It appears Atlas is putting their money on new HO products and letting N Scale ride as is where is until they decide N Scale is due a new locomotive.. When I ask one of their huncho about doing a N Scale SW1500 I was told there is no chance of Atlas producing a SW1500 and they didn't seem interested but,wait! What's this? A new HO Trainman Plus Series NRE Genset? Of course it was ripped on their HO forum because it was a lowly "Trainman" and not a Silver or Gold series.
No, the US has been after China for quite some time to remove their controls and let their currency rise against the dollar to reduce the trade deficit. Maybe now is a good time to bring some of the work back to the states.
I don't object to the GP7 at all. Atlas makes a superb one, but lately they have been rare as hen's teeth, and I am pretty doggone sure that Spectrum will make sure there are plenty around. Additionally, if the mechanism is decent, think of putting the old F7 Plus shell on it. What a combo!!!! I always liked the Bachmann Plus units both A and B except they ran horrible, both the Plus and Spectrum. Think of all of those bogus A and B units out there begging for a decent mechanism to run under them. The shells had the nose down just perfect, and even if purchased together, their combined cost from mail order could be less than an Intermountain, or Kato, and much better than old Trix units. So, what the hey!!!! Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
Why a GP-7? One of the most popular prototypes made. I looked at one of the largest online hobby shops and could find not one in stock. A product of the pre-order system. Perhaps Bachmann is throwing down the gauntlet and challenging that concept. Supposedly they plan to make these a stock item. Would be nice if you needed a common prototype to be able to go into a store and buy one. Frank
Early Geeps I, too, would love to see more Geeps available, as they are prefect for the era I model. And, I think Atlas can use the competition, as they seem to have gotten rather unresponsive lately. I sent a post to their N-scale planners about a month ago and have yet to even get an acknowledgment, let alone an answer. Atlas only seems interested in doing the latest monster modern diesels in N-scale, anyway. I didn't know all the stuff was made in the same factory in China, but am not surprised. It makes me understand what has happened to the legendary Atlas quality, which used to be worth paying a premium for. Not so much anymore, sadly. :tb-sad:
I don't think China is being greedy. The price increase is partly due to the rise of the currency and partly due to rise in wages and living standards over there. With the working condition and wage at minimum in order to attract those jobs, it will be a long time before those jobs come back to US since the next manufacturing centre will be in poorer developing countries. If those manufacturing jobs do come back to US, it will be a sign US has become 'developing' country of the world. So how did Kato do it? Automation and robotics, not hands but brains.
I had this same EXACT repsonse from Atlas during PSX 2004 when I asked them about doing a CF-7 or a chopped nose GP-7/9. They told me to basically go F myself! Great customer service. NOT!
The vast majority of my motive power is Atlas, so it wouldn't bother me to see some good-running Bachmann N scale locomotives.
So once the pony leaves the barn could Bachmann then use this mech to start running all sorts of geeps? GP9,30,35,38,40? And as mentioned earlier F7,F9s?
Once you've designed a mechanism it should be easy enough to lengthen the design to fit longer engines. Maybe Bachmann could show Walthers how it's done and do a GP60/GP60M.
