Amen, Mirai! Couldn't have said it better myself. Walthers should be embarrassed that they keep trotting out those Amfleet shells in the current market, which they themselves have helped establish to much higher levels of quality.
Railroad Forums
Walthers Amtrak Amfleet Is "Retired"
- Discussion related to everything about model railroading, from layout design and planning, to reviews of related model tools and equipment. Discussion includes O, S, HO, N and Z, as well as narrow gauge topics. Also includes discussion of traditional "toy train" and "collector" topics such as Lionel, American Flyer, Marx, and others. Also includes discussion of outdoor garden railways and live steamers.
Moderators: 3rdrail, stilson4283, Otto Vondrak
Dont you get it? Walthers doesnt care. That stuff will sell just because it is what it is. They dont care about us people who really care about modeling and having things that run they care about all of the people who will buy anything that says Amtrak or NJ Transit for their kids to shut them up.
No good deed goes unpunished.
You know, ive been reading this thread for awhile now. And I have to say. I don't undertand the big deal. Yes I do realize people want the most realistic trains for a good value- don't we all. But I'm happy with the Walthers model. Is it the best? Nope. But its better than not having them. I think back to when I was trying to find MBTA horizon/comet cars before I knew about the resin makers. Same thing, are they the best running/looking cars? Maybe not but they do the job, and I'm happy with them. Then again, for an Amfleet, id prefer the new Bachmann model. I like it much more.
In my case thats not so much the point. The point is they take everything else and advance it, hell even the Trainline locomotives now have the P1K drives! But they continue to pump out this 30 year old outdated design that has many failure points. I could just purely go here on the NMRA standards values to start. The last revisions of draft gear cannot hold coupler height worth a crap! The cars are too light by standards but thats okay, because the weight they pull with the horrible rolling trucks equals a car 10 times the weight.
No good deed goes unpunished.
ApproachMedium wrote:In my case thats not so much the point. The point is they take everything else and advance it, hell even the Trainline locomotives now have the P1K drives! But they continue to pump out this 30 year old outdated design that has many failure points. I could just purely go here on the NMRA standards values to start. The last revisions of draft gear cannot hold coupler height worth a crap! The cars are too light by standards but thats okay, because the weight they pull with the horrible rolling trucks equals a car 10 times the weight.Oh no I see what you're saying, and I agree. If they spent all this time and money and upgraded the Heritage cars and then the Superliners, hell now there are California cars (thou not true Surfliner cars) you'd think they'd take the time to upgrade a conceivably more popular car. I would venture more people have Amfleets than Superliners on their layouts.
Well boys and girls, they are now listed on the Amtrak40th Website:
http://store.amtrak.com/ProductList.aspx?did=14686
-Tom
http://store.amtrak.com/ProductList.aspx?did=14686
-Tom
Amtrak207 wrote:Well boys and girls, they are now listed on the Amtrak40th Website:I wonder how many people are going to order 2 of the F40. One for the Anniversary Train and one for use as a regular F40PH.
http://store.amtrak.com/ProductList.aspx?did=14686
-Tom
I will only be purchasing the engines and baggage cars, as much as I don't wanna say this, I am skipping the Amfleet models due to the fact they're the same models. The Dining Car is technically not appropriate for modern prototype Amtrak Heritage dining cars, but I can overlook that, wish these had metal plating. I will keep my fingers crossed for a re-tooled Viewliner (probably going to have to wait till the Viewliner II prototypes debut!)
PS... I've noticed that the Budd Diner does NOT list a complete interior as in the 1st run of Walthers Budd equipment. Hmmmmmm????? As far as the baggage cars, I will attempt to metal-plate them myself to match the Superliner cars, then weather everything in that realistic "dusty" look.
C'mon Walthers, make us happy for Amtrak's 40th with real models! =D
-Tom
PS... I've noticed that the Budd Diner does NOT list a complete interior as in the 1st run of Walthers Budd equipment. Hmmmmmm????? As far as the baggage cars, I will attempt to metal-plate them myself to match the Superliner cars, then weather everything in that realistic "dusty" look.
C'mon Walthers, make us happy for Amtrak's 40th with real models! =D
-Tom
I wondered that too Ken. Or just slap the decals on a renumbered KATO F40PH =P
Anyone else wonder that perhaps Amtrak pushed Walthers to get these models out for the toy train collectors, parents, etc; and are perhaps working on re-tooled updated models for us? I'm basing this on the fact that Walthers doesn't even list them on their OWN website!
Well I can dream can't I?!?!?
-Tom
Anyone else wonder that perhaps Amtrak pushed Walthers to get these models out for the toy train collectors, parents, etc; and are perhaps working on re-tooled updated models for us? I'm basing this on the fact that Walthers doesn't even list them on their OWN website!
Well I can dream can't I?!?!?
-Tom
Amtrak207 wrote:I will only be purchasing the engines and baggage cars, as much as I don't wanna say this, I am skipping the Amfleet models due to the fact they're the same models. The Dining Car is technically not appropriate for modern prototype Amtrak Heritage dining cars, but I can overlook that, wish these had metal plating. I will keep my fingers crossed for a re-tooled Viewliner (probably going to have to wait till the Viewliner II prototypes debut!)I'm tempted to order some Amfleet Is to go with my Great Dome.
PS... I've noticed that the Budd Diner does NOT list a complete interior as in the 1st run of Walthers Budd equipment. Hmmmmmm????? As far as the baggage cars, I will attempt to metal-plate them myself to match the Superliner cars, then weather everything in that realistic "dusty" look.
C'mon Walthers, make us happy for Amtrak's 40th with real models! =D
-Tom
It also says that inventory will not be available til 11/2011. Maybe an update is coming in the meantime? Playing devils advocate for a moment here, Walthers "retires" the Amfleets. Plans a retooling with the plate finish, maybe even interiors. Now the Amtrak 40th comes along so the cars are released then. Makes sense in my head. 
Btw, did anyone notice this in the discription:
Btw, did anyone notice this in the discription:
eady-to-run, this model is complete with flush-fitting windows, wiregrab irons (added separately), a removable roof with separate details, and working diaphragms.Maybe this really will be a retooling.
They had all of those items before.
No good deed goes unpunished.
ApproachMedium wrote:They had all of those items before.They do? All of the Walthers Amfleets I had didn't have removable roofs.. Was that a newer thing?
Cadet57 wrote:ApproachMedium wrote:They had all of those items before.They do? All of the Walthers Amfleets I had didn't have removable roofs.. Was that a newer thing?
No i think you are taking that detail from the Baggage cars and from the Diner. They always had removable roofs as the streamlined cars were modular.
No good deed goes unpunished.
ApproachMedium wrote:That quote was directly from the Viewliner and Amfleet pages.Cadet57 wrote:ApproachMedium wrote:They had all of those items before.They do? All of the Walthers Amfleets I had didn't have removable roofs.. Was that a newer thing?
No i think you are taking that detail from the Baggage cars and from the Diner. They always had removable roofs as the streamlined cars were modular.