Is there an Email addy or contact for Paul Graf? Im in Aussie and cant call 1800 numbers from the USA.. Thanks fellas.. ------------------ CK& Bird Butt Railroad - Its a coal mining region of a place far far away, that shares rails with SP, NS... Era: Time stands still round these parts, and we have everything from Steam, to Diesels...
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SknarfWl: I just got done checking my Atlas engines for cracking, luckly I have only one with this problem. I am four out of four for excessive lubercation. Does anyone have any tips on how to keep the paint from cracking more then it already has? So far you can just see hairline ripples in the paint, nothing has chipped or chunked off yet. At this point, I am never going to buy an Atlas engine again!!!!!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> RETRACTION!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel it is only fair, that I take back what I had stated in my earlier post. I wrote Atlas about my problem with the paint and I was told to send it in for a new on. In addition to the first engine, I broke a hand rail on another engine while removing the shell to clean up the extra oil. I sent both shells in and Atlas replaced both shells. They dealt with this in a very easy, but quick manner and I will continue to buy from them in the future.
VB try this addy paul@atlasrr.com I don't know if this is still current or not ,but it is Paul's old e-mail addy. ------------------ Catt!member#118 NARA member#1 A proud member of NARA & A freelancer to the very end
Yep, so many people have been saying that the ATLAS locos are just as good as KATO but I told them that was just not true. There IS a BIG difference between models made in Japan and models made in China. The Chinese made models might have a few extra little features over the Japanese made models but the Japanese made models are made to a higher quality standard. I stopped collecting ATLAS models as soon as they switched their production to China, this post tells me that was a good decision.
I totally agree. In my honest opinion, the Kato shells have a way better design then the Atlas and I can tell you from stripping them that the plastic is harder and seems to be of better qaulity. As for the drives, Kato has Atlas beat. Keep in mind I don't have anything against Atlas, as a matter of fact I have a bunch (more than a bunch )of Atlas locos. I just wish there mechanisms and shells were of better qaulity. ------------------ Craig Martyn Best Looking Models Around Custom detailing AND N scale detail parts. BLMA N Scale Detail Parts BLMAinfo@aol.com
Their is a topic on this on the Atlas forum. I think you guys should check it out. Everybody thinks Atlas has better detailing but Kato and Atlas are the same, not counting add-on details like sunshades and painted end rails that the modeler can do. Kato runs better too.
Although Katos shells have better detailing (especially the fans) the prices I see them charge had made me really mad and I've quit buying any of their products. HO Dash-9 shells go for $40+. N scale, a little less but about the same. I might be wrong since I havent looked at the prices of Katos recently, but that is ridiculous. I really cant afford to go up chopping 30 dollar shells and make a mistake on them. Mike Antkowiak
Thank you for posting that. To be honest, I used to check the Atlas forum every day but I stopped do that about 6 months ago. In my humble opinion, there was too much butt kissing going on at the Atlas forum. Some of the posters there have made it their life's ambition to over complement Paul Graf and other members of the Atlas staff in the hopes that by doing so, their suggestions of what models Atlas should produce in the future will be taken. I got really sick of the Atlas forum so I stopped going there. That's the trouble when a manufacturer hosts a forum people tend not be able to speak their mind since they feel like they are insulting the host. I am very glad that this forum exists since it is not sponsored by any manufacturer so everyone can say what is honestly on their mind. Speaking of which, I am also of the opinion that Atlas locomotive prices are getting out of hand. $99.00 list price for that Trainmaster??? Now $89.00 list price for that newly announced small run of the GP-30 and 35's??? Come on now, that's absurd. These so-called "classics" aren't even DCC friendly for goodness sake. Classic is just a fancy word for old. KATO is now charging lower prices for higher quality models so that's where I am putting my money.
