A buddy of mine got his on Thursday! What is that...two weeks after announced? Craziness. They look great, BTW. EDIT: They were announced October 24, so LESS than two weeks!
I don't think I've seen a photo of the SP version yet. Anyone have a link to one or have one to post here?
I don't have a photo to post, but I've seen them in person and they look AWESOME. They're just begging to be detailed...
Can anyone say if the SP version has the sized correct front handrails? Or is it "one size fits all"? Thanks
I should receive my order on Wednesday of this week, and will have some "in stock" for those who didn't get on a preorder list. Once I get mine in, I'll get some photos and share them with y'all.
I am SO looking forward to getting my SP's!! More so than anything in a LOONNNG time - even though I have some of the Athearns (which aren't all bad). But, I've been wanting and asking Kato for these forever, and I had resigned to never seeing them once the Athearns came out.... So getting these from Kato unexpectedly is a fantastic treat I used to live in Central CA and saw these every day (SP ran all 25 of them in captive service between Portland and LA), the SP 70M's became my all time favorite locomotive So, BRING 'EM ON!!!!!!! And post some pics if you've got them!!!!!!
Pics are up at Feather River and they look gorgeous! Bad news is, we're all going to be modifying the handrails! Still, easier than modifying ditch lights, so can't complain too much I suppose, especially when I didn't think we'd see a Kato one.
Yep - and I just finally got around to modifying my second Athearn unit a couple of weeks ago! Oh well, I'll consider it practice for my Kato's Or maybe it's a small case of the kitbasher's curse...in any case, can't wait for my Kato's!
Just another note for those concerned/unhappy with the SD40-2 mechanism, these SD70M's appear to have the same mechanism as the flared SD70M's previously released. It does not have the mechanism used on the SD40-2's. Yes they have the incorrect nose rail, but they appear to be a typically well built Kato locomotive. It seems that I was last in line, but I have them now as well - available both online as well as on the shelf in my store.
I saw a picture of them on E-bay. Someone was selling them. They look pretty nice, but way out of my era
I just saw that pic on epay, and it looks like Kato again has not painted the hand rail ends white on the SP units.
True, but you have to wonder why they would paint the CSX end rails yellow, but not the SP white? Seems strange.
Chuck - Are the CSX handrails painted, or just molded yellow plastic? Doesn't Kato usually not paint and just use colored plastic? I haven't had a chance to see them in person yet
Ah! Forgot to check that. Will do so when I get to the shop. I suspect they are molded as you suggest. I had forgotten Kato does that. So I assume this means it is "impossible" to make white molded end rails? Overall the SD70Ms are really very nice. They are quiet and smooth runners.
On the new Atlas GP35 and GP9, they also do not have white ends on the SP handrails. These are Kato shells on Atlas drives. One has to wonder why they don't paint them. Thom