I predict today you will learn that a small, high quality company is doing GEVOs... I also predict that Kato is doing them, but I suspect you won't learn that today.
I guess the good news is that with all the variations, there might be room for two of these. If Kato focuses on the Western Roads as is typical with one body style (to start) the other guy could start with the eastern variations. I would still be very scared to do one if Kato decided to do it. They would have to count on sales while everyone waited to see if Kato would do a particular variation (with their new proto emphasis) rather than wait to see IF Kato will do their variation. For that matter, if its reallly a new innovation - like sound - they may be counting on Kato to take a while to get to that point as well. Time, as always, will tell.
Jeff, I think you're right... Kato will do the low hanging fruit - UP, BNSF... Someone else can do the other roadname (CSX, NS are pretty big!), different variations and maybe sound or other innovations. I don't mean to knock Kato - on the BNSF/UP side, they have done much of what is needed to build a credible modern 6 axle fleet and it would be really nice to have the very common GEVO's to add to that mix and not have to worry about speed/performance issues.
I hope we find out soon, It's 1:45am, I just got home from work and I can't go to bed without logging on to see if there's any news. And I don't really want any GEVO's.
Lou, If every I start a Detective agency, you'll be my first hire ! -------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Steve... Actually somebody else caught that little ditty, though! I'm just reporting the facts (or whatever)...
Maybe we need a new thread! If it's a GEVO, that could be scary--at least if there's duplication of phases and road names--but maybe "coming soon" is a sub-category of the C44-9W's and indicates a rerun of the ATSF's, which are difficult to find these days.
Re: Kato site - if you look around at other lists, it does not seem to be structured that way. It looks like a placeholder. Also, you can tell, from checking the Google cache that it was just added very recently - probably in response to this discussion...
Hmmmm Nothing against FVM but I'd really like to be able to afford the GEVO but I doubt FVM's MSRP is going to be that low.
I wonder if FVM is getting the mech from Kato and doing paint schemes that Kato won't do? Or maybe getting the mech from Atlas' latest 6 axle GEs.
It's an all new mechanism, and not from Kato. The Atlas mechanism is too short. The GEVOs would share a mechanism between the C44-9W and the AC4400CW. Don't be surprised if another GEVO is announced between now and the NTS next month.
