I replace all the Kato couplers with MT"s 1015's. That is until I find something with a shorter shank.
I like the look of the Kato short shank coupler but for reliability I use MT's on all my loco's unless they are a leader and then I used a Kato coupler on the front. Kevin
I think the point is that Kato diesels used to come fitted with the short couplers with a pack of long ones provided if you wanted to swap them if you wanted to run on tight curves, now they come fitted with the long ones and you don't get a pack of short ones to swap them the other way. You can get the short ones as a pack of eight and I have a couple of packs already on hand but if you don't it's something extra you have to buy from Kato.
Actually I think they come now with a medium shank coupler. Kato seems to believe we should all be happy with happy medium.
Just got my set of 3 BNs. I am very pleased. The green handrails seem to be a very close match to the body paint. Really like the bicen unit! Its time to get out my string of black BN hoppers with the white ends! I think I'm going to put away the BNSF stuff for a while and go all BN...
Did anyone notice that one of the ATSF units is a reprint of sorts? Road number 7514 was released in the pinstripe scheme in 1991 as Kato part number 176-17D. Now it is coming out as 176-0932 in blue and yellow warbonnet. I wonder why they had to do that. I already have the locomotive from the 1991 run. So I guess I will have to pass on at least that one. With all of the numbers out there, why did they have to do this?
I have one of the 1991 run of pinstripes in front of me at the moment, 7519 but I've got 7514 stashed away somewhere as well, and looking at the cab numbers they appear a bit too large and something doesn't look quite right to me about their shape so I may see if I can clean the numbers off and apply new decals anyway. They will be easy enough to renumber as I never got round to putting numbers in the number boards. The watch as Kato announce a run of pinstripes including whatever new number I give 7514.
Yeah, I have both of the 1991 units with the numbers fixed and number boards done and a lot of detailing done. So it will be easier to change the new one I think. But I think I will pass on the activity and just get the other number only.
They do? Now we are talking. I do like the look's of Kato's shorter shank. Feeling out of touch all of a sudden. Wondering when they started providing the shorter shank, knuckle couplers? Looking good.
Hi Bremner, Thanks for the info. I have one of the 176-17A rd# 7913. Was hoping for an easier DCC install. By second run I was referring to DCC ready units.
They did, then people complained being the short couplers caused cars right behind the loco to derail on tighter curves. So Kato's fix was to go to the long shanks.
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Received my Kato U30C in BN 76 sceme this week. The scheme is kind of loud but so was the original prototype. Runs quit and at a very slow starting speed even on 9.75 curves. Typical Kato top notch model - think Kato is what keeps me in N gauge.
I will agree that 3 axle locomotives should be advertised as needing 15" radius track.:thumbs_up: BUT..if you are suggesting that track manufactures should no longer make track with smaller then 15" radii...I think you are off base on that one Dave...JMO :tb-wacky: .
I will have some photos of my BN 1776 one after I go pick it up. I am waiting on my next paycheck, coming next week. I was a little concerned about how loud the scheme was until I looked at several photos of it on the interwebs and realized how true to prototype it was. I may have to shoot mine with some dull-coat and do a little light weathering just to bring it back to earth. Has Kato (or anyone else) ever done BN 1876 (and SD40-2) in N scale?
