Athearn vs Walthers: TBOX TTX 60' Gunderson Boxcars! Review

[@Automax2323]

To add, the Athearn car is a few millimeters taller than the Walthers. I have both cars and noticed that, you have to get at eye level and view from the ends coupled together in order to tell. The logo with the forward thinking, it’s correct, there are 3 variations of the Tbox boxcars. I see all three quite bit here in Dallas. The Athearn is more detailed, but I personally like the Walthers side view better.

[@justinmalachinski1]

I work at a railroad and I have seen that exact Athearn TBOX so it is very prototypical

[@beeble2003]

If you look more closely, you'll see that the real cars have seven ribs each side of the doors, whereas the Athearn model has eight. Also, if you look from above, the real car doesn't have that ugly mold release mark right in the middle of the roof. 😉

[@boomerdiorama]

Thanks for the straight forward review.

[@fastcsx1412]

Great video and I like all of these videos. Could you do more it’s amazing, these look good together some companies look odd together.

[@wheeliefish5161]

I got the Athearn and really like the very good detail. I don’t like the roof ribs and the non separate details of Walthers one though. When trying to find prototype photos to weather my Athearn cars I could only find one photo of the logo like the Athearn and it didn’t have forward thinking under it. It looked like the new red logo had been patched over the old black and white one. Still very nice car.

[@wheeliefish5161]

Introverto 83 No. haven’t done any modifications to the logo. I’ve seen a lot more cars with this style logo just without the red writing. What do you do? Completely redo the logo?

[@beeble2003]

Both roof patterns are actually correct, but it looks like there are more cars with the Walthers pattern than the Athearn one.

[@1TomByrne]

Because I like to replace the couplers and wheelsets with Kadee 158 couplers, and InterMountain SemiScale wheelsets, I’ve noticed that the Athearn trucks don’t accept aftermarket wheelsets. How do the trucks compare to each other and the prototype? BTW, nice job TE!

[@TolgaEastCoast]

Thanks, Tom! I don't pay much attention to the trucks since they generally look similar but it's possible Athearn uses the wrong wheelsets.

[@1TomByrne]

The roof differences bother me most because it’s always right there. But they are both good runners.

[@richardcolemanjr3749]

Using a Micro Mark wheel reamer fixes the wheel replacement on Athearn trucks.

[@beeble2003]

@@1TomByrne Actually, both roof styles exist on actual cars. It looks like the Walthers roof is more common, but there are certainly cars out there with the Athearn roof.

[@1500chessie]

Awesome, highly interesting. But it is hard to say which one is the better one. The price is also a factor but assuming they are tie. For me the Walthers is out cause of the molded stirrups. Otherwise they are both nice box cars. Go on with your vids.

[@TolgaEastCoast]

Thanks! The price is different, and is noted at the beginning. That said the molded grabs are probably a casualty of "You get what you pay for". I agree it's difficult. While I like Walthers' overall accuracy/research the Athearn still stands out as the more detailed model like you suggest, which really leaves it as a draw. Suppose we could have draws in the hobby. :))

[@beeble2003]

I think the molded stirrups on the Walthers car are OK -- they're relatively thin molding and, if you don't like them, they're easily replaced with wire parts. It's the molded side ladders that stick out, though I find they're less obtrusive IRL than they seem in videos.

[@waynehawkins2157]

Good comparison I'm old school with the price I'll wait for swap meet.

[@mgr_video_productions]

Great video and review!

[@richmondrailfan8444]

Walthers are more prototypical, and way more reasonably priced. plus the detail levels are matched

[@lhsboyproductions3446]

Awesome review!! 😊👍👍 Thumbs up :)

[@eddie9027]

price of each ?

[@TolgaEastCoast]

$21-25 for Walthers, $30+ for Athearn.

[@gatortrainchaser2080]

ATHEARN

[@cameronriccio6050]

I see these things everywhere but with a white door

[@GP9railfan]

So in other words,, Exactrail for the win then!

[@TolgaEastCoast]

Honestly, probably Atlas will take it when the lattice-ribbed boxcars come out.

[@beeble2003]

Exactrail never made this car. They made the 50ft FBOX, but they're the "Evolution" line, which aren't actually very accurate models. (There are several manufacturers of the real FBOXes, which are distinguished by the number of ribs and the number of horizontal ribs on the ends. I don't remember if the Exactrail model is actually accurate to any single type.)

[@bobteusink1046]

The mix of roof panels is correct on the Walthers model. The prototype is a mix of x panel and diagonal panel sections. drive.google.com/file/d/1WRGGJw0Vd8J45TobSqEyYCwhdc9_1xz9/view?usp=sharing

[@TolgaEastCoast]

WOW! That's a surprise! I thought they would've done their research indeed. Figured so. Don't think they would have intentionally botched that.

[@beeble2003]

Actually, some cars have the Athearn-style roof with transverse ribs only, while some have the Walthers style mix of Xs and diagonals.

[@steamboy2926]

Athearn all the way

[@garynugent4400]

Maybe mix the two ?? Lol

[@TolgaEastCoast]

That's the plan

[@garynugent4400]

Heck yeah!

[@bobbyglendinning2406]

Good one

[@MrBlaze256]

I paint the real ones

[@natejackson8213]

Cool video. I like Walther's

[@beeble2003]

Honestly, I find it pretty annoying that there is no accurate, detailed model of these cars, which are so common on the railroad. The Walthers cars have all the ugly molded detail like the ladders and crossover platforms. Having said that, I find the molded ladders look better IRL than on KZbin videos. The Athearn cars have nice detail but, as you say, the car is wrong: the big difference is that the real car has seven ribs each side of doors (like the Walthers car), but the model has eight. Also, the Athearn cars always have that really ugly mold release mark right in the centre of the roof. By the way, the thing you identify as an air line on the Athearn model is actually the rods that operate the brakes. In that design, the brake cylinder is on the bottom of the car and rods move the brake blocks on the trucks. In other designs, the brake cylinders are on the trucks. These cars should have the visible brake rods, though they're not actually in the pattern that the Athearn models have. So, the question is whether you prefer having the wrong brake rods or none at all. 😉

[@TolgaEastCoast]

@@beeble2003 Very well said. Cool heads have said, it's only a model lol. But I fully agree with your points

[@sdrailproductions]

Walthers did a great job overall Athearn has more details, despite the plastic couplers

[@25mfd]

@ 1:34... nothing else needs to be said LOL... if you had ended the vid right there I wouldn't even be mad... it's clear, athearn IN... walthers OUT

[@BronsonWally]

walthers are good except for the stupid molded on grabs