Seems like this offering never did very well. They're going for huge discounts on eBay these days and they often still don't get bids at all. What's the beef with these units? I have 2, one ATSF and one BNSF, and love them (white LEDs and all!). I know you need to paint the walkways on the ATSF unit (took me about a half-hour) and there's no anticlimber on the ATSF unit (BLMA has those), but otherwise they're quite nice. Someone on another board said the extended noses are totally incorrect, but they look right to me. Anyone got some insight as to why the lack of popularity? Russ
Well, I was going to talk about the anti climber but I see you got that . I would have to say that the lack of sales might have been due to the lack of roads that had/have them. I have seen a TON of undecs for sale all over the place because as far as I know, KCS and the UP United Way unit are the only paint schemes you can do on the snoot that Kato didn't do. ------------------ Craig Martyn Best Looking Models Around Custom detailing AND N scale detail parts. BLMA N Scale Detail Parts BLMAinfo@aol.com
When I first heard about the "incorrect" length of the Santa Fe snoot's nose, I was kind'a mad. But after you think about it, just how many "mm's" off is it? ONE MAYBE? Come on, that's nothing! Yeah, the anticlimber is wrong, but that is an easy fix. It's also hard for Kato, also Atlas and Life-Like for that matter, to make the walkways a different color than the handrails because of the way they're made. But that's what paint's for. Accuflex Santa Fe or C&O Blue covers the yellow walkways without any major bleed-thru. I wish I could afford about Ten more of them! ------------------ Brent Tidaback, Member #234 BNSF Railfan-to-the Max and a N-Scaler to boot! "Ship it on the Route of The Roadrunners!" The Aransas Odessa & Western, a division of the BNSF
Yep, not enough roads and those prototype modelers who wanted the accurate nose. Nose lengths are something like 88", 106", 116", 123" on the different prototype snoots, and I think the KATO model is of the 106" nose (not sure though). Also, it was said that the spacing of the lettering in Union Pacific was off, so it looked funny. Gees, the SD70M is looking more attractive all the time. UP, SP, NS, CSX, NYSW, EMD leasing (two schemes), EMD Demo. Too bad nobody's doing it soon. ------------------ Corey Lynch Pres - Rensselaer Model RR Society, NEB&W RR http://www.rpi.edu/~lynchc/Railfanning/railfanning.htm - My Site http://www.union.rpi.edu/railroad/ - NEB&W
The different nose lengths on the SD40-2 were 81"(1972-mid1976), 88"(mid1976-end of prod.), 102"(present on Canadian production, not sure of dates), 116"(1972-1976), and 123"(mid1976-end of prod.). The setup on the Kato snoot is 116" nose with brakewheel and corrugated rad grills, which was correct for a batch of UP units. All other SD40-2 snoots featured 123" noses with either an anticlimber or a pointed walkway extension, which was needed because of the extra nose length. As for why they aren't selling in n-scale is beyond me; the nose length difference is harder to spot in N, and the N-scale version doesn't have the same problems as its HO-scale brother. Paul #3 ------------------ Have A Nice Day!
Could these 'spare' snoots be candidates for rebuilding with a standard length nose, to get a later version standard SD40-2? I know it would need a new front porch, but I sure could do with some, as Santa Fe did not have any of the early standard ones. ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.alancurtismodels.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
No front porch rebuilding is required Alan. The walkways and porches are the same casting regardless of version. Yes, you could add a new nose but why? Kato is going to do more versions of this locomotive family. Just wait... ------------------ Brent Tidaback, Member #234 BNSF Railfan-to-the Max and a N-Scaler to boot! "Ship it on the Route of The Roadrunners!" The Aransas Odessa & Western, a division of the BNSF
Are they really going to do more? I have heard nothing positive on this recently. I have emailed a 'contact' in the states today to see if he can get me any snoots at a good price Cannot have too many SD40-2's. ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.alancurtismodels.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
KAto said they would do more versions of the SD40-2 but they did not anouncee any for 2001 so if they are they will be at LEAST a year away. Kevin
I may have a pair of them coming soon, which are available, depends on the price ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.alancurtismodels.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
Ah the prototypical purists. Don't get me wrong, I admire those who can create a model of a prototype railroad but can see where frustrations pop up. The benefits of having a free-lance railroad is that I can decide if the available snoots are suitable. They are going to be in my colour scheme anyway. The only way I could be a purist is if I had the tools and ability to create my own locos and rolling stock. I know it can be done but so far, it is beyond me. ------------------ Robin Maberly and Tayside
Lack of sales? We don't have many left up in the screwed up wet and cold lands of Canaduh Dane ------------------ BCRailKing@Canada.com Teen Association of Model Railroaders- for information, contact Dane N. at Dane_Nicholson@tamr.org http://www.tamr.org
My God, come on, I mean for heaven's sake who can spot whether the snoot is a few inches short or long in n scale anyway? Just look at it and decide whether its a nice model or not; I know what I decided pretty quickly and when I received my BCR model I knew I had made the right decision and was happy. I reckon we all ought to use our imagination a bit more (unless, that is, we actually like poking about with tiny saws, files, snippers and paint brushes; I don't, but I know that some peculiar folk do!) - (only joking fellas; its been a long, tiring week at "the coal face" - I have nothing but admiration for the beautiful and painstaking detail work that people do; I couldn't do it in a million years). Ben
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ben: My God, come on, I mean for heaven's sake who can spot whether the snoot is a few inches short or long in n scale anyway? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I have to agree! The nose length does not bother me a bit. I can see on the other hand how some guys want to know that there model is exactly prototypical (though not noticable to the naked eye). I am working on an article for N Scale Railroading on detailing a SF SD40-2 "Snoot" (FYI) ------------------ Craig Martyn Best Looking Models Around Custom detailing AND N scale detail parts. BLMA N Scale Detail Parts BLMAinfo@aol.com
For me, if it looks right, it is right If you have to measure it to see if it is correct, then for me it is near enough ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.alancurtismodels.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alan: For me, if it looks right, it is right If you have to measure it to see if it is correct, then for me it is near enough <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> mmm I might have to measure those spine cars that I'm assembling at the moment lol ------------------ Regards Paul Cassar-Moderator & Member number 50 SPAD Investigator #1 ICQ 61198217 http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000
I just bought some of those spine cars and I was very disappointed because the lengh of them was a scale half an inch too short and when I put the magnify glass to them, I noticed they were missing a rivet. LOL..just kidding. I'm being sarcastic. I might have to get some of those spine cars to add to my intermodal trains.
Yup! Hi Dave! Welcome to Trainboard. I just saw your post at Atlas concerning the "cool website" called Trainboard.com. As you can see, there's plenty of blyme shared here! (That's for you Alan!) Have fun! ------------------ Brent Tidaback, Member #234 BNSF Railfan-to-the Max and a N-Scaler to boot! "Ship it on the Route of The Roadrunners!" The Aransas Odessa & Western, a division of the BNSF
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by dave f: I just bought some of those spine cars and I was very disappointed because the lengh of them was a scale half an inch too short and when I put the magnify glass to them, I noticed they were missing a rivet. LOL..just kidding. I'm being sarcastic. I might have to get some of those spine cars to add to my intermodal trains. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I knew that was coming sooner or later.....LOL ------------------ Craig Martyn Best Looking Models Around Custom detailing AND N scale detail parts. BLMA N Scale Detail Parts BLMAinfo@aol.com
