1. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    I need an ATSF NW2 in black, with an early partial zebra stripe paint job. Since KATO doesn't produce this scheme, I'm thinking I should start with one in black and modify it. Before I order one, is the PENNSY scheme a good start, ie is it black, or is it dark green...can't tell from pics?
    Thanks for any feedback.
    Regards, Otto
     
  2. steamghost

    steamghost TrainBoard Member

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    Don't know about the color, but be very careful about taking it apart. The shell is a tight fit so go slowly in working the shell off; there are nubs as usual to lock the shell in place. Leave the fuel tank on since it holds the frame halves together. There are some really tiny parts you don't want to lose.
     
  3. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well, if it's black, I don't really have to take it apart...:)
     
  4. reinhardtjh

    reinhardtjh TrainBoard Member

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    I don't know what it *IS*, but it should be DGLE (Dark Green Locomotive Enamel) which is mostly black with a touch of green added. Most Mfgs make it a little more greenish than black.

    John H. Reinhardt
     
  5. Bfagan

    Bfagan TrainBoard Member

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    It's black. I have one.
     
  6. MC Fujiwara

    MC Fujiwara TrainBoard Member

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    Or get the SP black & orange tigerstripe and just paint white between the lines ;)
     
  7. arbomambo

    arbomambo TrainBoard Member

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    Otto...
    i was thinking the same thing...
    I'd like one in ATSF zebra strips and a 'mostly black' one seems the only way to go...
    bruce
     
  8. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Very funny MC...
    Seriously, is the Pennsy unit black black, or does it have a dark green tint when next to say a steam loco?
    Thanks to all that responded.
    Otto
     
  9. C. Giustra

    C. Giustra TrainBoard Member

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    She ain't black black. You'll want to paint it or seriously weather it. As luck would have it I have a Pennsy shell I'd part with on the cheap. Unfortunately it is missing one stack. The parts package from Kato is 9 bucks (ouch).
    If interested send me an email: clintgiustra@gmail.com
     
  10. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks Clint, that's what I assumed. No big deal, I'll just strip and paint another unit. As to your kind offer, I need a whole new loco, not just the shell. Thanks!
    Otto
     
  11. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    There was a rumor the Kato was going to release more NW2's, but since they may not have sold well, I think the have met the same fate as the RDC's.

    They were listed on an advanced reservation form with one of the online retailers. It included two more ATSF schemes including the Zebra, as well as 2 different DRGW and the Gray and Scarlet SP schemes as well.
     
  12. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

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    My brother is a Pennsy fan and has one, (both PRR road numbers are the same unit at different stages in its career) and if you look at it under a bright light it is definitely a very dark green just as it should be.

    I too am waiting in hope for zebras but Kato seem to have lost interest in the NW2, with about 90 original owners, and then adding different paint schemes and later owners through mergers or second hand purchasers they could be kept busy for decades. The zebra stripe BTW is the only Santa Fe NW2 scheme that is correct for the era of Kato's Super Chief and El Capitan so it's a mystery why they haven't done it.
     
  13. randgust

    randgust TrainBoard Member

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    As luck would have it I have a PRR NW2 on the workbench for conversion to an SW1, and I also have an old LL SW-unit in zebrastripe. And I've done a couple custom paints to zebrastripe....

    For what it's worth here, some observations.

    1) Yup, it's not black. Probably the best DGLE rendition out there, one teaspoon of green in a tank car of black, but still not pure black.

    2) I wouldn't strip the paint. I'd take off the lettering, but the body is molded in a light gray color with a greenish color primer maybe..seriously. That DGLE is very thin, very smooth, makes a great primer, you'd just need a very light topcoat of pure black. Any other plan runs the risk of having edges wear through and show that body color. You'd pile more on to get the edges right than what's on there now.


    I've always been fascinated by the philosophical differences between Atlas and Kato on painting. Makes no sense. Atlas does an incredible variety of schemes on their stuff including shortlines and some one-offs, very short runs, and changes unit numbers in each one. They keep recirculating the same stuff as a new release over about five to six years. I think they've created a small but discernable collectors market for this stuff. I'll admit to buying at least four Atlas locos PURELY for the local/regional schemes they've done, and very well.

    Meanwhile, Kato does one run, maybe four schemes... and decides that they don't sell, on a locomotive that was incredibly universal and the mechanism is even more adaptable to SW-units in general going back to the dark ages. And the ATSF scheme they DO do, well, they kinda blow it because no self-respecting ATSF unit every had a blue fuel tank and blue trucks. And then they don't do an undecorated.

    If they'd at least do an undecorated, they could set up a situation where custom-painters could soak up some of that inventory for them and charge accordingly. This isn't like the RDC. Everybody in nearly every era can use a good EMD switcher, the mechanism is first-rate and deals with DCC well... so as in the discussions I've had with Kato, its kinda their own fault if they conclude it 'didn't sell'.

    I've been told that their cost of painting in Japan is high enough that they simply can't compete with the Atlas model in China, and I can accept that. To a point...then I get back to the undec's and a "Bev-Bel" kind of opportunity and I'm stuck again.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 14, 2012
  14. arbomambo

    arbomambo TrainBoard Member

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    Randall,
    what is involved in converting the Kato NW2 to an ATSF SW1?...I don't know enough about the spotting differences between the two...
    Thanks,
    Bruce
     
  15. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Randy, thanks for the thoughtful writeup. I think your point is right on; one of the most versatile and common prototypes " didn't sell" because it wasn't produced in enough useful schemes. Fortunately for me, the early zebra ( along the sills only) should be relatively easy to do. Thanks for the painting suggestions, too.
    As to Bruces' question, strictly speaking, Santa Fe didn't have SW1's. It had four early SC's, three NW's and a whole bunch of NW2's. The NW's had a 12 cyl. 201a engine and could be distinguished by a large "steamer trunk" like box on the front porch. The NW2's came with the new 567 diesel and the Kato model is actually a very good representation.
    Either way, the NW was a rare animal on the Santa Fe...
    Regards, Otto
     
  16. randgust

    randgust TrainBoard Member

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    No, ATSF didn't have any SW1's, but one of the custom builds I do is converting NW-2's to SW1's. I made a master and produce resin shells, you send me an NW2 body and mechanism and I'll mill the frame and fit the SW1 shell onto it, and steal many of the body details over to it. I can also paint and do brass handrails, but many just want this much done. I've done quite a few of them now, this one is probably my favorite, however:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The SW1 body is the 'original' SW, a 600hp unit, one stack, curved cab windows, the entire hood is shorter and there is that noticeable 'notch' in the front above the sandbox. It requires a substantial amount of frame milling, but it still works.

    So yeah, I'm a Kato NW2 fan. Kato's inexplicable inability to do this has meant a lot of work for me!
     
  17. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Randy, wow, that's nice! Love that "steamer trunk" and the handrails!
    Too bad I don't need any, there weren't any on the L.A. division during my era, just one 600hp SC, and that's a whole different proposition...:)
    Otto
     
  18. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Randy, btw, when you mill the frame to accommodate the shorter SW1 body, does it mess up the ability to add a DCC board? Thanks, Otto
     
  19. randgust

    randgust TrainBoard Member

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    I have to shorten the 'stock' Kato lightboard back about 1/8" and I resolder the original LED back on it. I'm not sure what people are using for the replacement DCC board, but if it is 'in front' of the clips on the original nose part of the frame it basically has to go. But remember the cab is still empty, so if you have one of the Z-sized receivers it could go in there, too. I have to cut frame off from the front and rear, shave it slightly narrower, cut the motor shaft, etc.
     
  20. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

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    If the Kato is concerned about overproducing a particular item, then they should return to a pre-announcement/pre-order model (like Atlas uses) instead of relying on kokkuri or whatever system they have for product planning. Especially in the case where the particular model has already been released and/or there is no directly competing model from another manufacturer, you'd think they would benefit from customer feedback rather than operating open-loop. Likewise, as Atlas sometimes does, they could charge more for those roadnames that rate a more limited production run.
     

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