Hibar,
As demonstrated in the discussions above, the price point argument is just a myth that has long sailed to fall off the edge of the flat earth. As for detail, we are going to see more, not less (another myth that has sailed for the same destination). Both 2 Rail and 3 Rail are demanding more and starting to get it as the shackles of the Post-War Period mentality are slowly but surely falling away in the boardrooms of Brands A, L, and M. I think Lionel and MTH are the strongest candidates for Tier 4 Locomotives as well updated Tier 3 models. It's just the reality of the shear numbers of ACe's, ES44/GEvo's, and now SD60E's both companies have been producing that lead me in that direction. Not to mention that they manage to sell out their runs almost immediately. Yep, there's a market for new and improved despite the whining of a vocal minority. Honestly, IM not so HO, Scott Mann didn't get enough reservations for the SD40-2 for 2 reasons: First, the market is now just saturated with lesser quality models that the market was willing to accept and purchase. Scott was too late to the party. Second, the SD40-2 is almost 45 years old, yep that's 45 years old folks. For current and recent prototype modelers, that's ancient technology. For many prototype modelers, the SD40-2 is a ship that has also sailed. It's not about niche, it's simply interest. Had some SD40-3 rebuilds been added in, I bet that would have carried the run. I could be wrong, but in the waning days of 2017, I really don't think there is that much prototype interest in a locomotive built in 1972. It's just not a model that sets the current market on fire. Twenty years ago, I bet Scott could have filled his order sheet, and then some, but that was then, and this is now. As for Atlas, I'm not sure why their company draws such ire from the vocal minority. Despite anyone's best efforts, they are not going away and are in a strong position to take the lead in modern (I hate that word) car production.
The purchase of BLMA puts Atlas in a great position to produce the Trinity Airflow Hoppers (a great follow-up to the Trinity 5161) as well as those very cool up to date signal bridges and stand alone block signals that dominate today's railroads, a great edition to their 21st Century Signal Line. Along with their 73ft Center Partition Flat Car and 52ft Thrall Gondola that they currently make in HO, we can look forward to some pretty exciting models with excellent detail in the Master Line series. It's not a matter if, only when. While I admit that I've been frustrated with the lack of product coming from Atlas in the past, the bigger picture seems to be Atlas O putting itself in position to do some envelope pushing productions which has been their hallmark since the company's creation.
So we can agree that the Tier 4 Locomotives, most likely, won't be coming from Atlas O, although a Master Line model would be very well received by the market. Atlas is busy digesting the BLMA and Weaver buyouts, but over all, pretty exciting times, I'd say. The glass is getting to be more than half full, and that, friends, is just great!
