Improve O scale Locomotives

I would agree that appearances have their place...I'm in for a massive reduction in final drive gear ratios across the board. Who on earth needs a scale O switcher capable of 120 SMPH ?    Or anything even remotely close to that.  The China drive stuff could be greatly improved with the gear ratios cut in half... and then wired in series to boot.  O scale takes it on the chin every time for lousy running, especially at low speed, and it's time for us to go after the builder / importers on this and get some stuff that runs well...especially in light of what you pay for it !

Atlas was doing a great job in O scale especially in the 2 rail Master Line. UNTIL! Then they went to the china drive and in the Trainman Line went to "Handrails mounted on a stick", like that of mth. If I wanted toy trains then I would be buying mth 2-rail diesels or 3-rail. Atlas has lost their edge and I have not bought anything lately. No delivery of new locomotive and rehash of the same stuff. When Atlas had the forum one could converse with them easily. That's all gone. Several people I know have call just to get a snippet remarks or false information (just plain lied to).

I believe Sunset with the E7, F9, FP7, FT, and F7 coming is the one to beat. Scott has been very receptive to 2-railers with now attaching side steps to the locos and road specific details. Things are getting better. Even Division Point will be doing a RS3 that has never been done correctly. Stephen

There are plenty of O Scale Diesels out there with the features you desire.  Key is still producing them, and the used market is flourishing.  Midwest Model Works is rumored to be ready to enter at that level.

 

If you are asking Atlas to produce Key competition for cheap, I am going to guess that they have found a different market niche.

As a business man, I understand the significant challenges about producing

O scale models in high detail in low volume to make a profit so that you can

invest in doing another model.

 

I will always supports 3rd Rail, Atlas O, Weaver and several others making it

possible to model in O scale 2 rail.

 

ncng

I have seen Atlas go from a great model company to one running at a snails pace and seems ever since the head O scale guy passed on and the supposed recession. I can't hold the recession at fault as I heard that in bad times hobbies seem to flourish. I know I had the money to buy but Atlas wasn't producing. Still waiting on the 8-40CW after some 5 yrs? But that is OK. I really haven't bought anything outside of their CZ cars in the last 2 yrs. Not saying much for investing in O scale.

But today was different, 107 outside and 84 in the train room and I really did spend several hrs. playing on the layout. Thank goodness for high speed fans. Now I have to find some channeling assemble the 4 cut panels for a 80" storage warehouse flat i am assemblin. 320' scale, about 6 cars. My son brought home some regretably thick plastic vinyl cardboard 5/16th inch thick and  lined like regular cardboard. . I tried using a matt knife to cut it, Nope, so I got my circular saw and a plywood blade to zoom through it.It is almost like working with wood.  i will find some thin flat 3/4 to 1" strips to mimic concrete columns and tha channeling will be the facia.. Paint it concrete grey, glue a lettered picture to use as an advertising  sign,  add some cracks,  weather it up, and stick it to the wall.Hopefully don't spend more than $20.

I'd like to put a electric ad sign like Bekins but they were never used on the back of the building and having it flat against the wall won't look that good. I guess I could get a HO on N sign and paint a perspective roof on the wall and put it on the top to gice the appearnce of it on the front of the building. NO.

Good weekend. Now back to a week of CNBC and You Tube trains.

Biggest problem as far as I see it with Atlas now is their "All or Nothing" specs for 2-Rail locos!! Either 'Gold' with DCC/everything, or "unpowered dummy"...!!
What about the common or garden 12v DC Locos - or is that what Trainman is supposed to be?? I have a Trainman RS3, & generally I'm very pleased with it. The "sore thumb" that sticks out is the shortened handrails at each corner - a 3-rail legacy obviously, & I've found out via this Forum that the hoods are a bit on the 'tubby' side. Fortunately not many people in the UK have ever seen an RS3 for real (myself included) so we can't really tell just by looking at the model
Whilst I'm all for better detailing etc, & sprung axles would be wonderful, especially on 6-axle locos, I think the extra costs of such details would knock prices far higher than they are already. In the UK, it's the cost of R-T-R locos that puts people off moving into O Scale. A big diesel can be £400+, new ...about $680. And that's just 12v DC; not DCC.
Could the US 2-Rail market sustain that sort of price for a "plastic" loco??

I too used to really like Atlas. My biggest problem with their diesels and China drive isn't necessarily how it runs, but the fact that it makes cab interiors very difficult if not impossible. Details are why Im in O. Im not going to pay more to get less than HO can deliver.