I believe that the wheelbases were all the same, although I'm not sure about truck changes. As a passenger fan first, and CB&Q fan second, I'll buy any slant nose E unit that Kato decides to release. They are absolutely beautiful locomotives and it is fantastic that Kato has decided to take a first step into this realm with the best model ever built! If these sell well (which I think they will), I expect to see many more E5 releases as well as possible E6 and other models. We've skipped the E7 model for now, but that is another one that would generate high demand. Maybe when Kato finally releases a prototypical Empire Builder, they'll also release an E7. We'll see....
For those of you thinking you can pop-on or pop-off the truck skirts I suggest you take a good look at the close-ups of each. Not only do the brake cylinders and/or skirts look molded on I would guess from Kato's previous products that both truck frames come molded in one piece. So I suspect if you want to de-skirt the trucks you'd have to buy the de-skirted truck frames --- because if you cut off the skirt you won't find any brake cylinders or any detail ... just a patch of sliced-off plastic. Kato made separate truck frames for their skirted passengers cars, too. There is no detail at the top part of the frame so it didn't interfere with the skirting, but are otherwise identical to their non-skirted car trucks.
I'm glad Kato has done the earlier A-1-A EMC/EMD trucks with brass bearings. Hopefully they come de-skirted with brass bearings.
I just have a question......What decoder do you think will work for this? The E8 decoder maybe? Like to order one ahead of time....Thanks Jim
The E8 decoder may not fit because of the cab being pushed back due to the high slope of the nose. I would suggest waiting until Kato publishes more details.
I have found with Kato's Japanese locos that even newer reruns of old models lately have new mechanisms with the result that I now wait until I get a loco before I jump the gun and order a decoder for it. Kato may have used the E5 as an opportunity to redesign the old E unit mechanism. We haven't seen a mechanism yet, there may not be one under the pre-production sample Japan sent to Kato USA.
I noticed one of the Japanese web sites has started taking reservations for the Silver Streak Zephyr already.
At least 'one' of the Trainboard advertisers has also begun taking reservations... since about 2 weeks ago. Most of the on-line dealers are adverstising and taking reservations for the Kato Silver Streak Zephyr and the individual E5 units.
Idk if I will be getting the exact set.. Or getting the E5 that's at IRM.. and getting specific cars.
If you mean in measured length for the engine and cars... then... the E5A is about 5.5" long and each car will be about 6.5" long. That would make the entire N scale set a little over 3' long. Compared to the typical Kato California Zephyr with ABA PA units which is roughly about 7.5' long... thie Silver Streak Zephyr will be easy to run on small layouts.
In looking at the pictures of the E units nose, are those mold lines from Kato or does the real locomotive have those pronounced lines on each side? (They actually start at the plow and go up the nose, along the top of the nose, and to the cab windows.)
Jerry...I think those are the mold lines everyone has been screaming bloody murder about. BUT THE Wife dont care (neither do I)...she just ordered a DCC one this morning to lead her Excursion train ;-) She even paid for it out of her $$$. I didnt spend a dime She feels good that she will now legally own her own train to run on T.H.E.R.R.....LOL
OK...I thought they were. Look like you could just run a very sharp exacto blade across it, but I am sure that would mess up the paint....LOL