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mbinsewi
| Posted by mbinsewi on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 10:43 PM Yep Mark, well, I have learned to look at all the post, because to many people replying, only look at the OP, and not whats in between, which means much info is missed, as far as answering the OP. I've not replied to many OP's, because I read down a few, that answers were all ready offered, and I need not to chime in with a repeat. I see it all the time. So how about that for a turn in your OP message. The ARF is alive and well. Mike.
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Paul3
| Posted by Paul3 on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 10:43 PM I signed up for both this forum and the old Atlas Forum 14 years ago. I was a poster on not only the pre-moderated MR.com forum, but way back when it was just a "guestbook" type forum with monthly questions asked by Andy S. And in the mid-1990's, I was a regular lurker then poster on the old newsgroup rec.models.railroad. I've been around. basem*ntdweller, That being said, it's still very influential in the industry. Most every major manufacturer at the very least monitors the ARF, and some post there. I've had more than a few conversations with various factory reps at the Springfield Show about postings and people on it. John Mock (PRR8259), Yes, folks on the ARF have been critical of products thatthey thought were wrong but were actually correct. I have news for you: the same thing happens here, too. Remember the gas pump thread? MTH...sigh. You can't deny that accuracy and fidelity are not their calling cards. They'll paint anything in any scheme they want, regardless of the accuracy or reality of their model. They do zippo in regards to prototype differences, and maxmize the model'sability to run on 18" radius curves to their detriment (are you happy with the huge gap above every MTH steamer trailing truck?). They are very much a throwback to the bad old days of Athearn BB, Tyco, Lionel, et al., yet with prices higher than most of their competition. Addto that their questionable business practices, proprietory sound system, and the fact that they employed a shill right here on this forum, then there's a lot not to like. Iwill always give them credit for taking on UP and winning, but that's all I'll do. RE: new product announcements. Yes, people posted, "Nothing for me to buy this month," after a steam loco got posted on ARF. Guess what? Someone always says that...every time anyone announces anything (diesels, steamers, boxcars, passenger cars, etc.). Big deal. I make fun of them about it from time to time because it can get annoying. But so what? "The prices are too high" complaint. Sigh (again). Okay, let's review. An LHS has a $180 loco for sale. Say he paid $120 for it. He'll make $60 selling it. Compare that to the old days of Athearn BB where a loco was $30 and he paid $20 for it. He only made $10. He'd have to sell 6 of those old locos to get the same profit as just one loco today. Is he really crying about that? I'm seriously laughing at the idea that the ARFruined anything. It's only been around for 4 years. If you want to include the old AF, well, at least it's a try at reality. What's "ruined" about the hobby? Great detailing, great drives, great paint, super accurate, DCC and/or sounds, knuckle couplers taking over X2F's, hard-to-believe-they-made-itprototypes (seriously...could you have imagined C-430's even 10 years ago? In every possible paint scheme?). Oh, I'm ruined justlooking at allmy super-detailed accurate models in rare prototypes that I could only dream of owning back when I was a kid. Boo-hoo. RE: Genesis SD40-2: It was only one guy talking it up. You do know you can "ignore" people on the ARF, right? All their posts disappear if you want them to. Brakie, selector, And are you really being told how to think, or just being exposed to ideas different from your own that you don't agree with? Catt, Paul A. Cutler III
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BRAKIE
| Posted by BRAKIE on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 11:37 PM
Paul,That may be true for some but,not all modelers will agree with "today's standards" which seems to be a personal preference. As far as P2K vs, Genesis. Let's see then. Crack gears vs Genesis short headlight life spanand the many CQ issues that has been covered on ARF. Sounds like theQC bar was lowered in the process of gaining today's "standards"again this has been covered many times on the old Atlas forum and ARF.. As far as BB locomotivesthere are budgeted minded modelers that can gain two BB SD40-2s for the price of one AthearnRTR SD40-2 or in some cases a Kato SD40-2 for less then the price of one Athearn RTR SD40-2.. Some times its more common sense over spending mega bucks for a locomotive that can be had cheaper. I bought two SCL GP9s(1025/1027) for less thenthe price ofone Genesis DCC Ready GP9. Now with that said the Genesis GP9s are great looking locomotives.I own one SCL GP9 (1036) itcame with some tinyglue spots andsome minor chip paint but,for what the LHS sold it to me for I won't complain. Of course it was collecting dust since it was rejected by the person who ordered it due to those tiny glue spots and chip paint-engine black covered those quite nicely and under normal layout viewing you can't see the touch up.. Larry Conductor. Summerset Ry. "Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
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PRR8259
| Posted by PRR8259 on Thursday, May 12, 2016 12:55 AM Paul-- Fact check: I subsequently backed off the Alco statement, which I acknowledged several years ago now wasstupid (wasn't that onthe actual Atlas forum?), and my issue with Athearn was not stamped siderods on an FEF 4-8-4 (I've never owned any FEF 4-8-4) but their QA/QC has been lacking on a number of models that I have tried through the years. That said, I have given credit where credit is due and complimented Athearn on the quality of the Genesis steamers which is exceedingly much better than some of their other products. I didexperience an issue with the P2K USRA Heavy 2-10-2's siderods, years ago, which bent way too easily if a screw backs loose, and as a result a brand new engine failed and was subsequently replaced by Walthers after the selling dealer's repair tech could not make it run properly. I was really upset about that, but did subsequently buy other Walthers products. I also have kids in the house, who occasionally get rough in the basem*nt, and that is not at all conducive to plastic handrails on anybody's diesels holding up, except perhaps Kato's delrin handrails. That's another reason formy preference for brasssteam. If the kids with a ball, or the cat,knock a brass one over on its side, it doesn't break (cat just tested new BLI hybrid by knocking it over on its side; engine was ok without a scratch). Cat has tested vintage brass too. Normally I keep them on a shelf she doesn't get up to. Your mileage may vary.
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riogrande5761
| Posted by riogrande5761 on Thursday, May 12, 2016 8:43 AM Paul,
I can live with the fact that you can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time. I used to hear this saying about churches, but it seems true for forums as well, "if you find a 'perfect' church, if ou join it, it will no longer be perfect". Afterall, forums are composed of people, warts and all. The best that anyone can do is keep it to a dull roar, as my dad used to say, and try to have a fun and constructive time. Model Railroading is Fun after all! Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
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Steven Otte Moderator
| Posted by Steven Otte on Thursday, May 12, 2016 9:12 AM
I've been keeping an eye on it. And as long as people are debating the state of model railroading, it's more on-topic than the original subject of discussing the fate of some other forum. The OP was actually off-topic. --
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BRAKIE
| Posted by BRAKIE on Thursday, May 12, 2016 10:22 AM
Yup,I said that many times after slicing my finger with a new Exacto blade,down on all fours looking for a dropped part,replacing a KD knuckle spring etc. As I mention even in 2016 I still enjoy my older Athearn SW7,GP9s and those old wide body GP35s just as well as my Atlas Classics,P2K, Atlas/Roco,Atlas/Kato, the Kato GP35 and of course my Athearn Genesis GP9 andAthearn RTRengines and oh yes, my Bachmann DCC/SoundAlco S-4 and my 70 Tonners. Getting down to the finer point I couldand wouldenjoyswitching cars with a (gasp!) Hobbytown RS-3 or RSD4/5. Why is that? Model Railroading is fun and that fun is what you want to make it. Larry Conductor. Summerset Ry. "Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
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riogrande5761
| Posted by riogrande5761 on Thursday, May 12, 2016 11:32 AM
It is fun. Hah hah, during the past few months I've burned my fingers with hot glue and cut them a few times, even cut one while cutting cardboard with a pair of scissors. Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
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