Kato-kobo Union Pacific E-9 diesels

[Nato]

       I' am sure some of y'all have recieved the latest E mail Newsletter from Kato. Through their kobo custom arm they are realesing (December?) Models of the three current Union Pacific E-9 diesels used with their excursion and business trains. The A-B-A models will not be cheap ,but will have all kinds of proto specific detail, the home made roof top exaust fan shields, reworked headlight casing, enhanced side grill detal to give a 3D look, simulated ditch lights on A Units. My only regrets are for the price how about factory installled DCC not modeler Drop-In Digatrax,and lighted ditch lights (too much to re tool). Four hundred some bucks for the three units even when not ordered direct from Kato.       Nate Goodman (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah. 

[ryan_wilkerson]

So something like $450 for a 3 unit set? I only want one A unit...I have a UP unit now as a stand in but it would be nice to have a completed unit.

[EspeeGoldenState]

      I' am sure some of y'all have recieved the latest E mail Newsletter from Kato. Through their Cobo custom arm they are realesing (December?) Models of the three current Union Pacific E-9 diesels used with their excursion and business trains. The A-B-A models will not be cheap ,but will have all kinds of proto specific detail, the home made roof top exaust fan shields, reworked headlight casing, enhanced side grill detal to give a 3D look, simulated ditch lights on A Units. My only regrets are for the price how about factory installled DCC not modeler Drop-In Digatrax,and lighted ditch lights (too much to re tool). Four hundred some bucks for the three units even when not ordered direct from Kato.       Nate Goodman (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah. 

Honestly considering the HO versions that Walthers are doing doesn't have working ditch lights either, I'm not surprised about non working from Kato as well. Honestly I would rather have a DC version and do as I please with them via either a TCS decoder or milling the frame for a Tsunami sound decoder installed since these are unique E's in the regards they sound like GP38-2s.

So something like $450 for a 3 unit set? I only want one A unit...I have a UP unit now as a stand in but it would be nice to have a completed unit.

The As are $175 a piece, and $140 for the B. And they can each be ordered individually. Honestly I'm ok with that price as I was on the verge of finding a trio and reworking them to the 2011 looks without the nose doors. I did pre-order my trio through a LHS and look forward to them pulling my heritage train that probably will continue to grow now.

http://www.katousa.com/Zcart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=157&zenid=f7c34fd8b64b8a2a76fc1354e94234d2

Chris

[Paradise275]

I have a Kobo Kato GS4 that is a real dud. The problem is, with Kobo, how do you resolve quality and performance issues?

Rick

[peteski]

I have a Kobo Kato GS4 that is a real dud. The problem is, with Kobo, how do you resolve quality and performance issues?

Rick

Kato states (for their Kobo items): Due to the hand-made nature of this item, some minor blemishes and differences may be present from model to model – Kato USA cannot take returns on items unless they possess major paint or mechanical issues.

Call or email Kato USA and work with them to resolve the issue. But wasn't that model released few years back?  I wouldn't expect them to fix or refund money for a model that is few years old.

[basementcalling]

I've seen a couple E units modified by modelers to include many of these details and they are impressive.

Modelers will have passenger power aplenty with the K4s and these E units coming.

[Nato]

       I applied the home built snow shields to four first run Kato E-8's with two front lights and a dummy Con Cor A Unit back it the early 1990's. The shield's were a cast metal part available from the old Hobbies Emporium in Reno, Nevada. These locomotives also received new road name lettering over their original to have the correct black outline around the letters & numbers. Old Walthers N UP decals just fit over the original lettering with out any cutting. Two units one A and one B received gray ends representing later paint scheme, the A Unit received the large road name across the nose. The non lighted number boards received numbers for East Bound and Westbound trains 103,104. Dummy A received stand alone horns replacing the Rivarossi cast  (molded) on ones and a Sunrise Rooftop flasher. All the models received Plaino metal grills placed over the cast on ones.                      My only previous experience with Kobo is a MP36 PH decorated for Utah Transit Authorty Front Runner to replace Athearn. It is a nicely running model. Nate Goodman (Nato).