Model Train Sets and Hobbies
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Athearn Trains
History
The company's history began in 1938, when its founder-to-be, Irv Athearn, started an elaborate O scale layout in his mother's house. After placing an ad selling the layout, and receiving much response to it, Irv decided that selling model railroads would be a good living. He sold train products out of his mother's house through most of the 1940s. After becoming a full-time retailer in 1946, Irv opened a separate facility in Hawthorne, California in 1948, and that same year he branched into HO scale models for the first time.
Athearn Trains have been a favorite of model enthusiasts for years. Shop Big4Hobbies for a great selection of Athearn trains as well as Ahtearn HO models. A few models are shown below.
Athearn HO RTR SD40-2 Conrail #6396

Athearn HO RTR Bay Window Caboose Cotton Belt #47

Athearn HO RTR PS 2600 Covered Hopper Burlington Northern #43014
Athearn Models
HO RTR 40' Youngstown Door Box, BAR/Maine #4200
HO RTR 40' Youngstown Door Box, BAR/Maine #42000 points
Athearn HO Train Set Warbonnet Express CSX - 1002
Athearn TrainPak power supply Three freight cars w more...0 points
Athearn HO Train Set Warbonnet Express Western Pacific : 1001
Whether as a first set or part of a model railroad more...0 points
HO 60' PS Auto Parts Box/Late, L&N #105517
In the 1960's, Ford Motor Company, Pullman Standard more...0 points
Athearn N 2-6-0 Passenger Train Set New York Central : 10035
N Scale 2-6-0 Passenger Train Set, NYC 2-6-0 Old T more...0 points
HO Iron Horse Express Train Set, BNSF
HO Iron Horse Express Train Set, BNSF0 points
HO F7 Streamlined Passenger Train Set, RI
F7 Streamlined Passenger Train Set, RI Athearn Tra more...0 points
Athearn HO Train Set Iron Horse Express CSX - 1004
HO Iron Horse Express Train Set CSX0 points
HO RTR GP38-2, MKT #310 ATH79984
HO RTR GP38-2, MKT #310 Fully assembled and ready more...0 points
HO Iron Horse Express Train Set, UP ATH1005
Whether as a first set or part of a model railroad more...0 points
HO F7 Heavyweight Passenger Train Set, GN
F7 Heavyweight Passenger Train Set, GN Athearn Tra more...0 points
HO Warbonnet Express Train Set, CSX
HO Warbonnet Express Train Set, CSX0 points
HO F7 Streamlined Passenger Train Set, PRR
HO F7 Streamlined Passenger Train Set, PRR0 points
HO RTR 53' Jindo Container, Pacer/Early (3)
HO RTR 53' Jindo Container, Pacer/Early (3)0 points
HO Iron Horse Express Train Set, CSX
HO Iron Horse Express Train Set, CSX0 points
HO F7 Streamlined Passenger Train Set, SP/Daylight
F7 Streamlined Passenger Train Set, SP/Daylight At more...0 points
HO RTR Bethgon Coalporter w/Load, BNSF/New #4 (5)
HO RTR Bethgon Coalporter w/Load, BNSF/New #4 (5)0 points
HO RTR AC4400, BNSF/Heritage II #5621
HO RTR AC4400, BNSF/Heritage II #56210 points
Atlas Trains
Atlas Model Trains Company were originally established in 1924 as a Tool Shop by Stephan Schaffan Sr. Their so-called shop was just situated in a small garage in Newark. In 1933, at the age of 16, his son joined him after graduating top in the class in a vocational school - thus making it a father and son collaboration. With his intelligence and superior tool making skills, he became an enormous aid towards the growth of their business.
During their time, railroad modelers had a hard time building their prototypes for they lack in materials, so they literally have to start from scratch. His son made his first invention which was called a switch kit and had gained popularity in a snap. It sold very well and was in demand that the whole family have to work at night while doing the regular machine shop in the morning. This was just the start of their success.
Subsequently, after the invention of the first switch kit, Steve Jr. made the rail joiner. It served as the stapling of each rail to fiber track. After that was the flexible track. He was unstoppable and his creations were a hit. All of his products helped modelers and the like all around the globe. Their business immensely grew thus the incorporation and naming of Atlas Model Railroad Company in 1949.
Atlas Model Railroad Company brought model railroading up to a whole new different level, enthusiasts and modelers were extremely gratified for their existence and a lot of people are still devotees of their prototypes even up to this day. By their observance of the finest standards, they will continue to become the head of innovation in the railroading business for decades to come. So, if it's the latest in technology that you desire then Atlas Trains are a sure bet!
Atlas O N&W cupola caboosse

Atlas C420 ph 2b Monon sound
AMT Model Cars
AMT, and AMT's sister company SMP, began producing assembled 1/25 friction and coaster models in the early fifties. These were an outgrowth of promotional models manufactured for automobile dealers. Youngsters would be given the scale models to play with while the parents and the salesman haggled. Collecting and trading these "promos" soon became a popular hobby.
During the 1950s to 1960s, interest in the hobby peaked, and AMT Model introduced the model car kit in 1958. Jo-Han, Revell and Monogram started producing model car kits about this same time, and it was considered a "golden age" for model car building from these new innovative customizing kits. Most of these kits were known as "annual" kits, which was the unassembled kit version of the promos that represented the new cars that were introduced at the beginning of each model year.
AMT, Jo-Han, and later MPC were the primary promo manufacturers. In addition to building them stock, most annual kits were known as "3 in 1" which allowed the builder to assemble them as stock, custom, or racing versions. Model Products Corp. (MPC) joined the kit/promo business in 1965, and among their first annual kits/promos, was the full-size Dodge Monaco, which was released with a gold metallic painted body and is a valuable collector's item today.
Shop for your favorite AMT Model Cars by clicking on the images below.

AMT Models
AMT Model King 21850P 1959 Imperial 3 in 1 Customizing 1:25 Scale Plastic Kit
AMT Model King 21850P 1959 Imperial 3 in 1 Customizing more...0 points
1970 Buick Wildcat by Model King
1/25 1970 Buick Wildcat Car Includes decals for st more...0 points
Monte Carlo Nascar 1;25 Home Depot Car AMT Model Kit
The largest variety of model kits for beginners an more...0 points
1950 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup by AMT/ERTL
Model Kit 1950 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup/Deluxe Cab by more...0 points
AMT- Star Destoyer Model
Assemble the colossal Star Destroyer with this mag more...0 points
AMT Mack R685ST Truck Cab
Limited release kit! Features precision parts scal more...0 points
1972 Chevy Nova SS American Muscle "The Old Pro" 15sec 1/4 Mile Street Rod 1:18 ERTL Die Cast Remake From the AMT Plastic Glue Model
American Muscle Elite - 1972 Chevy Nova SS Hard To more...0 points
AMT Star Trek 3 piece Adversary Set - 38390
Includes Ferengi Marauder, Klingon Bird of Prey, a more...0 points
AMT 1972 Chevelle SS Model Kit
This 1:25 scale Skill Level 2 kit contains more th more...0 points
1972 Chevy Monte Carlo Stock Car 1-25 Model King
1-25 Scale. Highly detailed kit complete with deta more...0 points
Great Dane DRY VAN TRAILER Model Kit AMT ERTL 1:25 Scale
1/25 Great Dane Dry Van-disc0 points
American Hotrod 32 Ford Coupe Model Car by AMT
1/25 Scale. This kit features detailed engine and more...0 points
AMT 1/25 1967 Mustang GT Fastback : 31550
Ford enthusiasts will regonize this model as repli more...0 points
Galco Jak Slide Concealment Holster For Pistols Type Amt Model Hardballer Hand Right
The Jak Slide is constructed of premium saddle lea more...0 points
1932 Ford Sedan Phaeton Switcher by AMT
1-25 Scale. Build the sedan or the phaeton then sw more...0 points
Challenger Funny Car by Model King
1-25 Scale, Great kit by Model king features 2 ope more...0 points
1962 Corvette Model Car by AMT
The hottest vehicle trends on the streets are repl more...0 points
AMT - Star Wars Millennium Falcon %uFFFD Cut-Away Version
Bring the Star Wars Millenium Falcon to life with more...0 points
AMT Batman Batmissle Batmobile Model Kit
This is a 1:25 scale plastic model kit of the Batm more...0 points
AMT Model King 21775P 1969 Chevy Camaro Funny Car 1:25 Scale Plastic Kit
AMT Model King 1969 Chevy Camaro Funny Car 1:25 Scale more...0 points
AMT/ERTL 1/25 Scale '55 CHEVY CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE.
Model Features: - Snapfast, molded in Yellow with more...0 points
Mack Cruise Liner Truck Cab Model Kit AMT
1-25 Scale. Highly detailed kit complete with deta more...0 points
Grumman F7F-3N Tigercat Model Plane AMT ERTL 8842
Grumman F7F-3N Tigercat model kit by AMT ERTL of K more...0 points
AMT Model King 21775P 1969 Chevy Camaro Funny Car 1:25 Scale Plastic Kit
AMT Model King 1969 Chevy Camaro Funny Car 1:25 Scale more...0 points
AMT/ERTL 1/25 Scale '55 CHEVY CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE.
Model Features: - Snapfast, molded in Yellow with more...0 points
Revell
This store is a great place to shop for Revell Model Cars and other Revell model kits.

Revell Amazon Voting (Plexo)
US Gato Class Submarine Model Kit
Experience the awe of World War II battles in the Pacific more...0 points
1/48 A-10 Warthog
A-10 Warthog Model Kit Features ... Detailed interior more...0 points
Revell 1957 Chevy Model Kit
Build your own classic Chevy hardtop with this uni more...0 points
1/48 Junkers Ju87D Stuka RMX855250
This is a plastic model, assembly required. The St more...0 points
Revell Metal Body Corvette 327 Fuel Injection Engine
1-6 Scale. Features over 100 pre painted parts mad more...0 points
Revell Spirit of St. Louis Plane
This is a plastic model, assembly required.0 points
Dale Earnhardt Jr Oreo/Ritz Febuary 2003 Raced Version 1/24 Revell Diecast Car
Dale Earnhardt Jr Oreo/Ritz Febuary 2003 Raced Ver more...0 points
1/400 R.M.S. Titanic RVL05206
Assemble the RMS Titanic Luxury Liner with this 1: more...0 points
1/25 Ford SVT F-150 Lightning RMX857201
This is a 1999 Ford SVT F-150 Lightning Pickup Tru more...0 points
Digitrax
Digitrax components (throttles, boosters etc) can be interconnected via proprietary Loconet networking. These are built from simple 6P6C telephone cables using RJ12 connectors.
Digitrax
New Guestbook
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ModelTrainHobbyist
Aug 31, 2011 @ 7:40 pm | delete
- Nice breakdown of some of the major model companies, and for providing some background history too. But I noticed you forgot another big name in model railroading, Bachmann trains.
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efriedman
Jun 24, 2011 @ 4:47 pm | delete
- There's something very appealing about trains - my sister had a model train, and I thought it was wonderful.
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