I just stumbled across these on the Kato website. Has anybody seen a formal announcement? N-Scale EMD F7A and F7B : Precision Railroad Models (katousa.com)
I never saw the announcement, but I did note that a well known East Coast vendor that has both a web presence and brick and mortar establishment has or has had them. Certain roads are, of course, sold out, given the local market where its brick and mortar establishment is. One thing for which I must tip my Washington Senators cap to Kato is that it is offering them with DCC and sound; DCC, only and no DCC or sound, with the result that it is offering any user one of these, unlike B-mann, which offers its power only one way. I am still pondering if I should buy the B&Os. I have an A-A pair of B-mann's (that fried their so-called "smart" decoder on DC) and two A-B pairs of IMs, all of which I like. These have road numbers that reflect the 1957 re-nuimbering, which makes the numbers, only, out of my era. It would be no big deal to erase the numbers on the sides and replace them with three digit numbers on the nose and in the number boards. I do like Kato F-units, as well.
Jack, looking on the Kato USA site, the DC versions will be available August 2021 and the DCC versions September 2021. So, some sites are pre-announcing them. - Tonkphilip
Thanks guys. Normally I receive an email from Kato before seeing other mentions (I'm signed up for the email notification list). It's always good to see Kato expanding their locomotive line. Is this the first time we've seen a passenger pilot F7 (the Milw Rd release)? I know they've done a passenger pilot F3 (CB&Q, perhaps others), FP7 and several E units. I believe that the non-steam generator, dual headlight passenger pilot shell for the Milw Rd release would be correct for Burlington F7's as well.
Just curious.... For others like me who are huge Kato fans but not close followers of these roads; what are you most tempted to buy? For me, it would be that beautiful B&O scheme, followed by the Milw Rd scheme. I'm hot and cold on the Black Widow, and the UP yellow just plain bores me. Of course, it's all just personal preferences.
I applaud Kato - they numbered the SP in the correct class. Class DF-3. The first of SP's F7's. delivered June of '49. Square doors and 36" dynamic brake fan. (SP purchased 6 A's and 6 B's of this class) Can also be: SP class DF-4 (B units had steam generators), and class DF-5. These can also be used as class DF-2 F3's - road numbers: A's 6168 - 6179 B's 8068 - 8079. Delivered in Feb '49. This "phase" of F3's were externally identical to the first F7's delivered. Thanks, Wolf
I may have to spring for an A-B-B-A set of Black Widows. I painted up a set years ago for a friend but don't have any for myself.
Unfortunately, and as a departure from frequent past releases, they are only initially offering A/B sets. When they released the ATSF, GN and NP F7's in pairs of AB sets (i.e. so that a full ABBA consist could be assembled), they sat on inventory for a long time for the GNs and NPs. It may be that they'll see what sells quickly, and follow up with second releases (with new road numbers) for only those roads. That may be inconvenient, but delayed Kato F unit releases is infinitely better than no Kato F unit releases. I have absolutely no need for more F units or these roads, but that won't stop my wallet from getting a bit itchy if these look as nice as I expect them to.
I doubt that they are taking on the expense of setting up the paint "tooling" for these schemes only intending for a one time release of only one A unit number and one B unit number. But, nobody really knows. If I personally wanted an ABBA set, I would bet on the come and buy the initial release day one rather than wait for a second release and then try to buy the original on the secondary market. I hate the secondary market in model trains when it comes to locomotives. There are too many folks who tinker with (i.e. mess up) a perfect Kato locomotive and then try to pass it off as "new" on the auction site or otherwise. We read about bad experiences all the time. Even if there are truly "new" items, the prices often rise to prohibitive levels. I would rather just buy them and, if I decided they were excess, sell them here or at Nscaleyardsale. Kato locomotives in like new condition are extremely easy to sell. Sometimes I've even made a few bucks. Back on topic, now I'm thinking even more seriously about those Milw RD and B&O releases coming up....
The Black Widow is speaking me. Wow those are sharp. Was hoping for DRGW in single stripe. Hard to understand why they have not done it when they have done the F3 twice (with an incorrect shell) PAs in 4 stripe and Aspen gold nose. They did the F7 in 4 stripes in one of their earlier trainset releases. I heard somewhere that they would never do the 4 stripe again, although they did the PA. Wonder why?
That makes sense! Have fun and show us the results next Spring. (since I have no modeling skills, I generally have to wait until something I want is released)
I will for sure be buying the B&O units as that is the primary road I am trying to focus on. I just need to decide if I want to pay for the sound equipped units or instead just go non-sound DCC. If I do go non-sound, are these easy to install decoders in? I see there will be a digitrax equipped version, but I'd rather use a TCS decoder in this situation.
I think the Milwaukee ones are among the easiest to renumber. I'm certain I will be renumbering at least one set.
I was never a fan of the F units...especially in model form since every MFR made them. However, now that time has gone by, I'm thinking I SHOULD have a set of SP F units...just in case I do ever want to have them. Might happen, I don't know, but why take chances. Brain says: Mamma Mia, Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie Kato says: Take a chance on me Wallet says: SOS, Money money money Heart says: Knowing me, knowing you Do I really need them: I do, I do, I do, I do, I do Kato says: Lay all your love on me Voice from nowhere asks: Does your mama know? What, she doesn't need to know. I'm an adult and she doesn't care about what I spend my money on Voice from nowhere says: The winner takes it all So, wait, I SHOULD get them? What are you trying to say, nowhere voice? Voice from nowhere says: Supertrooper...Waterloo What are you trying to say, voice? I'm now confused Nowhere voice: Fernando, You are the dancing queen Okay this is now just getting weird and my name isn't Fernando Different voice: Time to take your medication... Okay, gotta go...