New Atlas O Maxi IV Articulated Well Car

 

 

With Lionel and MTH saturating the 3-rail market with their hohum "affordable"  ES44s and SD70Whatevers the chance of a good non brass 2-rail version is nil.

 

Al, You're right.   Certainly would be great to have some GP40-2's.  The MTH GP38-2's and Weaver model while not perfect do serve as decent starting point in the meantime.  Also, the later runs of MTH GP40's aren't terrible, but also require some further detailing.

 

 

 

Did someone say "SD70MAC's.............................................One of my favorite engines!

 

Regards,

Frank

Yes, what ever became of the K-line SD70 molds.

All that it needed was a scale fuel tank.

I'm fairly certain that Lionel got them and they released the last K-line ones that were ordered under the K-line name.

Bachmann has the k-line sd70mac molds.  The Lionel sd70mac offering as of late is much less accurate.

Seems like a project for Bachmann to release an upgraded SD70 series locomotive in the O Scale market.  Not in the Williams line.

I think I still have the flyer from about five years ago from atlas I got at York.  They had those SD70s and a five unit spine car photographed on it.  I know they didn't end up with those molds and that didn't work out.   That would have been cool. 

Don

so much for "fairly certain"! The Lionel release right after, looked just like the K-line?

 

I agree Mike!   But things always work out and I can't wait for Atlas to get their C40-8W and now these containers and Maxi IV cars out!   It's going to be great!

Don

Mike

One more thing, at least for me, these cars / locos should put to rest the thoughts of HO or N for me.   I don't know what you think but these are a home run in my book!

Don

OK, Atlas-O ... The Labor Day holiday is now history... Lionel has unveiled their 2015 volume 2 catalog (twice!!!).  You must have your internal pricing metrics in place by now for these new Gunderson models.  So aren't you tired yet of saying "announcement coming soon"?  

 

Let's just make it official and announce these things already!    There comes a point when this stuff becomes anti-climactic after awhile... Like taking 7 years to complete the CZ train.  

 

David

 

 

 

Don,with the sharp increases from Atlas,it keeps me guessing how long we modelers can keep buying & if sales aren't high enough on any run,that run is cancelled as you more experienced O Scaler's have seen. I LOVE the size of O,but I have to sell ALL my high dollar items to get into O scale & if it falls about the time I accomplish this,then I'm done,there won't be funds to start fresh in HO again. Except for track,Sergent couplers,magnelock airlines,(the former 2 items can come gradually),& possibly a DCC system,I'm set & ready in HO. So at the prices for the 5161 releases for late 2016,probably 2017 'till they get here,& the prices on these new Intermodal cars,I'm cringing a lot. I have a 25'x50' basement with obstacles,but I have the room to put up a fantastic layout if prices don't keep going nuts. I was hopeful after Atlas go the China "mess" better straightened out,prices might fall some. What's you fellas take on this?

O has made milestones over the years,but with prices going crazy,jobs on the outs,I don't know if O can survive except where a group of modelers get together to build a layout over time.

Not trying to paint a gloomy picture here,I've heard all the discussions here on this & other sites before,& they go both ways.

Thanks,

Al Hummel

Pick any scale  from Z to Live Steam and I've heard the same complaints about pricing over the years (decades).  It's a fact of life, prices will increase.  You just have to decide when and how wisely you will spend your dollars.  If you absolutely must have the latest and greatest as soon as it leaves the importer warehouse, you will pay a premium.  Everyone approaches this hobby differently.  Some approaches are more expensive than others.

 

As always ..... opinion.

ecd15,

I understand what you're saying but being new to the O Scale market don't know the trends. Let's start with an example of the recent Atlas 25,500 tankers.

 

After the new run of those hit the market this year,I watched several with great interest. Prices seemed high yet,but then watching several of my favorite O dealers,the tanks I was watching disappeared in 2 rail &I ended up with some 3 rail cars to complete 4 numbers of the GATX/SERVICE DRIVEN set,& only 3 of another. What should have been my approach? Wait on the second hand market years later to possibly pick up some?

I'm asking for guidance here not being smart or cocky defending my actions. I'm saying this as print can be deceiving in expressing the meaning of the writer.

 

Thank you,

Al Hummel

Al,

 

Like any other scale, O Scale now days is primarily a built to order market.  Not saying there aren't cars to be had if you don't reserve them, but very few dealers order extras for stock.  Even parts are becoming more scarce. 

 

Production runs of O cars I would imagine are already smaller to begin with than their counterparts in HO and N?  And tooling and more likely material costs are higher in O Scale.   Luckily as you found out often we can purchase 3R cars and convert them without too much trouble.  

 

 

Mike,

I'd rather buy 3 rail to cut costs 1st,2nd all I have to do is drop the wheel sets & not have to mess around getting those 2 rail couplers off. My problem is selling the 3 rail trucks to buy 2 rail-any ideas here?

 

Mike in talking to Atlas,I was told I could probably run 1 diesel,no lash ups,with an HO MRC Tech 2 power supply. What type power supply do I need to run DC diesels to start with until I can install them with DCC? I can get good prices on some DC diesels now that would do my switch work & grain trains until I can afford a 4 axle switcher. They're DCC ready.

 Thanks again,

Al Hummel

The latest Trinity cars both covered hoppers and tanks are hard to find in 2 rail especially if you are looking for specific Rd 3s, not only are they expensive new but with BTO most buyers want to keep what they buy and dealers are not inclined to stock. Bottom line is to reserve and buy when these products are announced,you will be assured of getting what you want and usually street price on preorders is the best deal you will get.JMO

 

 

Being in 2-rail O Scale with price being a significant determinant will be a frustrating experience and probably not something to undertake as a leisure time activity. While purchasing or buying is a significant element of collecting, ala toy train collectors, in 2-rail scale one needs to define and focus on the specifics of their interests and only spend money on things which fall into the defined realm and forsake other things regardless of ones affinity for a particular object.  Eg, while I like the Overland U50C I will not buy or spend money on one because it does not fit in my realm.

 

You cannot purchase something in 3-rail that is also available in 2-rail and convert it for less than the price of getting the 2-rail.  I'd bet everyone here has tried. 

 

I suspect Atlas will "announce" everything in their routine email blasts, whenever that is.  After all this time being impatient about a few days or weeks serves no positive purpose.  They don't make a dime until you or I buy them so they are not delaying anything just to annoy anyone. 

Al

You make some great points about price.  But I have had a pretty large N-Scale layout, HO-Scale layout, and now I am working on a similar sized O-Scale one.  And I have done a couple wholesale complete sells out of one scale into another.  I have even dumped a lot of O-Scale stuff to get into a different era or road name.  For me it's part of the fun I guess.  I probably have lost a little money in the changes but not too much. 

I can say this from experience though.  Even with some price increases, I don't think an O-Scale layout is any more expensive than an HO or N in the same sized space.  I used to spend a ton of money on N stuff and it isn't cheap.  But you do need so much more eqpt for the same sized layout.  For example, in my space, For O, I figure on two locos and ten car trains.  I am looking for a fleet of about 15-20 locos.   In HO, I would model 3-4 locos per train and 20 cars.  In N, 4-5 locos and 30-40 car trains.  In N I had maybe 50 locos?   About the same price as 15 in O-scale.  And my N scale stuff didn't have sound either.  N scale is crazy!   Buy a set of the Kato Maxi IV cars and containers.  Next thing you know you have 15 sets.   Then you need more!   Ha!   It happens in every scale!   This is an expensive hobby no matter what scale you choose. 

I think the larger scale you go, the less cars you need to look right.  This is obviously only my opinion. 

From my experience, if you have a 25x50 foot space and fill it, it will cost about the same regardless of whatever scale you choose, so just pick the scale you like to model in and go for it.  Life is too short!   I have wasted a lot of time trying to pick the perfect scale/era/size, etc. 

And, I would say with how hard it is to find stuff in 2-rail, it would suggest there is a lot of modelers in O, maybe more than we think.  When is the last time you have seen a CSX SD40 or MP15 on eBay?  I heard Atlas has had large runs of the coil cars and tank cars recently.  I think they are doing just fine. 

Thanks!   Just my two cents. 

Don

So the notice was posted by Atlas. 

$289.95 for 3R, $299.95 for 2R. 

4 road numbers per road name

Containers held the line at $29.95

 

http://www.atlaso.com/omaxiivwellcar.htm

 

So, lets see, 6 different liveries of containers with 6 different numbers of each.  That's 36 different containers at MSRP $30 or $1080 just for containers ($900@$25/).  Pfffft!.  On the other side of the coin if you get all 4 different numbers of Pacer cars you have 12 wells but only 6 different containers.  Yes, I know, Pacer cars can carry other containers, they just don't very much.  And then I wouldn't put it past JD to do custom containers.

 

Ok, so what is the difference between and A set and a B set of cars?

I believe Rob at Atlas will have to clarify that.

 

Have seen those, they are wonderful cars, exceptional detailing and paint. Roll very smoothly.

I don't think so. As far as I know, prototype articulated 53' sets only ever have 3 sections, never 5. There are also single 53' cars, but Atlas isn't doing those.

 

40' sets have 5 units.

 

I have no clue as to why they are listed as A and B since there is only one price for 2 rail and a few bucks less for 3 rail. They should all be 3 car sets.

 

I think as a group we came pretty close to guessing the prices. Now the hard part, deciding how many and which ones to get, and then the really hard part... paying for them.

 

 

 

I would guess that the A and B set have different reporting numbers, this seems logical.