the D signals were high on the list.  So making them available with 2-track cantilever bridges would be a great sitting over top of all those 53' double stack cars

I like to see Atlas moving forward. I hope this will continue with O scale as well.

It has been noted that the Zephyr cars carry an outstanding resemblance to the Broadway Limited CZ. Perhaps they already did something similar with those?

SANTIAGOP23 posted:

It has been noted that the Zephyr cars carry an outstanding resemblance to the Broadway Limited CZ. Perhaps they already did something similar with those?

 

I seem to recall that before BLMA offered their own cars, they did work for other model train manufacturers.

Rusty

I wonder what the back story is with this purchase, as I always thought the BLMA guys were pretty young to be retiring. Are they staying with Atlas/BLMA or moving on to another railroad adventure in theirs lives. What a success story!

Butch

I am not putting any faith that Atlas will put anything of this purchase toward the O scale/gauge product lines. 

phill posted:

I am not putting any faith that Atlas will put anything of this purchase toward the O scale/gauge product lines. 

Probably not.  It'd be awesome if they brought out an O BX-166, but it probably won't happen. 

up148 posted:

I wonder what the back story is with this purchase, as I always thought the BLMA guys were pretty young to be retiring. Are they staying with Atlas/BLMA or moving on to another railroad adventure in theirs lives. What a success story!

 

Butch

Maybe they got tired of model railroading as a business instead of a hobby.

Rusty

Trinity Reefers in 2-rail O yes please!!!

...but not holding my breath

D signals?  Are those the 3 light triangles which look like bowling balls?

Rusty Traque posted:

up148 posted:

I wonder what the back story is with this purchase, as I always thought the BLMA guys were pretty young to be retiring. Are they staying with Atlas/BLMA or moving on to another railroad adventure in theirs lives. What a success story!

 

Butch

Maybe they got tired of model railroading as a business instead of a hobby.

Rusty

In the Atlas news release it states that Craig Martyn of BLMA will stay on as a consultant while pursuing his outside ventures,you might want to read the Atlas news release.