Now that the Kato GP35 is out, what are your thoughts? I think it looks good, nice to see them learn their lesson and get the paint and pick up right this time around! I think they deserve appluase for this fine model! Happy Railroading!!!!! Dane N. TAMR IR Rep. ------------------ TAMR2860-AKA BC Rail King TAMR2860@Canada.com for TAMR info. To send a general TRAIN! E-Mail send to BCRailKing@Canada.com
My thoughts? 1. Paint and lettering: Improved from the earlier runs. Lettering is closer to correct size and spacing on the different paintschemes, and the paint looks better overall. For the first time, the paint on the sidesill of the Santa Fe model actually matches the rest of the unit. The Espee was the letdown, the gray the trucks and fuel tank were molded in don't match the rest of the body. No big deal for me, I prefer undecs for all of my locomotive purchases so I can detail and paint to my liking; the phase 1a GP35 I have is destined to get SP speed lettering, and the phase 1c will probably get the "K-mart" lettering if I can find some shots of em.... 2. Running quality - Runs great, although that white LED headlight has gotta go. Too blue, and the unit's gonna get an espee noselight treatment and rooftop beacon, anyway. Overall, I was glad to see Kato made some improvements to the paintjobs, although there is still some room for improvement, like some decent handrails, and revising the frame so it doesn't have a bevel to it. It's impossible to mount underframe details (traction motor cables, air filters and lines, etc) to the frame without doing some major reworking to it. If it had frame rails, like how Athearn did on the SD70 series units, that would be great. Hopefully Kato will continue to make improvements to their models so me and the rest of the rivet counters will have one less thing to complain about. ------------------ Have A Nice Day!
Now people who have complained about Kato, will have less to complain about. This is more a Train Orders thing, but have seen HUGE arguments brake out over the latest Kato stuff. The paint may not be perfect, but we have been hard on Kato, remember that all the other companies make mistakes too! I don't mind the blue LED as much as some people, in fact I like it! LOL!! Happy Railroading!! Dane N. ------------------ TAMR2860-AKA BC Rail King TAMR2860@Canada.com for TAMR info. To send a general TRAIN! E-Mail send to BCRailKing@Canada.com
The blue LED does not look so bad in N scale, due to the smaller size, I guess. Try a VERY thin coat of yellow paint on the LED to correct the colour. ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery Alan's European Gallery Alan's British Steam Gallery
Now if only athearn would redo theres like they did the SD40-2 ------------------ Theres no such thing as having to many coal hoppers or GP40-2 when you model Chessie System LONG LIVE THE KITTEN!!! LONG LIVE BIG BLUE!!!
Nahhhhh, the Kato one is fine! Just have to collect alot of Cans! Happy Railroading! Dane N. ------------------ TAMR2860-AKA BC Rail King TAMR2860@Canada.com for TAMR info. To send a general TRAIN! E-Mail send to BCRailKing@Canada.com
i cant really use any of the new Kato GP35's as if i do get any ill have to cut them up and turn them into GP39E/M/V's ------------------ wheres all the C636's???? stickymonk.com Matts Photo gallery
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chessie_SD50_8563: Now if only athearn would redo theres like they did the SD40-2 <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I agree with you 100%, Chessie....while the Kato GP35's are some of their best models, I think we need a readily available, nicely updated, affordable GP35 (and SD45, for that matter) from Athearn. I know lots of modelers who could use lots of these particular units, but most people can't go out and buy all they need, thanks to Kato's limited run policy and relatively high prices. It was a good move on Athearn's part to retool the SD40-2; the new version is beautiful. Kato SD40-2 snoots are gathering dust at my shop, and people are buying up the new Athearn units. Hopefully, Athearn will consider the need in the modeling community for some readily available, moderately priced, retooled GP35's and SD45's(and they could even do an SD40 to go on the SD45 frame, too). ------------------ Have A Nice Day!
Athearn should redo all there wide or toyish detailed units. I always hated the cab on the GP35 and SD45 because of the engineer's and firemans windows plus I think the center windows are to large. It would be great if Athearn made a SD40 plain or/and a SD38. ------------------ Theres no such thing as having to many coal hoppers or GP40-2 when you model Chessie System LONG LIVE THE KITTEN!!! LONG LIVE BIG BLUE!!!
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by StickyMonk: i cant really use any of the new Kato GP35's as if i do get any ill have to cut them up and turn them into GP39E/M/V's <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> You're braver than I am- I started with a Rail Power Products GP35 shell to build a GP35M (removed the turbo exhaust, installed a Cannon paper air filter, superdetailed the shell). The price of those Katos scare me from carving up the shells. ------------------ Ship IT on the Frisco! Bob T.
i seen one been choped up into a slug b4 i was horrified.... ------------------ wheres all the C636's???? stickymonk.com Matts Photo gallery
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chessie_SD50_8563: Athearn should redo all there wide or toyish detailed units. It would be great if Athearn made a SD40 plain or/and a SD38. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Agreed- I wish Athearn would retool and come out with a new scale-width shell for their earlier units. They went to a narrower motor when the GP38-2 came out in the mid-1980s, and the old "motor is too wide" excuse don't hunt. As for an SD38, have you considered Rail Power Products' SD38 shell on a modified Ath- earn chassis? I've seen one- it looks nice! Yeah, it's a bit of work, but the results are well worth the effort! ------------------ Ship IT on the Frisco! Bob T.
talking of SD38's i made a GATX SD38-2 from an athearn SD40-2 the only major work was to mill the fuel tank smaller, looks quite good i love those low HP SD's im thinking of doing a SD38P if i ever get my hands on a Concor SD35 then of course ill need a TEBC6 to go with it.......... hmmmmmm i must stop thinking or ill never get anything done if i dont lol ------------------ wheres all the C636's???? stickymonk.com Matts Photo gallery
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by friscobob: Agreed- I wish Athearn would retool and come out with a new scale-width shell for their earlier units. They went to a narrower motor when the GP38-2 came out in the mid-1980s, and the old "motor is too wide" excuse don't hunt. As for an SD38, have you considered Rail Power Products' SD38 shell on a modified Ath- earn chassis? I've seen one- it looks nice! Yeah, it's a bit of work, but the results are well worth the effort! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I would not look for Athearn to retool their older units. The SD40-2 was done because it was a relatively modern tool and could be redone pretty easily. However, to redo the GP35 et.al. would require a brand new tool and that is NOT cheap. I would imagine that the new tool would cost somewhere in the vacinity of $250,000.00 or so. That is right, one quarter or a million dollars. Now, if you can imagine what that would do to the price of these units! I can, can you say hello Kato prices? If any of you feeling like fronting Athearn the bucks to retool the GP35 you may want to give them a call or drop them an email, I am sure that they would like to hear from you. Denis
Denis, I'm not so naive to think that Athearn would just drop everything and retool, but it IS nice to wish......at least I can use the powered chassis under RPP shells. This is how I did Frisco's GP35s and SD45s. With a RPP shell, detail parts, paint & decals, you can come up with a nice locomotive. ------------------ Ship IT on the Frisco! Bob T.
Hey, 4 months ago I said there was no way there would be an N scale SD90 Happy Railroading!! Dane N. ------------------ TAMR2860-AKA BC Rail King TAMR2860@Canada.com for TAMR info. To send a general TRAIN! E-Mail send to BCRailKing@Canada.com AIM me at TAMR2860!
Kato needs to make a HO scale SD90MAC-HII and SD80MAC too. who cares that RPP makes the shell and chassis. I garenty that anyone would prefer a RTR unit to a build it yourself unit. ------------------ Theres no such thing as having to many coal hoppers or GP40-2 when you model Chessie System LONG LIVE THE KITTEN!!! LONG LIVE BIG BLUE!!!
too bad EMD has someone makeing a RTR SD90MAC for them to sell at there website some time later this year. ------------------ Theres no such thing as having to many coal hoppers or GP40-2 when you model Chessie System LONG LIVE THE KITTEN!!! LONG LIVE BIG BLUE!!!
