I remember the first batch of Hiawatha sets sold out from a "major eastern retailer", 179 sets, in two days... The second batch is moving slower, but 200 sets from one retailer in 48hrs is a lot of product. I have no idea how many were made, but the folks who wanted one REALLY wanted one! VERY true! I see Kato's F units in almost every single road name on eBay right now, if you want it it's there. Intermountain, however? There's about 20 total IM F units on Ebay right now. Most are fully sold out at major e-tailers and the few that are left are orphan roads. I think people underestimate the demand for these, and with BLI hopefully forging ahead with their locos I'm thinking those will appeal to the same market, the "I want detail" crowd who like stainless mesh and grab irons (yes I know they aren't to scale, very little is in our gauge!). Let's see how this plays out? I have pre-orders in for BLI and IM units alike.
Bah. NP poll was a tease, it’s been too long and no announcements. Since Kato won’t make ‘em, I guess i’ll fake it for now. Might redo the whole thing in a month and sell this one, but today I’m loving it! (Solvaset working its magic...)
Yep... got many 'actual and stand-in' NCL lightweight cars and a bunch of Mainstreeter heavyweights as well. It just seems that I could have been finished sooner and at a much lower expense had Kato done the NCL a few years ago. Kato doesn't have any apparent motivation to do the NCL and that probably means it will be a long time before they announce it... if ever. Sent from my SM-J737T using Tapatalk
I think the poll went with the most votes, which was the NYC 20th Century. However the majority of people who voted for it thought they were getting an earlier 20th, with Hudson, not the one with Es. Talking to the Kato guys at the NTS, chances are better for a NCL as one of the next large trains versus the GN EB
Well... lets hope your post finds its way kindly to Hiroshi Kato's ears. Sent from my SM-J737T using Tapatalk
Already did... to go with all the prior (and current) MTL offerings in both N and Z scales... Also been getting the Lowell Smith NP Mainstreeter releases... Sent from my SM-J737T using Tapatalk
Micro trains has released a total of 8 individual passenger cars for Northern Pacific over the last 10 months. This month, along with the ninth car in the series they also announced a five car runner pack which appears to have different road numbers in the same body styles. The first few cars were perfect, then they ran two months or so with the NP monad upside down... bah. Decal over it. The cars are near perfect Loewy green (compared to the NPRHA color drift cards) and it’s a darn pretty consist. I have two of each and will be re-numbering doubles. I will support ANYONE who makes good NP stuff. My BLI F7’s will look amazing pulling this train. Of note, AZL last week released a streamlined Northern Pacific train in Z scale (and an equally stunning GN streamliner last month!!). It’s absolutely stunning and just goes to show that there is a demand for this road, hell some people forget that not everyone runs UP, ATSF, SP and NYC AZL release:
That would be the 'nomad' logo. Looking at the AZL release, one has to wonder why in the past 25 years, or so, Kato has never produced their 'generic' smoothside cars in NP.
I'm one of those conspiracy theorist types that feel the Monad is too Korean like for the Japanese to delve into a prototype passenger consist. Of course that can be easily countered by several 'token' pieces of NP locomotives and rolling stock over the past 30 years.... hmmm. Sent from my SM-J737T using Tapatalk
