Kato announces ATSF Super Chief reissue, new SD45 roads

[jimmygolds]

Let's not forget the many other roads across east, south, and midwest that harbored the SD45 in their paint - Frisco, WC, Susquehanna, N&W, CB&Q, RJ Corman, C&NW, Milwaukee, Southern, SCL, Seaboard System, Clinchfield, Buffalo & Pittsburgh, TRRA, Ohio Central, CSX, Chessie, Nebraska Central, Guilford...

I Totally Agree!! ;D

[CBQ Fan]

For years there were complaints that Kato was sitting on the tooling and no new releases.  Now they release back to back runs and more complaints.  Buy one and paint it.  Be a modeler! Kato produces what sells.  Isn't it better to always leave your consumer wanting just a little bit more.

[Mark5]

For years there were complaints that Kato was sitting on the tooling and no new releases.

Rightly so!

Now they release back to back runs and more complaints.

Yes, but Kato is subject to criticism as is any other manufacturer (like perhaps Atlas?). How long before the next Kato CB&Q E8? I guess it won't sell and thats why they won't make em! Luckily CB&Q was part of the CZ, so there is hope for a CB&Q E8 with the correct DB setup some day! ;D

Kato produces what sells.  

This is baloney. Kato left unimaginable money on the table when it parked it's F unit tooling. Also with the SD40-2 early version (11 years since the last run). But do we really need to re-hash the fact that USA is a distant secondary market to Kato? ;D

I have to paint nearly all of my locos, so my main interest is in UNDECORATED. Kato shells are a pain to strip.

Mark

[Packer]

[snip] Kato shells are a pain almost impossible to strip.

Fixed, from my own experience.

[Bendtracker1]

Yes... wake me when they do them for EL.

OK, am I missing something here?

I have at least one KATO SD-45 in EL paint part # 176-3110 rd #3613

Unless your referring to the newest runs with DCC ready chassis?

Allen...

[Day One]

I'm a western road guy and I'm still a little disappointed. No Montana Rail Link units. They're one of the few roads who still actively use these things and roster large numbers of them and yet no love... I'd like to see undecs as well since, as NandW said, Kato shells are a pain to strip.

[lock4244]

OK, am I missing something here?

I have at least one KATO SD-45 in EL paint part # 176-3110 rd #3613

Unless your referring to the newest runs with DCC ready chassis?

Allen...

Yup... Kato gets some of my money when they release the DCC SD45 in EL paint. I can't imagine a more handsome SD45 than an EL one.

[James Costello]

I can't imagine a more handsome SD45 than an EL one.

A classy scheme for sure.... but it has nothing on this one:

http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=107523

Work-horses are supposed to be dirty right?  ;D ;D ;D

http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=111213
http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=108253

[sirenwerks]

Personally, I'd like to see some undec SD40 offered. I'll take care of the paint, lest I wait until I'm old(er) and grey for what I want.

[Bob Bufkin]

I started the reply here tongue and cheek about no East coast models.  Figured someone else would complain.  I just don't understand why Kato continues to do UP, AT&S, BNSF or SP.  And yes, I would like some undec.  They would be easy to paint into PC units.  I also don't understand why they did a 1 only paint scheme on the U30C.  How many people want a DOT unit?  Think they would have made more money doing a common RR paint. 

[SirTainly]

I started the reply here tongue and cheek about no East coast models.  Figured someone else would complain.  I just don't understand why Kato continues to do UP, AT&S, BNSF or SP.  And yes, I would like some undec.  They would be easy to paint into PC units.  I also don't understand why they did a 1 only paint scheme on the U30C.  How many people want a DOT unit?  Think they would have made more money doing a common RR paint.  

In short because they sell, and it's also true that many people like the one off schemes so buy those as well. Far fewer are the more serious focused modellers who want to buy a fleet of location and era specific locos. Might be disappointing, but as we've said many times, the people on this board are not representative of the wider market.

[Blazeman]

I wonder if the thinking at Kato is influenced by their being "adjacent" to our west coast and the Japanese market focuses on the western line?

[Mark5]

I predict the DOT will sell ... maybe not as well as the Algoma Central SD40s though ... 

[bbussey]

UP, AT&SF, BNSF and SP are strong sellers for them, so you can't fault them for continuing to go to the well.  That said, it would be nice if more undec units were made available when a new run is released.
 

[wm3798]

UP, AT&SF, BNSF and SP are strong sellers for them, so you can't fault them for continuing to go to the well.  That said, it would be nice if more undec units were made available when a new run is released.
 

Of course they are, Bryan.  These roads make up 100% of their SD40, SD40-2 and SD45 sales over the last 20 years!  Who can argue with statistics like that!  And just think how much stronger those sales are because they're the ONLY roads they produce them in !!!  If you want another roadname, you HAVE to buy BNSF or UP because they don't offer undecs.  That makes for pretty strong sales!

"You can buy a Ford in any color you like, as long as it's black."

The rest of us are being crucified because they totally blew it on Algoma Central.

Lee