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Post by rails4dmv on Feb 24, 2015 6:38:18 GMT -8
Has anyone noticed Kato has been awfully quiet lately with any major HO announcements?
Outside of the P42, GP35, and the re-release of the SD80MAC, I haven't heard anything new in HO from them lately....
I know their main focus is N scale but has anyone heard any HO rumors of upcoming releases?
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Post by riogrande on Feb 24, 2015 6:59:10 GMT -8
Well, quiet is one of the great things about KATO
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drives ...
But seriously, this seems to be modus operandi for KATO regarding HO American engines. The last engines that KATO produced that I bought were the F40PH's without the ditch lights. That was probably 8 or 9 years ago. Since that point it seemed KATO was mainly offering wide-cabs or the occasional re-tread of older loco's that I already had.
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Post by nightmare0331 on Feb 24, 2015 7:45:34 GMT -8
There's always more stuff in the works in HO. Just not at a fast pace since it's not Kato's bread and butter.
Enjoy!
Kelley.
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Post by thebessemerkid on Feb 24, 2015 8:29:49 GMT -8
Would like to see the SD38-2 Rerun (Bessemer or undec)
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Post by emd16645 on Feb 24, 2015 8:34:58 GMT -8
There's always more stuff in the works in HO. Just not at a fast pace since it's not Kato's bread and butter. Enjoy! Kelley. Kelley, are there any upcoming projects that will expand on the truck mounted motor like in the P42? Like a 6-axle design or a switcher? |
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Post by riogrande on Feb 24, 2015 8:51:35 GMT -8
There's always more stuff in the works in HO. Just not at a fast pace since it's not Kato's bread and butter. Enjoy! Kelley. In other words, you need to have the patience of Job if you want new HO American engines from KATO. |
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Post by atsfan on Feb 24, 2015 10:31:50 GMT -8
Recently?
At least for the last five years.....
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Post by hovehicle on Feb 24, 2015 11:07:48 GMT -8
I'd like to see Kato do the all-aluminum autorack for CP and CN like they have done in N scale. Very distinctive freight car for the modern scene.
Vito L.
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Post by Great-Northern-Willmar Div on Feb 24, 2015 11:31:19 GMT -8
How about the CB&Q EMD E5A and E5B in HO!!!! A NON-brass model of Ethyl would make me giddy!!!!   |
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Post by rails4dmv on Feb 24, 2015 11:43:36 GMT -8
Love those coreless motors on their P42's. I have to imagine that for all the money that Kato might have put into developing those motors, something else has to be coming down the road soon, albeit maybe more Amtrak P42's in different road numbers.
I would also love for them to do a re-release of the Dash 9 as the Norfolk Southern Dash 9 is hard to find.
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Post by rails4dmv on Feb 24, 2015 11:46:38 GMT -8
How about the CB&Q EMD E5A and E5B in HO!!!! A NON-brass model of Ethyl would make me giddy!!!! I would love for Kato to do the E5A/B, but I'm afraid if they did do them in HO, they won't come with windshield wipers....(P42 joke)....  |
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Post by curtmc on Feb 24, 2015 14:27:55 GMT -8
Kato is too busy pumping out products for the other markets where they have a larger market share, less competition, people waiting in line for whatever they produce (warts and all) and fewer critics...
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Post by bigblow69 on Feb 24, 2015 20:30:16 GMT -8
I could always use more AC4400CWs. Early versions in CP SP SP(patched) UP CNW CEFX KCS CSX FERROMEX just to mention a few. This time though with "steerable" trucks where applicable,
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Post by curtmc on Feb 24, 2015 20:39:24 GMT -8
I'd like to see them release the CNW Dash 9 pair they had announced then cancelled... and also for Kato to realize that US freight railroads sell more than Amjunk...
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Post by bigblow69 on Feb 24, 2015 20:54:08 GMT -8
I'd like to see them release the CNW Dash 9 pair they had announced then cancelled... and also for Kato to realize that US freight railroads sell more than Amjunk... Actually a SDP40F would fill the request of many modeler AND the possibility for a freight version for SF too. With the cowl plenty of room for dual coreless motors already have the trucks. |
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Post by riogrande on Feb 25, 2015 5:54:06 GMT -8
Can we trust KATO to do the SDP40F right after all the complaints about the F40PH? Anyway, I'm hoping the SDP40F is in the Genesis pipeline - as seems possible based on the polling information a while back Athearn did. Maybe for 2016 release.
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Post by Great-Northern-Willmar Div on Feb 25, 2015 7:13:43 GMT -8
Can we trust KATO to do the SDP40F right after all the complaints about the F40PH? Anyway, I'm hoping the SDP40F is in the Genesis pipeline - as seems possible based on the polling information a while back Athearn did. Maybe for 2016 release. I don't see Kato tackling the SDP40F. Athearn too seems to be pulling in the horns on the frenzy of new models, some of which have not been well received. Make no mistake, newly tooled models will continue to be released, but it may take a while for an SDP40F to be offered. Also, when Rapido announced the F40PH, there was much rejoicing from the masses about a CORRECT F40PH versus the Kato which is reported to be not totally correct. Go on e-Bay and you can buy brand new in the box F40PH's for a little over $60. |
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Post by Brakie on Feb 25, 2015 7:49:40 GMT -8
Kato is too busy pumping out products for the other markets where they have a larger market share, less competition, people waiting in line for whatever they produce (warts and all) and fewer critics... Curt,N Scalers can be more critical about "warts" then HO modelers have you notice the improvements in N Scale like body mounted couplers and finer details on the newer freight cars? When FMV release their NS SD70ace with low mounted headlights there was enough outcry that the later NS SD70ace releases had high mounted headlights.FMV listen.Kato also receives ire from N Scalers. I may be in HO now,but,as of three years ago I was modeling in N Scale at home and HO at the club.I keep current on N Scale news and read the better N Scale forums. |
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Post by riogrande on Feb 25, 2015 7:50:02 GMT -8
I don't see it either. KATO is very slow to tool new American HO diesels, and the ones they have been doing are mostly modern wide cabs so chances of the SDP40F are near zero.
Athearn seems to have slowed down a bit, but it appears they are still producing models based on the SD40 and SD40M-2 announcements, etc.
Bummer about the KATO F40PH's. I bought all three numbers when they came out figuring on KATO's reputation. KATO, which used to be tops has really fallen from grace in some ways. I haven't sold mine, and considering I may take a bath based on Ebay info, I may just keep them and get off the merry go round. As much as I would like to get Rapido's, it's going to be MUCH more expensive than my recent Genesis releases, and my budget is tighter than ever and the phase Rapido is releasing is a very minor player for California Zephyr. Unfortunately, when I add it all up, I may have to sit this one out.
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Post by calzephyr on Feb 25, 2015 8:02:31 GMT -8
How about the CB&Q EMD E5A and E5B in HO!!!! A NON-brass model of Ethyl would make me giddy!!!! This train set would be a big hit with a lot of people. Larry |
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Post by hovehicle on Feb 25, 2015 15:18:35 GMT -8
BigBlow69,
Since I don't own any Kato AC4400s, what color are the headlights and ditchlights? Yellow, like the first run Dash-9, orange, like the mid-production SD40-2, slightly bluish like the SD90, OR QUITE POSSIBLY A GOLDEN WHITE, as they should be. My local shop has one, but of course they don't test anything in straight DC because apparently it's too much trouble to hook up a simple power pack to track.
Vito L.
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Post by bigblow69 on Feb 25, 2015 16:20:38 GMT -8
BigBlow69, Since I don't own any Kato AC4400s, what color are the headlights and ditchlights? Yellow, like the first run Dash-9, orange, like the mid-production SD40-2, slightly bluish like the SD90, OR QUITE POSSIBLY A GOLDEN WHITE, as they should be. My local shop has one, but of course they don't test anything in straight DC because apparently it's too much trouble to hook up a simple power pack to track. Vito L. All mine have been replaced with Soundtraxx Tsunami's. I believe when I bought them they were white. |
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Post by Spikre on Feb 25, 2015 18:19:26 GMT -8
 James, a Genesis SDP40F,really ? will that be before the Genesis SD40-2,or after the Genesis SD40-2 ? maybe we need a new Poll about a Genesis SDP40F ? and maybe a Genesis F40C ? Kato may or may not have plans to do the SDP40Fs,but why not wait and see what they do ? dismissing any Un-Planned Unavailable models offhand is a bit Short Sighted. Spikre 
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Post by riogrande on Feb 25, 2015 18:28:33 GMT -8
James, a Genesis SDP40F,really ? will that be before the Genesis SD40-2,or after the Genesis SD40-2 ? Based on all of the comments in the other topic(s) on the SD40-2, before! Just going on the past 10 years, it seems doesn't seem short sited. It seems more like reading the hand writing on the walls. Not that I wouldn't wish to be shocked! |
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Post by eh49 on Feb 25, 2015 18:35:05 GMT -8
Maybe they will jump on the SD70ACe bandwagon.
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Post by carrman on Feb 25, 2015 19:46:07 GMT -8
The SDP40F IS going to be a reality, and it sure isn't coming from Kato or IM.
Dave
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Post by Spikre on Feb 25, 2015 20:38:29 GMT -8
??
James,
didn't Rio Grande run their own service well into the F40 age ?
did SDP40Fs even run on Rio Grande regularly ?
rode behind them on U.P.,but that was 76,past the U.P. E8/9 age.
Spikre
??
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Post by riogrande on Feb 26, 2015 4:26:47 GMT -8
Of course, the ever so famous Rio Grande Zephyr was run as a "never on Wednesday" service thru the Rockies using former CZ equipment still owned by the Rio Grande through the 1970's until April 1983. Rio Grande discontinued the RGZ and Amtrak changed it's route from Cheyenne WY to the RGZ route and renamed it's train from the San Francisco Zephyr (which I rode) to the California Zephyr once again.
The SDP40F's did not ever run regularly on the Rio Grande, but only rarely due to detours etc. That said, while D&RGW has been my main interested, I lived in northern California (Sacramento area) from age 8 to 24 from 1969 - 1984, so SP has always been near and dear to my heart. Furthermore, I road the San Francisco Zephyr a couple times between Sacramento and Denver in heritage equipment 1976, which was powered by, you guessed it, a pair SDP40F's each time. I even took a few photo's from the dome window of the front of the train, but they remain in the attic of my ex - not sure if I'll ever get them back.
Because of my personal connection with the SDP40F, I've always wanted a pair. I though about getting the old fooby Athearn FP40 painted for Amtrak many years ago, but passed on them, but if Genesis makes them, it will be very hard for me to pass up. The challenge then would be to assemble a heritage passenger train of passenger cars that are close to correct - I haven't done the research yet but will wait for the diesels first. Naturally such a train would detour over my layout!
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Post by bnsf971 on Feb 26, 2015 6:20:07 GMT -8
Maybe they will jump on the SD70ACe bandwagon. They already offer that in N scale. |
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Post by atsfan on Feb 26, 2015 6:45:51 GMT -8
The SDP40F IS going to be a reality, and it sure isn't coming from Kato or IM. Dave Athearn? |
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