New Kato Tease!!!!

[EspeeGoldenState]

Here's hoping to BNSF 6936, but I wont get my hopes up for it. Though it would be a perfect companion to NS 3329.

Btw, whats so horrible about the Athearn FP45/F45?

Chris

[jagged ben]

Btw, whats so horrible about the Athearn FP45/F45?

Nothing. 

There's a couple things to like or not like about it, I guess.    I really think it's mostly a matter of preference.   They're good runners and really good pullers.  One could quibble about glued-in windshields and having to remove the couplers to take of the shell.  These are minor things.   I guess some people think if it doesn't look like a Kato then it sucks, but if you ask me Kato's engines look a little toy-like in some aspects, such as oversize handrails for example. 

Anyway I have 5 of the Athearns and I have no major complaints about them. 

With that said, if Kato does SDP40Fs, it'll be another hit to the wallet for me.  I'd probably be in for two Amtrak and one Santa Fe, if they do that version.

[sirenwerks]

SDP40F makes sense, it's the missing link in their Amtrak roster...

Kato makes a FP9?  An AEM7 or E60CP?  A LRC?  Either of the Turboliners?  A GP40PH?  Should I continue...

[EspeeGoldenState]

I was going to say I did own 4 FP45s (sold 2) and 2 F45s and didnt seem to have an issue with them. Sure the couplers are annoying but being an HO person as well, its something that I've come accustomed to.

Only thing I intend to do is paint the gray trucks silver at some point. Do need to replace the horn on 105 with a Leslie S5T-R.

Chris

[nkalanaga]

I also have a bunch of Athearn's F45s, and the only thing I've done to mine is paint the frame black.  The silver metal looks a little odd, and a coat of paint helps immensely. 

For comparison, I also have 4 of the W&R brass models from 20(?) years ago.  They don't look any better, and had to be repowered with Kato SD40 mechanisms just to keep them on the track.  The two types run well together, and don't look bad, but there are enough minor differences that I don't put them on the same train.

The similarities between the FP45 and the SDP40F are why I suspect that Athearn will be the first to make one, rather than Kato. 

If they make the SDL39 I'd buy one.  It could always appear on my MILW interchange, although I doubt that they ever ran in central Montana. 

[ryan_wilkerson]

So does the frame length and truck spacing of an SDP40F match anything else? Since it's a widebody, probably not useful for an SDP45? Still hoping for that one!

[peteski]

So does the frame length and truck spacing of an SDP40F match anything else? Since it's a widebody, probably not useful for an SDP45? Still hoping for that one!

I asked somewhat similar question not too long ago. See https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=34639.msg402455#msg402455

[Leggy]

SDP40F - 72'04"
F45 - 67'05"
FP45 - 72'04"
F40C - 68'10"
SDP45 - 70'08"

Only the FP45 and SDP40F would share the mechanism. Bogies are 2 different types however.

[nscaler711]

With the SDP40F coming in at 72'4" you might as well use a SD70M mech cause I think that's what those come in at also.

[Leggy]

SD70M is 73'04" so may not really work.

[basementcalling]

Kato will make what they make. Speculation leads to fear of not liking the offering. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to suffering. Avoid the dark side.

[mplsjct]

Kato makes a FP9?  An AEM7 or E60CP?  A LRC?  Either of the Turboliners?  A GP40PH?  Should I continue...

OK, how about a major link missing in the Amtrak locomotive chain?

[sirenwerks]

Wouldn't the truck center measurements be a better indication of usefulness?  Not overall length, which can be altered much easier.  The aforementioned SDP40F is 59' 7" between truck centers while the more desirable SDP40 is 53' 7".

[mplsjct]

Here's hoping to BNSF 6936, but I wont get my hopes up for it. Though it would be a perfect companion to NS 3329.

Btw, whats so horrible about the Athearn FP45/F45?

Chris

The one I had was a poor runner, in fact, when I sold it, the buyer had the same complaint. It was a good puller, for sure, when it would run well, and I'm sure there are others out there that run better than the one I had.

There are locomotive models made by more than one N scale manufacturer, and I'm hoping this will be one of them.

[sizemore]

Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.

Surprised noone picked this up but me.



The S.