Jim and the list,
I purchased one of these engines from a local hobby shop in San Diego. The
engine leaves a little bit to be desired....
- road pilot, not switcher pilot
- the aformentioned lettering errors on the cab and tender
- lack of detail on the front number board (if the B&O engine can be detailed,
why not the Q)
- An extremley large, unsightly DCC cable/connector shoved into the cab
In all fairness, I emailed Athearn asking them about:
- the pilot. You can order the switcher pilot for about $5 plus $5.50
shipping/handling
- the cab numbers & how to remove them. Athearn's response was they had never
been asked the question, so they didn't know how to remove them. I used
Solvaset and very gentle pressure with a pencil eraser. Throw in some Champ
decals, problem solved.
- As for the DCC cable/connector, you are out of luck if you are an old timer
like me (I don't use DCC and have no desire to do so). Athearn said if you cut
the cable, the engine will not work and your warranty will be voided. I guess
the best you can do is shove the cable into the tender and hope for the best.
- You have to put on the handrails and stanchions...the stanchions are cut from
a sprue and look way too large for the handrail. Use an Exacto knife or small
bit to enlarge the mounting holes.
- The hole for the whistle needs to be enlarged and the mounting tab on the
whistle needs to be filed to fit.
- The boiler is extremely difficult to remove....I gave up (had hoped to put
the DCC cable in there). The cab will come off, though.
I consider myself a modeler of above average ability. I am by no means a rivet
counter and never will be. I simply feel that when I spend $150 (retail) on a
plastic steam engine, I expect a little bit better from the company.
In summary, I am extremely disappointed with this engine (came numbered CB&Q
4978.). For what the engine retails for (around $150), there is no way that it
can top, for example, a Bachman Spectrum 2-8-0 or a Proto 2K 0-8-0. This will
be my last purchase of a Genesis engine unless Athearn does an about face.
Stepping off my soapbox....
John Lewis
----- Original Message -----
From: Jim's Junction/ John & Debbie Olson
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2001 7:06 PM
To: BRHS
Subject: [BRHSlist] FW: Genesis CB&Q 2-8-2
Here is a copy of an email I just sent to Athearn. I am very
disappointed- guess nobody at Athearn took the time to check with the BRHS
as far as accuracy goes on this one! The 'F' units have been a different
story- I like what I have seen so far. Hope they check for accuracy on the
forthcoming 'Grayback' F-3's/F-7 for the proper shade of not Gray - not
White!
John Olson-owner
Jim's Junction
Billings, Mt.
406-259-5354 Store, Answering machine & Fax machine
<trains28@a...>
<http://www.jimsjunction.com>
Selling quality HO/N Scale items for 15 years- Worldwide shipping available.
Member- NRHSA (National Retail Hobby Stores Association)
Sustaining Member- BRHS (Burlington Route Historical Association)
----------
From: Jim's Junction/ John & Debbie Olson <trains28@a...>
Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 19:51:21 -0700
To: <athearn@a...>
Subject: Genesis CB&Q 2-8-2
Dear Athearn,
I just received your latest GENESIS 2-8-2 releases in the store today and
I must say...someone needs to do some homework! I have never seen any CB&Q
steam locomotive with White Lettering and White Herald! Every photo in every
book I have in my library shows the 'Q' engines with either Deluxe Gold or
Bronze lettering and the same on the Herald on the tender. I have a lot of
CB&Q model railroaders that frequent my store and like most modelers- they
are picky when it comes to quality locomotives. You have dropped a bomb with
this release and I hope I don't get stuck holding the bag when it comes to
selling them.
John Olson-owner
Jim's Junction
Billings, Mt.
406-259-5354 Store, Answering machine & Fax machine
<trains28@a...>
<http://www.jimsjunction.com>
Selling quality HO/N Scale items for 15 years- Worldwide shipping available.
Member- NRHSA (National Retail Hobby Stores Association)
Sustaining Member- BRHS (Burlington Route Historical Association)
.
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