Well I have been able to track down as TRUE the rumor that Proto was making an HO SD45! This is very interesting since Kato is doing one this year as well. Should be here about May-June of this year. Now I love my Katos, not the price, but the proto version might be really neat. I love the way they run. I just hope that it will run faster than the sd60s---Please!!!!! Now if they make the things as heavy as the DL109s than we're on to something!!! I for one, will seriously think about a proto SD45 instead of the KATO. As always bringing you the latest motive power news to trainboard first!
And just last month, the E8/E9s were re-released, including Frisco's "racehorse" E-units. I'll be saving my shekels for a pair of these fine steeds!
Sounds good BNSF! I'm goiung to begin saving for a Proto Y3 in undecorated! Being you all know what he'll become once I'm done with it! Instead of a B&O EL-5.... Hows about a B&O EL-3 this time around??? Not to much hacking on it involved, the biggest thing to make it a EL for the B&O is a swaping of the tender! I'll have a Proto tender spared once I do it. Being I'll need a Vanderbuilt tender for it to make it a B&O EL class. Being all of the B&O's EL's used Vanderbuilt tenders.....
Got this on email from a friend today: Proto 2000 HO Scale SD45 1st Release May 2003 delivery 30719 ATSF #4457 30720 ATSF #5592 30721 BN #6489 30722 BN #6497 30723 C&NW #6537 30724 C&NW #6566 30725 CSX #8901 30726 CSX #8919 30727 EL #3625 30728 EL #3629 30729 MILW #4000 30730 MILW #4002 30731 PRR #6174 30732 PRR #6187 30733 UP #3609 30734 UP #3618 30735 Undecorated Proto 2000 HO Scale GP60 2nd Release May 2003 delivery 30554 UP #5835 30555 UP #5876 30556 UP #1983 30557 UP #2081 30558 SP #9717 30559 SP #9735 30560 NS #7123 30561 NS #7146 30562 EMD #5 30563 EMD #7 30564 BNSF Warbonnet #8727 30565 BNSF Warbonnet #8739 Anybody know wether the demonstrator GP60's and NS ones were the "streamlined" units? They would be cool, but I guess unlikely prototypes for an accurate model?
Fabrizio, I don't know for sure, but the source who sent that to me is usually reliable. Odd though that they would choose to go head-to-head with Kato! The 30xxx stock number series seems to be right for recent P2K loco's, but I can't see any mention of it on Proto's site (but that's not surprising as it's not been updated since October!) or on All American Trains or Walthers "pre-order" lists. It's not a confusion with the Kato ones as far as I can tell, as the road names and numbers listed are different (there are some of the same road names on both though!) As far as the gearing is concerned, I would expect them to be using the SD7/9 truck assembly with new or altered sideframes rather than the one from the SD60, but of course that's just a guess... As they have now done the GP60 with full rooftop "gubbins" with the Santa Fe version, do you think this'll happen with the SD45's as well? Watching with interest....
I looked in the LifeLike site, and saw no notice of any SD45s. Bachmann, however, is coming out with SD45s in the Spectrum line. Between you, me, and the fencepost, I'd love to see an SD45 made by LL. Athearn's model is too wide, shell-wise, and Kato's is too expensive.
Speaking of Gp60s, What number was the operation liversaver paint for the NS? If their not doing it i'll just have to make one.
I think it is a natural for Proto to go after the SD45 market that KATO is so poorly serving. Look for multiple releases on many road names and paint schemes as Proto has done in the past. There were 22 original owners of the SD45 and many more through merger and diposition of the original fleets. I am not hacking KATOs product and own four of their SD45s, just their attitude of producing a few roads at a time.
L-shaped windows were found on SD45s owned by EMD, D&H, IC, Frisco, Espee, COTTON BELT, BN, NdeM, EL for sure and whoever else these units were sold to? Wonder if Proto is going to do these?
Certainly if they want to do SP IIRC they either need to do a version with a nose handbrake ratchet, (not a long hood brakewheel) -or- an L cab window, a new cab is probably the easiest option, and as you say opens up roads like Frisco as well... Not sure that any of the BN green painted SD45's had L windows, they seemed to have a program of fitting standard windows to the Frisco '45s once they had them, I could be wrong though. Anyone got any pics? I'd like a model of IC's solitary '45, that would be pretty cool.
I may have to pick up an undec low nose, and paint it for N&W 1728. This unit started out as a hi-nose but was wrecked while
At the risk of getting labeled a jerk, could someone point out the source that states Proto200 is coming out with the HO SD45s? I'd like to see it for myself- if it's true, I'd be a very happy guy If not, well............ Perhaps we could persuade LL to actually produce the SD45, if it isn't in their plans..... SOrry for the skepticism, but as the fella from Missouri said, you'll have to show me
Whilst I wasn't the one who broke it on the web, our shop received our Advance Reservation order forms from the Australian agent for the P2K SD45's and the second run of the GP60's about this time last week. Thats about as official as it gets, until they turn up in the shops Cheers, James
Thanks James If you get chance to look, does the info I posted have a typo on the first road number of the Santa Fe units, as far as I can tell they didn't have any numbered #44xx? Or is it a typo on their list? Also, the Kato units have reached the US, Walthers is now showing them as in stock. Let battle commence!!!
Well, it looks like I'll have to wait & see, but the idea of P2K SD45s sounds good. I don't doubt anybody's comments on the subject (not my point at all), I'm just a bit skeptical when it comes to product announcements in this hobby. We've all been burned before when an annuncement is made concerning the manufacture of (name your dream product here), and after a long period of time it's all vaporware (cyber term for "it ain't real, folks"). I'm almost at the point where I've got to see it to believe it. Were I one of the 12 Disciples, I woulda been Thomas- unless I saw the nail marks in His hands, I wouldn't believe the guy standing in front of me was Jesus. I sure do hope we get two different SD45s- should change the debate from Athearn vs. Kato to P2K vs. Kato, and start another lively conversation.
If they do a SD45, I hope the ATSF ones come in as delivered paint (billboard blue/yellow) instead of warbonnet. As that would fit the era I am modeling.
