O scale NS First Responder 25,000 gallon tank cars announced for order period.

I'll probably get both road-numbers to run behind the MTH SD60E's I ordered, but I wasn't that pleased with the price surcharge for these cars.  I think it's got a bit more to do with Atlas-O "testing out the waters" to see what the market will bear.

Grant it, the other tankers are rather bland, but I really hope we haven't gotten to the point where importers are gonna nickel-and-dime enthusiasts for every little nuance -- including paint schemes.  If that's the case, look out in reefer-land, as some of those cars have some really fancy graphics.  And as far as I can recall, Atlas-O has never charged a premium for the more exotic paint schemes.  Don't think Lionel has even done that.

No...  The more I think about this, the more I think it's just Atlas-O seeing if enthusiasts will buy these cars anyway... price premium and all.

I'd be OK with the price premium if Atlas-O were setting aside some proceeds for a donation to first-responder organizations of some kind, but that's not how this was presented.

Two thumbs up on the design... Two thumbs down on the price-premium!  

David

Does anyone have any idea when the sd60e's are coming in?

Would like to have them but not for that price. I will wait on MTH to make them. I like the more durable cars that MTH makes. Atlas cars a very nice just break to easy and taking the to shows they are not durable. 

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

I'll probably get both road-numbers to run behind the MTH SD60E's I ordered, but I wasn't that pleased with the price surcharge for these cars.  I think it's got a bit more to do with Atlas-O "testing out the waters" to see what the market will bear.

Grant it, the other tankers are rather bland, but I really hope we haven't gotten to the point where importers are gonna nickel-and-dime enthusiasts for every little nuance -- including paint schemes.  If that's the case, look out in reefer-land, as some of those cars have some really fancy graphics.  And as far as I can recall, Atlas-O has never charged a premium for the more exotic paint schemes.  Don't think Lionel has even done that.

No...  The more I think about this, the more I think it's just Atlas-O seeing if enthusiasts will buy these cars anyway... price premium and all.

I'd be OK with the price premium if Atlas-O were setting aside some proceeds for a donation to first-responder organizations of some kind, but that's not how this was presented.

Two thumbs up on the design... Two thumbs down on the price-premium!  

David

These cars require paint masks and many more printing operations than the other tank cars, hence the reasoning for the additional cost.  In addition to more decorating steps, there is also a higher risk of something going amiss during the decorating and/or assembly process where the body may not be usable (scrap), and this also factors into the cost.

In the case of the wood reefers, the decoration is similar on nearly all of the paint schemes, and this is factored into the cost up front.

Thanks, Paul, for the explanation. IMO, these cars will be spectacular and well worth the price...I believe Atlas O rolling stock is superior to other offerings.

Paul,

Is there a reason for Atlas-O to redoing the 25,500 gallon tank cars in the old ADM “Molecule” logo over (2016) & over 2014) & over (2013)? ADM has a big ethanol facility in my city & most of the cars I see nowadays have the newer “leaf” logo that ADM introduced in 2001. I rarely see cars with old “molecule” logos from the 1960s, these days. I have your Trinity 5161 grain hopper in the new “Leaf” logo that was a special run for JD’s Trains & also a 25,500 car in the old “molecule” logo but I would be interested in more of these tank cars but in the current “Leaf” logo.

These are just my opinion,

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

For clarification, here is a photo of my Atlas-O Trinity 25,500 gallon tank car in the old ADM “Molecule” logo next to my Atlas-O Trinity 5161 cu.ft. hopper in the new ADM “Leaf” logo.

These are just my opinion,

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

A little birdy told me that you'll soon be seeing these cars offered from some other major O gauge manufacterers too!

M J Breen posted:

A little birdy told me that you'll soon be seeing these cars offered from some other major O gauge manufacterers too!

Gotta love having competition in this marketplace!!!    Everybody is looking for the best bang for the dollar today.  Nobody's looking to "steal" things from the suppliers either. 

While I appreciate Paul jumping in and offering some comments on Atlas-O's recent announcement, I still think charging a premium based on a paint scheme puts us on a slippery slope that we don't really need be on.  I realize the overseas factories are increasing costs -- seemingly by the day , but the importers are sitting smack in the middle between factories who want to increase costs and consumers who already have more trains than they know what to do with.  Not exactly a recipe to push prices upwards. 

When push comes to shove, I'll buy a $75 car that's respectably detailed vs. a $100+ car that's finely detailed to the n'th rivet.  Any day... any time.

MTH offers Premier Line 20K Gallon 4-compartment tankers with a $75 MSRP, and Lionel offers scale 30K Gallon Ethanol Tankers at $250 MSRP for a 3-pack (or roughly $85 MSRP per car). 

Should be interesting to see what the competition announces!  

David

naveenrajan posted:

Paul,

Is there a reason for Atlas-O to redoing the 25,500 gallon tank cars in the old ADM “Molecule” logo over (2016) & over 2014) & over (2013)? ADM has a big ethanol facility in my city & most of the cars I see nowadays have the newer “leaf” logo that ADM introduced in 2001. I rarely see cars with old “molecule” logos from the 1960s, these days. I have your Trinity 5161 grain hopper in the new “Leaf” logo that was a special run for JD’s Trains & also a 25,500 car in the old “molecule” logo but I would be interested in more of these tank cars but in the current “Leaf” logo.

These are just my opinion,

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

This is what the Product Development team, in conjunction with our Sales Team, determined was more in demand in the market.  I will relay your comments to them.

FALCONSERVICE,

Thanks for the info.  I'll order Both road numbers.

M. J. Breed,

Thank you as well.  Will definitely order two from Lionel or MTH.  Since they would most likely be smaller than the Atlas cars, they'll look like these together (two in middle are larger tanks)...

Paul, I am pleased that Atlas at least monitor comment on this forum; I profoundly disagree with what was written here earlier, I would rather pay $100+ for a beautifully detailed car than $70 for a mediocre or poor car, hence I was very disappointed by the PS 4750 car. I for one would like to see the TM concept consigned to the bin  and all future offerings in ML standard.  You get what you pay for although sadly on this forum I suspect this opinion is in a minority. You don't find military modellers clamouring for corner cutting.  I wish Atlas O scale, would accurately mimic the details found on the HO cars, I noticed short cuts were taken on the 25k gallon tanks in relation to the correct fuel fillers for want of a better description on certain cars and the lifting points on the 62' bulkhead were also missing. If it only cost $5 to correct these issues in China then can we be given the opportunity to pay the extra or at least have the parts supplied for self assembly. If you are going to introduce a new model you might as well get it right, first time. The PS5344 boxcar is now long overdue in 1:48, ML of course.

regards

n.

Extra price for whatever reason would be no problem if the cars were done correctly. I will pass on the Atlas higher priced cars and incorrect detail.

Stephen

Limey posted:

... I profoundly disagree with what was written here earlier, I would rather pay $100+ for a beautifully detailed car than $70 for a mediocre or poor car ...

Well, you might not need to disagree too profoundly, since my points of reference were MTH's 20K Gallon 4-compartment tanker and Lionel's 30K Gallon Ethynol tankers -- neither of which are "mediocre" cars.  They're actually quite nice, and I own both models.  I did say "respectably detailed" in my earlier comment, which hardly implies something that is mediocre.    Just sayin...  We have a few good choices in the market at all price points.  So life is good.

David

David, I can't comment on either as I do not currently own them but I will take a look, the MTH 50' hi-cubes are crisply moulded and well executed...................until one looks under the frame, I have 3 that will have complete rebuilds one day.  I just wish that Atlas had the sort of competition in 0 that they face in H0, such as Exactrail.  Then I feel this segment of the hobby would move forward, to the benefit of the 2r fidelity enthusiast. 

Michigan & Ohio Valley Lines posted:

...  Will definitely order two from Lionel or MTH.  Since they would most likely be smaller than the Atlas cars, they'll look like these together (two in middle are larger tanks)...

 

Looks like a nice train... to which we all might be adding MTH's (reportedly) uncatalog'd caboose.   Check out this thread just posted on the forum today.  Talk about lighting fast information flow... 

David